Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees. complex pastures in southern New South Wales, Australia: a comparison of Eragrostis curvula cv. Consol and Medicago sativa L. cv. Nova under intensive rotational management
W. H. Johnston A B E , P. S. Cornish A , T. B. Koen C and V. F. Shoemark DA University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia.
B Present address: NSW Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 189, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia.
C NSW Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 445, Cowra, NSW 2620, Australia.
D NSW Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 5336, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: bill.johnston@dipnr.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(10) 1255-1266 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04080
Submitted: 2 May 2004 Accepted: 28 April 2005 Published: 15 November 2005
Abstract
The productivity, carrying capacity and liveweight performance of wether sheep grazing pastures of Eragrostis curvula cv. Consol and Medicago sativa cv. Nova, which were also sown with annual grasses and Trifolium subterraneum, were compared under an intensive 4-paddock rotational grazing regime in a ‘put-and-take’ grazing experiment at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales from November 1993 to August 1996.
The productivity of the pastures was broadly similar, with production peaks of >1000 kg/ha in winter and >3000 kg/ha in spring and summer in paddocks that had been spelled for 6 weeks. Although annual species contributed a high proportion of the total herbage mass in spring, over the remainder of the year, both pastures were dominated by their respective perennials. E. curvula maintained an average plant density of approximately 20 plants/m2. The density of M. sativa declined noticeably during the 3 years, and at the end of the experiment M. sativa plants in 1 replicate of the experiment were killed by rising groundwater and dryland salinity.
The long-term average stocking rate of E. curvula and M. sativa pastures were similar (12.1 v. 12.5 sheep/ha) and both pastures were capable of sustaining high stocking rates for lengthy periods in spring and summer. Sheep grazing M. sativa tended to be heavier than animals grazing E. curvula, and they produced, on average, 1.1 kg (or 21%) more wool. However, M. sativa was more difficult to establish and its costs for weed and insect control were higher. Therefore, although it was more productive, it might not have been the most economically viable of the 2 pastures.
The implications of the findings were discussed within a whole-farm context and it was concluded that E. curvula has a complimentary role to M. sativa for sowing on landscapes and in situations to which M. sativa is poorly adapted.
Additional keywords: lovegrass, lucerne, grazing management, put-and-take grazing.
Acknowledgments
John Aveyard was instrumental in setting this research in train and his support and mentoring is greatly appreciated. The work was partially funded by the Wool Research and Development Corporation. The assistance of support staff including Tom and John Rodham, Greg White, Sarah McGeoch and Rob LeLievre is also greatly appreciated
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