Clover trials

This trial aims to assess the biomass production and quality of legumes oversown with cereals.

To evaulate the nitrogen fixing capacity of various legume species grown on Kangaroo Island.

To incrase the producer awareness of the potential issues and management strategies to deal with oestrogenic clover.

The expected outcome of the project is that by 2021, growers in the MRZ of the South East and their advisors will have access to new relevant information on diverse crop rotations and integrated farming systems, particularity the incorporation of a pasture phase. 

To identify plant varieties or mixtures that can increase dry matter production of the pasture break phase on the highly alkaline soils of upper Eyre Peninsula. Current cropping and grazing systems are mostly based on monocultures and the potential feed base of the break phase could be broadened to be more productive for grazing and available for a longer time period in the season. Current oat varieties, mixed break crops and newer pasture species were trialled at Piednippie in 2018 to investigate whether a more productive and prolonged feed base is possible.

To present a case study on oestrogenic clover from Robert Ham's Kangaroo Island farm.

To Increase producer awareness of the potential issues and management strategies to deal with oestrogenic clover.

The ‘Good Clover Bad Clover’ project is a three-year project that commenced in April 2017 and aims to increase awareness of the potential issues and improve management strategies to deal with oestrogenic clover.

To conduct visual assessments and laboratory testing for the presence of oestrogenic clover species in 25 paddocks from 10 properties across the South East region of SA and on Kangaroo Island. 

The expected outcome of the project is that by 2021, growers in the MRZ of the South East and their advisors will have access to new relevant information on diverse crop rotations and integrated farming systems, particularity the incorporation of a pasture phase. This will allow for better crop sequencing decision making, with the aim of increasing farm sustainability, diversity and ultimately profitability, through the adoption of improved rotations and break crop management options.

To determine whether ryegreass or clover are the best fit for Kangaroo Island in terms of heading date and seasonal growth patterns.

To determine whether clover or ryegrass is the best fit for Kangaroo Island in terms of heading date and seasonal growth patterns.

To share Tim Buck's story about using technology to make better farming decisions.

To report on the Paxton's efforts to “to keep the soil pH above 5, we know if we don’t, we start losing production”. 

To report on Alan’s aim to lime 20% of the farm each year and reprot that now, five years later, that aim is just about achieved. 

This was the second year of a three-year trial, funded by the South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT), to evaluate the nitrogen fixation capabilities of various legume species commonly grown on Kangaroo Island.

In this second year, the trial was set up to answer the following questions:

• Which of the four legume species had fixed the most nitrogen (N) in the 2016 season?
• How much N did these legume crops fix?
• How much of the N fixed by the legume was utilised by the following crop? Concurrently, how much N was lost through leaching or denitrification?

To report on a case study of lessons learned about growing perennial pastures.

To demonstrate the rotational benefits of a sequence of broadleaf, legume, and pasture crops for the production of wheat in the Kwinana West and East zones of WA. 
 

To evaluate species and pasture phase systems (including hard seeded annuals) for light sand-plain soils (with low pH and low available soil water) in crop-based rotations.

To report on a survey of the “Red Leaf Clover Syndrome”.

Interviews were conducted on each farm to determine for each paddock the species that were sown

To quantify the level and effects of sub-clover root disease in pastures across the south-east region of South Australia.It aims to understand the production and economic impact of root disease and, through the evaluation of chemical and cultural control
methods, establish cost-effective solutions to manage these diseases.

To demonstrate the available herbicide options for a range of annual legume pasture varieties.

Aim to develop kinowledge and skills in improved soil moisture profile management to reduce yield loss and maximise profitability. Three moisture probes were established on Felix Farm north west of Ariah Park and Bellevue, south west of Ariah Park.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

The study has been designed to examine the use of mixed legume swards which incorporate a mix of hardseeded legumes or hardseeded legumes sown with traditional legumes. Our aim over the lifetime of the study is to quantify the effect of mixed legume swards on livestock productivity and health as well as the balance between sown species and weeds.

This research identified the plant traits most likely to determine differences in external critical phosphorus (P) requirements (i.e. the soil extractable-P concentration required to achieve 90% of maximum yield) of pasture legume species. Understanding trait differences that affect critical P requirements of pasture legumes is important in providing confidence around field differences in external critical P requirement.

To investigate options for pasture and fodder break crops for southern Victoria with an emphasis on weed control.

To investigate options for pasture and fodder break crops for southern Victoria with an emphasis on weed control.

To investigate the merit of fodder crops in the crop rotation, with particular interest in weed control, nitrogen and gross margin.

The project aims to quantify the level and effects of sub-clover root disease in pastures across the south-east region of South Australia.

To investigate the dry matter (DM) productivity and nutritive value (NV) of a range of pasture species sown independently or in conjunction with Fathom barley at Hart in winter and summer.

Investigating the dry matter accumulation and timing of a range of pasture species and mixes and comparing them to the dry matter produced by crops that are grown to be grazed before being shut up for grain production or cut for hay from silage.

To assess and evaluated a range of different pasture varieties at three different sites.

To assess and evaluated a range of different pasture varieties at three different sites.

To report on experimenting with a range of pasture and fodder-type options based on TG1, 2 and 3 and aims to gain an understanding of how they work in the south-eastern HRZ.

To measure and quantify N2O emissions from wheat grown in rotation with canola, pulses and legume pastures at two sites in low and medium/high rainfall farming systems of the Eyre Peninsula, while assessing best management practices that local farmers can adopt to reduce the risk of N2O losses and ultimately improve the paddock’s crop productivity and gross margin.

Agricultural soils are the main source of emission of the greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. N2O is a potent GHG which lasts in the atmosphere for 114 years and has a global warming potential of approximately 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 100 year timescale. Agriculture accounts for 16% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions but produces 80% of Australia’s N2O emissions. This project seeks to measure and quantify N2O emissions from wheat grown in rotation with canola, pulses and legume pastures at two sites in low and medium/high rainfall farming systems of the Eyre Peninsula, while assessing best management practices that local farmers can adopt to reduce the risk of N2O losses and ultimately improve the paddock’s crop productivity and gross margin.

The trial aims to explore the role that pastures can play in the crop rotation across the South-East region. It aims to quantify the role that pastures can play in providing nitrogen to the cropping system, and also its potential role in managing weed issues in the high rainfall regions compared to a conventional cropping system.

To determine the effect of different cropping sequences to continuous cropping.

To answer three key questions:

1. Can a break crop be as profitable as a cereal?
2. Are crop sequences including break crops more profitable than continuous wheat?
3. What effects do break crops have on soil nitrogen availability?

Investigate the dry matter accumulation and timing of a range of pastrure species and mixes and comparing them to the dry matter production by crops that are grown to be grazed before being shut up for grain production or cut for hay or silage.

Investigate the dry matter accumulation and timing of a range of pastrure species and mixes and comparing them to the dry matter production by crops that are grown to be grazed before being shut up for grain production or cut for hay or silage.