Exploring short-term ley legumes in subtropical grain systems: production, water-use, water-use efficiency and economics of tropical and temperate options
Lindsay W. Bell A B E , John Lawrence A B , Brian Johnson C and Anthony Whitbread D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship.
B CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences/APSRU, 203 Tor St, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
C Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Queensland, 203 Tor St, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
D Crop Production Systems in the Tropics, Georg-August-Universität, Grisebachstr. 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
E Corresponding author. Email: Lindsay.Bell@csiro.au
Crop and Pasture Science 63(9) 819-832 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP12190
Submitted: 4 May 2012 Accepted: 20 July 2012 Published: 10 December 2012
Abstract
Biomass production, soil water extraction, and water-use efficiency (WUE, kg dry matter (DM)/ha.mm growing-season water use) of tropical, summer-growing and temperate, winter-growing forage legumes suited to short-term rotations with crops were compared over several growing seasons in southern Queensland. Tropical legumes lablab (Lablab purpureus cvv. Highworth and Endurance), burgundy bean (Macroptillium bracteatum cvv. Cardarga/Juanita mix), and butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea cv. Milgara) were compared with forage sorghum (Sorghum spp. cv. Silk and cv. Sugargraze). Temperate legumes snail medic (Medicago scutellata cv. Sava), lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. UQL-1), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium cv. Wilpena), and purple vetch (Vicia benghalensis cv. Popany) were compared with forage oats (Avena sativa cv. Taipan/Genie). Production and WUE of winter legumes was highly variable, with oats producing more biomass than the legumes, except in 2009 where oat establishment was poor. In years with good establishment, WUE of oats (14–28 kg DM/ha.mm), snail medic (13–25 kg DM/ha.mm), and sulla (12–20 kg DM/ha.mm) were similar, but the production and WUE of vetch were generally lower (6–14 kg DM/ha.mm). Sulla dried the soil profile by 60–100 mm more than the annual species, but less than lucerne. Summer legumes, burgundy bean, and lablab performed similarly, although always produced less biomass and had lower WUE than forage sorghum. Lucerne extracted more water and maintained a drier profile by 70–150 mm and had lower WUE (<10 kg DM/ha.mm) than burgundy bean or lablab (9–30 kg DM/ha.mm). Of the legumes tested, burgundy bean and lablab seem the most likely to be profitably integrated into subtropical cropping systems. Further evidence of the rotational benefits provided by these legumes is required before they will be favoured over the perceived reliability and higher productivity of annual grass-type forages.
Additional keywords: alfalfa, forage, persistence, root depth, rotation.
References
Armstrong RD, McCosker K, Johnson SB, Millar G, Walsh KB, Kuskopf B, Probert ME, Standley J (1999) Legume and opportunity cropping systems in central Queensland. 1. Legume growth, nitrogen fixation, and water use. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 909–924.| Legume and opportunity cropping systems in central Queensland. 1. Legume growth, nitrogen fixation, and water use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ashok , Hussain ISA, Wright GC, Prasad TG, Kumar MU, Rao RCN (1999) Variation in transpiration efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination in cowpea. Functional Plant Biology 26, 503–510.
Bell LW, Lloyd DL, Bell KL, Johnson B, Teasdale KC (2003) First year seed softening in three Hedysarum spp. in southern Queensland. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 1303–1310.
| First year seed softening in three Hedysarum spp. in southern Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bolger TP, Turner NC (1998) Transpiration efficiency of three Mediterranean annual pasture species and wheat. Oecologia 115, 32–38.
| Transpiration efficiency of three Mediterranean annual pasture species and wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clarkson NM, Chaplain NP, Fairbairn ML (1987) Comparative effects of annual medics (Medicago spp.) and nitrogen fertiliser on the herbage yield and quality of subtropical grass pastures in southern inland Queensland. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 27, 257–265.
