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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(5)

Do some naturalised legumes have the potential to improve pasture production in the Victorian Mallee?

S. M. Robertson A C D and J. G. Smith B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Primary Industries Research Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 1, Walpeup, Vic. 3507, Australia.

B Primary Industries Research Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 260, Horsham, Vic. 3400, Australia.

C Current address: ‘Nindethana’, Turners Lane, Old Junee, NSW 2652, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: susanrob@dragnet.com.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(5) 615-625 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04262
Submitted: 20 December 2004  Accepted: 27 January 2006   Published: 12 May 2006

Abstract

Some naturalised (not commercialised or deliberately sown) annual pasture legumes may be valuable pasture components, but their production relative to commercial species is poorly defined. This study aimed to determine the relative productivity, morphology, nutritive value, ecotype variation and sulfonylurea tolerance of some naturalised species in the Victorian Mallee. A series of 3 glasshouse and 2 ungrazed field experiments compared the production of haresfoot clover (Trifolium arvense L.), little woolly burr medic (Medicago minima L.), spineless M. minima, and M. monspeliaca (L.) Trautv. with the commercial species strand medic (M. littoralis Loisel cv. Herald) and barrel medic (M. truncatula Gaertn cv. Paraggio). The crude protein and in vitro digestibility of leaf and stem components were similar among species. The proportion of leaf was associated with species maturity, with later maturing species having a greater proportion of leaf at each harvest. There was a range of 52 days among species for date of first flowering. T. arvense produced similar or more biomass than the commercial species in spring, but had lower winter production. A 38-day range in days to first flower and a 2-fold range in winter biomass production among T. arvense ecotypes indicate potential for selection within this species. T. arvense also appears to have greater tolerance of triasulfuron residues than M. littoralis. Spineless M. minima requires further evaluation for persistence in this environment, but the low production of M. monspeliaca limits its value as a component of pastures. T. arvense, spineless and spiny M. minima all have some characteristics which could enhance pasture production in low-rainfall, low-input mixed farming systems.

Additional keyword: seed.


Acknowledgments

Technical assistance was provided by Ron Sly, David Towk, Kevin Grayling and Bill Beasley. Steve Hughes, SARDI, Adelaide, supplied the seed of spineless M. minima and 4 ecotypes of T. arvense seed. We thank the farmers who allowed collection of seed from their properties. Murray Unkovich, DPI Walpeup, provided valuable advice, and several reviewers made useful comments on the manuscript.


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