Clover trials

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

To improve the knowledge base of white clover irrigators and assist in further developing a professional approach to irrigation management.

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”. 

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

To satisfy the questions of local farmers.

• Can you sustainably continuously crop this land?
• Will we get herbicide resistant weeds with continuous cropping?
• Which crop rotations are the most profitable?
• What is happening to nitrogen in the rotations?
• What impact does continuous cropping have on soil chemistry and soil water levels?

To demonstrate a wide variety of crop types and varieties in the Southern Mallee.

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

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 present a summary of nine experiments on trace elements and pasture produciton in the south-east of South Australia.

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.

• To gain an indication of the distribution of some beneficial species across the region.
• To gain an appreciation of what beneficial species occur in the different ecosystems.
• To investigate the potential role of native grasslands in assisting to control pests in agricultural crops and pastures

To test the hypothesis that "drainage of waterlogged soils in southwest Victoria through raised beds will increase crop and pasture production with beneficial modifications to soil properties". 

To measure and report the potential impact of best management practices for dryland agriculture in the Mallee.

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

To compare two methods for the establishment of pasture legumes (i) summer sowing where dormant hard-seed is drill sown into the paddock after the crop is harvested and (ii) traditional sowing where scarified seed is drill sown after the break of the season and knockdown weed control.

To compare two methods for the establishment of pasture legumes (i) summer sowing where dormant hard-seed is drill sown into the paddock after the crop is harvested; and (ii) traditional sowing where scarified seed is drill sown after the break of the season and knockdown weed control.

To compare two methods for the establishment of pasture legumes (i) summer sowing where dormant hard-seed is drill sown into the paddock after the crop is harvested; and (ii) traditional sowing where scarified seed is drill sown after the break of the season and knockdown weed control.

Investigation into the best economic solutions to pasture establishment, persistence and management to ensure long term productive grazing systems.

To examine the pasture productivity and economic response to the application and incorporation of low rates of clay to pale deep sandplain over three years.

To examine which soil analysis to use for manganese.

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.

To investigate the effects of rates of initial and subsequent applications of zinc on pasture yields grown on gravelly forest gravel soil

To resport on the extent to which deficiencies in phosphorus, sulphur, and molybdenum likely to be associated with deficiencies in the others.

To find a way to improve the productivity and sustainability of the Darkan river flats.

To identify suitable pasture species for the SA Mallee.

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 present research into the development of new country for pastures in east Gippsland Victoria.

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 investigate herbicide options on newly sown pasture crops at three sites.

The aim of this project was to assess parture herbicide tolerance at Charlton in 2000.

To present a summary of the recent history and state of pasture improvement due to soil fertility in high rainfall Victoria.

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

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.

To report on nitrogen inputs from pasture legumes in a cropping rotation.

To discuss nitrogen inputs from pasture and patterns of release for crops.

To present research into molybdenum deficiency in the region with recommendations for management.

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 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 study the manganese content of cereals, lupin and clover herbage in NE Victoria.

To managing competition and lucerne persistence with sowing configuration.

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 use field and glasshouse experiments to explore the relationship between soil pH and manganese availability.

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.