Evaluation of legumes for use in short-term leys and natural pastures on the northern slopes of New South Wales

Abstract

A range of temperate legumes was evaluated for winter and spring production for use as either short-term ley pastures, or, when sown from the air, as introduced species into natural pastures on the higher northern slopes of New South Wales. The species were evaluated with and without the annual application of a compound phosphorus and sulfur fertilizer in four experiments from 1975 to 1978. Haifa white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) was generally the most productive and persistent species with dry matter production in winter and spring ranging from 21 30 to 3600 kg/ha when sown into prepared seedbeds. In natural pastures with applied fertilizer, yields of Haifa ranged from 100 kg/ha in a dry year to 5000 kg/ha. Other persistent species in both ley and natural pastures were Namoi woolly pod vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv. Namoi) (1110-3520 kg/ha and 470-3350 kg/ha, respectively) and Hunter River lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. Hunter River) (1290-2500 kg/ha and 480-2350 kg/ha, respectively). These were the only species to establish themselves satisfactorily in the natural pastures. Other species that showed good potential for ley pastures were Hamua red clover (T. pratense cv. Grasslands Hamua), Clare subterranean clover (T. subterraneum cv. Clare) and Kondinin rose clover (T. hirtum cv. Kondinin), but further evaluation of these legumes is required. The barrel medics were productive in their establishment year averaging 2560 kg/ha dry matter but mean yields in subsequent years were less than 100 kg/ha due to poor regeneration. The natural pastures needed fertilizer to ensure adequate levels of production from the sown legumes. In the ley pastures, a response occurred only in the second year of one experiment. The natural species did not respond to fertilizer. It is concluded that Haifa white clover, woolly pod vetch and lucerne offer significant potential for use in both ley and natural pastures on the north-western slopes