Pasture management in semi-arid tropical woodlands: effects on herbage yields and botanical composition

Abstract

The effects of pasture management options (introduced legumes and grasses, superphosphate, timber treatment, cultivation before sowing, stocking rate) on the yield and botanical composition of pastures were measured from 1982 to 1992 at 2 sites, Hillgrove (extractable phosphorus, 50 mg P/kg) and Cardigan (extractable P, 6 mg/kg), near Charters Towers, northeastern Queensland. Despite generally poor establishment and growing conditions, some sown species (Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra, Cenchrus ciliaris, Urochloa mosambicensis) established and persisted at both sites. The initial sown grass populations were small but yields increased markedly towards the end of the experiment. There were no yield responses by the native pastures to superphosphate, but the sown pastures responded at Cardigan, although not at Hillgrove. There were large yield responses to tree killing. The percentage increase in herbage yield following tree killing increased as the available water in the soil during the growing season decreased, and was greater at the higher fertility Hillgrove site. Overall, the native pastures were dominated by perennial grasses, but annual grasses and forbs increased on plots with live trees and high stocking rates towards the end of the trial. sown grasses, particularly C. ciliaris, became dominant (and are likely to remain so) at Hillgrove and on plots with superphosphate at Cardigan, especially where the trees were killed. Productive, mixed pastures with reasonable proportions of both grass and legume were maintained under live trees.