Perennial pastures in cropping systems of southern Australia: an overview of present and future research
Michael Robertson A B C E and Clinton Revell C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, PMB 5 Wembley, Western Australia 6913, Australia.
B CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship.
C Future Farm Industries CRC.
D Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Locked Bag 4 Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: michael.robertson@csiro.au
Crop and Pasture Science 65(10) 1084-1090 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP14040
Submitted: 24 January 2014 Accepted: 8 April 2014 Published: 7 October 2014
Abstract
Addressing the opportunities and challenges for integrating perennial forages and shrubs into the mixed crop–livestock farming systems of southern Australia has been the focus of the Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre EverCrop project. This overview discusses the use of perennial plants in cropping landscapes in terms of the concepts of ‘rotation, separation and integration’ and highlights the contribution of papers in this special issue of Crop and Pasture Science across a range of biophysical and socioeconomic factors. Drivers for the inclusion of perennial forage plants include salinity management, groundcover maintenance and filling seasonal feed gaps, and this need will continue as mixed crop–livestock systems evolve in the context of managing business risk and a requirement for better natural resource management outcomes.
Additional keywords: competition, crops, economics, forage, natural resources, perennial pastures, shrubs.
References
Angus JF, Gault RR, Good AJ, Hart AB, Jones TD, Peoples MB (2000) Lucerne removal before a cropping phase. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 877–889.| Lucerne removal before a cropping phase.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell LW, Moore AD (2012) Integrated crop–livestock systems in Australian agriculture: Trends, drivers and implications. Agricultural Systems 111, 1–12.
| Integrated crop–livestock systems in Australian agriculture: Trends, drivers and implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell L, Wade L, Ewing M (2010) Perennial wheat: a review of environmental and agronomic prospects for development in Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 61, 679–690.
| Perennial wheat: a review of environmental and agronomic prospects for development in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell LW, Moore AD, Kirkegaard JA (2013) Evolution in crop–livestock integration systems that improve farm productivity and environmental performance in Australia. European Journal of Agronomy 57, 10–20.
| Evolution in crop–livestock integration systems that improve farm productivity and environmental performance in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Byrne F, Bathgate A, Robertson MJ, Hoque Z (2010) Factors influencing potential scale of adoption of a perennial pasture in a mixed crop–livestock farming system. Agricultural Systems 103, 453–462.
| Factors influencing potential scale of adoption of a perennial pasture in a mixed crop–livestock farming system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clark S, Culvenor R, Gardner M, Harris C, Hayes R, Li G, Nie Z, Norton M, Clark B (2012) Novel cocksfoots for SE Australia—establishment and production. In ‘Capturing opportunities and overcoming obstacles in Australian agronomy. Proceedings 16th Australian Society of Agronomy Conference’. 14–18 October 2012, Armidale, NSW. (Australian Society of Agronomy/The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2012/pastures/8011_clarksg.htm
Cocks PS (2001) Ecology of herbaceous perennial legumes: a review of characteristics that may provide management options for the control of salinity and waterlogging in dryland cropping systems. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 137–151.
| Ecology of herbaceous perennial legumes: a review of characteristics that may provide management options for the control of salinity and waterlogging in dryland cropping systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Culvenor R, Clark S, Li G, Gardner M, Harris C, Hayes R, Nie Z, Norton M (2012) Evaluating new phalaris populations for lower rainfall margins in SE Australia. In ‘Capturing opportunities and overcoming obstacles in Australian agronomy. Proceedings 16th Australian Society of Agronomy Conference’. 14–18 October 2012, Armidale, NSW. (Australian Society of Agronomy/The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2012/pastures/8044_culvenorr.htm
Dear BS, Ewing MA (2008) The search for new pasture plants to achieve more sustainable production systems in southern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 387–396.
| The search for new pasture plants to achieve more sustainable production systems in southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dear BS, Reed KFM, Craig AD (2008) Outcomes of the search for new perennial and salt tolerant pasture plants for southern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 578–588.
| Outcomes of the search for new perennial and salt tolerant pasture plants for southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Descheemaeker K, Llewellyn R, Moore A, Whitbread A (2014a) Summer-growing perennial grasses are a potential new feed source in the low rainfall environment of southern Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 1033–1043.
Descheemaeker K, Smith AP, Robertson MJ, Whitbread AM, Huth NI, Davoren W, Emms J, Llewellyn R (2014b) Simulation of water-limited growth of the forage shrub saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) in a low-rainfall environment of southern Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 1068–1083.
Donnelly JR, Freer M, Salmon EM, Moore AD, Simpson RJ, Dove H, Bolger TP (2002) Evolution of the GRAZPLAN decision support tools and adoption by the grazing industry in temperate Australia. Agricultural Systems 74, 115–139.
| Evolution of the GRAZPLAN decision support tools and adoption by the grazing industry in temperate Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Doole GJ, Bathgate AD, Robertson MJ (2009) Labour scarcity restricts the potential scale of grazed perennial plants in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Animal Production Science 49, 883–893.
| Labour scarcity restricts the potential scale of grazed perennial plants in the Western Australian wheatbelt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Durmic Z, Hutton P, Revell DK, Emms J, Hughes S, Vercoe PE (2010) In vitro fermentative traits of Australian woody perennial plant species that may be considered as potential sources of feed for grazing ruminants. Animal Feed Science and Technology 160, 98–109.
| In vitro fermentative traits of Australian woody perennial plant species that may be considered as potential sources of feed for grazing ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Findlater PA, Carter DJ, Scott WD (1990) A model to predict the effects of prostrate ground cover on wind erosion. Australian Journal of Soil Research 28, 609–622.