| Comparative effects of annual medics (Medicago spp.) and nitrogen fertiliser on the herbage yield and quality of subtropical grass pastures in southern inland Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clem RL (2004) Animal production from legume-based ley pastures in south-eastern Queensland. In ‘Tropical legumes for sustainable farming systems in southern Africa and Australia’. (Eds AM Whitbread, BC Pengelly) (Australian Centre of International Agricultural Research: Canberra, ACT)
Clem RL, Cook BG (2004) Identification and development of forage species for long-term ley pasture leys for the southern Speargrass region of Queensland. In ‘Tropical legumes for sustainable farming systems in southern Africa and Australia’. (Eds AM Whitbread, BC Pengelly) pp. 64–80. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra, ACT)
Conway MJ, McCosker K, Osten V, Coaker S, Pengelly BC (2001) Butterfly pea—a legume success story in cropping lands of central Queensland. In ‘Science and technology: Delivering results for agriculture? Proceedings of the 10th Australian Agronomy Conference’. Hobart, Tasmania. (Eds B Rowe, D Donaghy, N Mendham) (Australian Society of Agronomy/Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW)
Cullen BR, Hill JO (2006) A survey of the use of lucerne, butterfly pea and lablab in ley pastures in the mixed-farming systems of northern Australia. Tropical Grasslands 40, 24–32.
Dalal RC, Weston EJ, Strong WM, Lehane KJ, Cooper JE, Wildermuth GB, King AJ, Holmes CJ (2004a) Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 7. Yield, nitrogen and disease-break benefits from lucerne in a two-year lucerne-wheat rotation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 607–616.
| Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 7. Yield, nitrogen and disease-break benefits from lucerne in a two-year lucerne-wheat rotation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dalal RC, Weston EJ, Strong WM, Probert ME, Lehane KJ, Cooper JE, King AJ, Holmes CJ (2004b) Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 8. Effect of duration of lucerne ley on soil nitrogen and water, wheat yield and protein. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 1013–1024.
| Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 8. Effect of duration of lucerne ley on soil nitrogen and water, wheat yield and protein.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dalgliesh N, Foale M (1998) ‘Soil matters—monitoring soil water and nutrient in dryland farming.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Ferraris R, Charles-Edwards DA (1986) A comparative analysis of the growth of sweet and forage sorghum crops. I. Dry matter production, phenology and morphology. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 37, 495–512.
| A comparative analysis of the growth of sweet and forage sorghum crops. I. Dry matter production, phenology and morphology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
French AV, O’Rourke PK, Cameron DG (1988) Beef production from forage crops in the Brigalow region of Central Queensland 1. Forage sorghums. Tropical Grasslands 22, 79–84.
Hill JO, Robertson MJ, Pengelly BC, Whitbread AM, Hall CA (2006) Simulation modelling of lablab (Lablab purpureus) pastures in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 389–401.
| Simulation modelling of lablab (Lablab purpureus) pastures in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hirth JR, Haines PJ, Ridley AM, Wilson KF (2001) Lucerne in crop rotations on the Riverine Plains. 2. Biomass and grain yields, water use efficiency, soil nitrogen, and profitability. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 279–293.
| Lucerne in crop rotations on the Riverine Plains. 2. Biomass and grain yields, water use efficiency, soil nitrogen, and profitability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holford ICR (1980) Effects of duration of grazed lucerne on long-term yields and nitrogen uptake of subsequent wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 239–250.
| Effects of duration of grazed lucerne on long-term yields and nitrogen uptake of subsequent wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holford ICR, Crocker GJ (1997) A comparison of chickpeas and pasture legumes for sustaining yields and nitrogen status of subsequent wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, 305–316.
| A comparison of chickpeas and pasture legumes for sustaining yields and nitrogen status of subsequent wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holford ICR, Schweitzer BE, Crocker GJ (1998) Comparative effects of subterranean clover, medic, lucerne, and chickpea in wheat rotations, on nitrogen, organic carbon, and moisture in two contrasting soils. Soil Research 36, 57–72.
| Comparative effects of subterranean clover, medic, lucerne, and chickpea in wheat rotations, on nitrogen, organic carbon, and moisture in two contrasting soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne).
Jones RM, Rees MC (1997) Evaluation of tropical legumes on clay soils at four sites in southern inland Queensland. Tropical Grasslands 31, 95–106.
Lloyd DL, Hilder TB (1978) Growth of lucerne in relation to soil water. In ‘Queensland Wheat Research Institute Biennial Report 1976–1978’. p. 41. (Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Toowoomba)
Lloyd DL, Smith KP, Clarkson NM, Weston EJ, Johnson B (1991) Sustaining multiple production systems. 3. Ley pastures in the subtropics. Tropical Grasslands 25, 181–188.
