Increased beef production from Townsville lucerne (Stylosanthes sundaica Taub.) in the spear grass pastures of central coastal Queensland

Abstract

The performance of Townsville lucerne (Stylosanthes sundaica Taub.) as a legume for inclusion in native pastures dominated by spear grass (Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauu. ex R. & S.) has been studied near Gladstone, in central coastal Queensland. A pasture mixture of Townsviille lucerne and spear grass, given 10.5 cwt 73 superphosphate, 1.5 cwt potassium chloride, and 5 oz sodium molybdate an acre, over a six-year period: produced five times as much Live-weight gain per acre as untreated native pasture. This increase was a combination of higher carving capacity and greater live-weight gain per head. In addition stock. were marketed at from one to two years earlier than normal. Pot and small replicated field experiments showed that Townsville lucerne responded significantly only to superphosphate and did not require potassium or various trace elements including molybdenum on these soils.