Cullen australasicum (syn. Psoralea australasica): a review and some preliminary studies related to its potential as a low rainfall perennial pasture legume
B. S. Dear A C D , G. D. Li A C , R. C. Hayes A C , S. J. Hughes B C , N. Charman B C and R. A. Ballard B CA EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University), Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, PMB, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
B South Australian Research and Development Institute, Plant Research Centre, Waite Campus, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
C Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: brian.dear@dpi.nsw.gov.au
The Rangeland Journal 29(2) 121-132 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ06039
Submitted: 9 October 2006 Accepted: 24 April 2007 Published: 28 September 2007
Abstract
This paper reviews the morphology, establishment, herbage quality, grazing tolerance, palatability, anti-nutritional compounds and rhizobial symbiosis of Cullen australasicum (Schltdl.) J.W. Grimes (syn. Psoralea australasica Schltdl.), a deep-rooted Australian native legume commonly known as tall verbine or native scurf-pea. Its natural distribution and the edaphic and climatic characteristics of germplasm collection sites within Australia are described. It also reports the results of three preliminary studies; two field studies on the establishment, persistence and herbage quality, and a glasshouse study to identify an effective Rhizobium strain for C. australasicum. In the field studies, C. australasicum established readily from seed and demonstrated similar persistence to Medicago sativa L. over a 3-year period in the medium rainfall wheat belt of southern New South Wales. The productivity of C. australasicum in year 3 was similar to M. sativa at one site but inferior at the second site. C. australasicum demonstrated superior persistence and higher herbage yields than Lotus corniculatus L. in year 3 at both sites. The mineral content of the leaves and stems of C. australasicum in these studies were similar to M. sativa and L. corniculatus for most elements except for Mo and Zn, which were significantly higher, and Na which was lower in C. australasicum. Organic matter digestibility of the leaves and stems of C. australasicum ranged from 79 to 89% and 62 to 72%, respectively, compared with 73–79% and 59–73% in M. sativa. Crude protein levels of C. australasicum leaves and stems were 22–28% and 15–27%, respectively, compared with 26–33% and 13–33% in M. sativa. The study of Rhizobium strains isolated from four South Australian soils identified a superior strain (SRDI 483) capable of establishing an effective symbiosis with C. australasicum.
The potential of C. australasicum as a drought hardy perennial legume for extensive grazing systems where M. sativa fails to persist because of selective grazing is discussed. Its low palatability to sheep was seen as an advantage in assisting its survival in extensive low-input grazing systems.
Additional keywords: native scurf pea, Rhizobium, tall verbine.
Acknowledgements
This project was financially supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation project UWA 397. The field studies were conducted as part of the research program of the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity. The authors thank Mr R Bennett for his constructive comments on the manuscript.
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