McDonald LM, Wright P, MacLeod DA (2001) Nitrogen fixation by lablab (Lablab purpureus) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) rotation crops in an irrigated cotton farming system. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 219–225.
| Nitrogen fixation by lablab (Lablab purpureus) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) rotation crops in an irrigated cotton farming system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Muchow RC (1985) Phenology, seed yield and water use of grain legumes grown under different soil water regimes in a semi-arid tropical environment. Field Crops Research 11, 81–97.
| Phenology, seed yield and water use of grain legumes grown under different soil water regimes in a semi-arid tropical environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murray-Prior RB, Whish J, Carberry P, Dalgleish N (2005) Lucerne improves some sustainability indicators but may decrease profitability of cropping rotations on the Jimbour Plain. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 651–663.
| Lucerne improves some sustainability indicators but may decrease profitability of cropping rotations on the Jimbour Plain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nichols PGH, Loi A, Nutt BJ, Evans PM, Craig AD, Pengelly BC, Dear BS, Lloyd DL, Revell CK, Nair RM, Ewing MA, Howieson JG, Auricht GA, Howie JH, Sandral GA, Carr SJ, de Koning CT, Hackney BF, Crocker GJ, Snowball R, Hughes SJ, Hall EJ, Foster KJ, Skinner PW, Barbetti MJ, You MP (2007) New annual and short-lived perennial pasture legumes for Australian agriculture—15 years of revolution. Field Crops Research 104, 10–23.
| New annual and short-lived perennial pasture legumes for Australian agriculture—15 years of revolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pengelly BC, Conway MJ (2001) Pastures for cropping soils: which tropical pasture to use. Tropical Grasslands 34, 162–168.
Peoples MB, Bowman AM, Gault RR, Herridge DF, McCallum MH, McCormick KM, Norton RM, Rochester IJ, Scammell GJ, Schwenke GD (2001) Factors regulating the contributions of fixed nitrogen by pasture and crop legumes to different farming systems of eastern Australia. Plant and Soil 228, 29–41.
| Factors regulating the contributions of fixed nitrogen by pasture and crop legumes to different farming systems of eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhtlWkur8%3D&md5=1d765b375b1022d4190d5a9e0f2f5ee9CAS |
Puckridge DW, French RJ (1983) The annual legume pasture in cereal-ley farming systems of southern Australia: a review. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 9, 229–267.
| The annual legume pasture in cereal-ley farming systems of southern Australia: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ryley MJ, Lloyd DL, Johnson B, Teasdale KC, Mackie JM (2004) Rhizoctonia crown and root rot of the pasture legume, sulla (Hedysarum coronarium). Australasian Plant Pathology 33, 183–188.
| Rhizoctonia crown and root rot of the pasture legume, sulla (Hedysarum coronarium).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Singh DK, McGuckian N, Routley RA, Thomas GA, Dalal RC, Dang YP, Hall TJ, Strahan R, Christodoulou N, Cawley S, Ward L (2009) Poor adoption of ley-pastures in south-west Queensland: biophysical, economic and social constraints. Animal Production Science 49, 894–906.
| Poor adoption of ley-pastures in south-west Queensland: biophysical, economic and social constraints.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas GA, Dalal RC, Weston EJ, Lehane KJ, King AJ, Orange DN, Holmes CJ, Wildermuth GB (2009) Pasture-crop rotations for sustainable production in a wheat and sheep-based farming system on a Vertosol in south-west Queensland, Australia. Animal Production Science 49, 682–695.
| Pasture-crop rotations for sustainable production in a wheat and sheep-based farming system on a Vertosol in south-west Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weston EJ, Doughton JA, Dalal RC, Strong WM, Thomas GA, Lehane KJ, Cooper JC, King AJ, Holmes CJ (2000) Managing long-term fertility of cropping lands with ley pastures in southern Queensland. Tropical Grasslands 34, 169–176.
Weston EJ, Dalal RC, Strong WM, Lehane KJ, Cooper JE, King AJ, Holmes CJ (2002) Sustaining productivity of a Vertisol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 6. Production and nitrogen benefits from annual medic in rotation with wheat. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 42, 961–969.
| Sustaining productivity of a Vertisol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 6. Production and nitrogen benefits from annual medic in rotation with wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitbread AM, Pengelly BC, Smith BR (2005) An evaluation of three tropical ley legumes for use in mixed farming systems on clay soils in southern inland Queensland, Australia. Tropical Grasslands 39, 9–21.
Whitbread AM, Hall CA, Pengelly BC (2009) A novel approach to planting grass–legume pastures in the mixed farming zone of southern inland Queensland, Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 60, 1147–1155.
| A novel approach to planting grass–legume pastures in the mixed farming zone of southern inland Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
