Identification of superior native and introduced grasses for low-input pastures in temperate Australia
P. Sanford A J , R. D. B. Whalley B , D. L. Garden C , M. R. Norton D , C. M. Waters E , A. B. Smith F , M. L. Mitchell G , E. Kobelt H , D. A. Friend I , E. Hall I and G. Auricht HA Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Albany Highway, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.
B Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, Botany, University of New England, Armidale,
NSW 2351, Australia.
C NSW Department of Primary Industries, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
D NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 408, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia.
E NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agricultural Research Centre, PMB 19, Trangie,
NSW 2823, Australia.
F NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agricultural Institute, Private Mail Bag, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
G Department of Primary Industries, Research and Development Division, Rutherglen, RMB 1145 Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia.
H South Australian Research and Development Institute, GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
I Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, PO Box 46, Kings Meadows, Tas. 7249, Australia.
J Corresponding author. Email: psanford@agric.wa.gov.au
The Rangeland Journal 27(1) 55-71 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ05005
Submitted: 18 April 2005 Accepted: 29 April 2005 Published: 14 June 2005
Abstract
This paper is the fifth in a series describing trials evaluating native and introduced grasses at eight locations across temperate Australia. In these trials, 62 perennial grass lines were assessed for herbage production, survival and recruitment under low fertiliser conditions using spaced plants produced in glass houses and transplanted into the field. Sites were grouped into three different climatic zones: Eastern Australian permanent pasture, Eastern Australian mixed farming and Mediterranean zone. For each of these zones, superior lines were identified and their potential use in permanent pastures or mixed farming discussed.
Among the C3 grasses tested, several lines of Dactylis glomerata from France on the Mediterranean coast near the Spanish border and from north-west maritime France proved to be superior lines in all zones and were better than the standard comparator cv. Currie with regard to the attributes assessed. In general, the D. glomerata lines were superior to the C3 native species except with respect to survival and recruitment.
The C4 introduced standard comparator Eragrostis curvula cv. Consol was outstanding with regard to its herbage production and survival in all climatic zones, although its recruitment was generally low. Native C4 lines of Themeda australis and Paspalidium jubiflorum yielded well in all climatic zones, and even produced more herbage than Consol in one zone. Survival rates of T. australis and P. jubiflorum were also very high but recruitment was low under the conditions of the trial.
In mixed pastures C4 grasses may reduce fluctuations in feed supply as well as increase water use. As a consequence mixtures of superior C3 and C4 lines identified in this study are likely to be suitable for pastures on infertile soils and in zones subjected to continuous or periodic drought.
Further work on the behaviour of these superior lines under sward conditions in association with forage legumes and their responses to grazing is needed; however, for the promising native lines, sward trials are not possible until suitable technology for commercial seed production and broad acre establishment of these lines has been developed.
Additional keywords: perennial grasses, herbage production, persistence, recruitment.
Acknowledgments
The NLIGN was a joint collaboration between University of New England, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Department of Primary Industries Victoria, Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Department of Agriculture WA with financial support from Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd. Assistance with sampling was provided by Colin Shields, Trent Brassil, Tracey Craze, Andrea Hurst, Wayne Dempsey, Ian Toole, Eric Koetz, Jason Andrews, John Gladman, John Boultwood, Giles Glasson and Bonnie Cole. Special thanks to Bev Orchard for her biometrical assistance throughout the project.
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1 Botanical nomenclature used in this paper follows that of Wheeler et al. (2002), except for grasses with authorities in Table 1.