| A model to predict the effects of prostrate ground cover on wind erosion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Finlayson JD, Lawes RA, Metcalf T, Robertson MJ, Ferris D, Ewing MA (2012) A bio-economic evaluation of the profitability of adopting subtropical grasses and pasture–cropping on crop–livestock farms. Agricultural Systems 106, 102–112.
| A bio-economic evaluation of the profitability of adopting subtropical grasses and pasture–cropping on crop–livestock farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Foster KJ, Ryan MH, Real D, Ramankutty P, Lambers H (2012) Drought resistance at the seedling stage in the promising fodder plant tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata). Crop & Pasture Science 63, 1034–1042.
| Drought resistance at the seedling stage in the promising fodder plant tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gupta VVSR, Kroker SJ, Hicks M, Davoren CW, Descheermaeker K, Llewellyn R (2014) Nitrogen cycling in summer active perennial grass systems in South Australia: non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 1044–1056.
Harris C, Clark S, Culvenor R, Li G, Gardner M, Hayes R, Nie Z, Norton M, Clark B (2012) New tall fescue cultivars for medium to low rainfall environments in southern Australia. In ‘Capturing opportunities and overcoming obstacles in Australian agronomy. Proceedings 16th Australian Society of Agronomy Conference’. 14–18 October 2012, Armidale, NSW. (Australian Society of Agronomy/The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2012/pastures/8227_harrisc.htm
Hayes RC, Newell MT, DeHaane LR, Murphy KM, Crane S, Norton MR, Wade LJ, Newberry M, Fahim M, Jones SS, Cox TS, Larkin PJ (2012) Perennial cereal crops: An initial evaluation of wheat derivatives. Field Crops Research 133, 68–89.
| Perennial cereal crops: An initial evaluation of wheat derivatives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Humphries AW, Hughes SJ, Nair RM, Kobelt E, Sandral G (2014) High levels of diversity for seed and forage production exist in Cullen australasicum, a potential new perennial forage legume for dry environments in southern Australia. The Rangeland Journal 36, 41–51.
| High levels of diversity for seed and forage production exist in Cullen australasicum, a potential new perennial forage legume for dry environments in southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hutchinson MF, McIntyre S, Hobbs RJ, Stein JL, Garnett S, Kinloch J (2005) Integrating a global agro-climatic classification with bioregional boundaries in Australia. Global Ecology and Biogeography 14, 197–212.
| Integrating a global agro-climatic classification with bioregional boundaries in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kragt ME, Pannell DJ, Robertson MJ, Thamo T (2012) Assessing costs of soil carbon sequestration by crop-livestock farmers in Western Australia. Agricultural Systems 112, 27–37.
| Assessing costs of soil carbon sequestration by crop-livestock farmers in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lawes RA, Robertson MJ (2012) The effect of sub-tropical perennial grass pastures on nutrients and carbon in coarse-textured soils in a Mediterranean climate. Soil Research 50, 551–561.
| The effect of sub-tropical perennial grass pastures on nutrients and carbon in coarse-textured soils in a Mediterranean climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xhs12jsrjN&md5=87c45f05c8e0d2c7d1f048d05d2d0e36CAS |
Lawes RA, Ward PR, Ferris D (2014) Pasture cropping with C4 grasses in a barley–lupin rotation can increase production. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 1002–1015.
Lefroy EC, Flugge F, Avery A, Hume I (2005) Potential of current perennial plant-based farming systems to deliver salinity management outcomes and improve prospects for native biodiversity: a review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 1357–1367.
| Potential of current perennial plant-based farming systems to deliver salinity management outcomes and improve prospects for native biodiversity: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li GD, Lodge GM, Moore GA, Craig AD, Dear BS, Boschma SP, Albertson TO, Miller SM, Harden S, Hayes RC, Hughes SJ, Snowball R, Smith AB, Cullis BC (2008) Evaluation of perennial pasture legumes and herbs to identify species with high herbage production and persistence in mixed farming zones in southern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 449–466.
| Evaluation of perennial pasture legumes and herbs to identify species with high herbage production and persistence in mixed farming zones in southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li GD, Hayes RC, McCormick JI, Gardner MJ, Sandral GA, Dear BS (2014) Time of sowing and the presence of a cover-crop determine the productivity and persistence of perennial pastures in the mixed farming system. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 988–1001.
Lilley JM, Moore AD (2009) Trade-offs between productivity and ground cover in mixed farming systems in the Murrumbidgee catchment of New South Wales. Animal Production Science 49, 837–851.
| Trade-offs between productivity and ground cover in mixed farming systems in the Murrumbidgee catchment of New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Llewellyn R, Whitbread A, Lawes R, Raisbeck-Brown N, Hill P (2010) Fork in the road: forage shrub plantings by crop-livestock farmers in a low rainfall region of southern Australia. In ‘Food security from sustainable agriculture. Proceedings 15th Agronomy Conference 2010’. 15–18 November 2010, Lincoln, New Zealand. (Ed. H Dove) (Australian Society of Agronomy The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2010/pastures-forage/dryland-perennials/7179_llewellynr.htm
Llewellyn RS, Robertson MJ, Hayes RC, Ferris D, Descheemaeker K, Revell C (2014) Developing the role of perennial forages for crop–livestock farms: a strategic multi-disciplinary approach. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 945–955.
Mata G, Henry DA, Gherardi SG, Smith RCG (2004) Pastures from Space—introduction to the technology on farm. Animal Production in Australia 25, 281
McCormick JI, Hayes RC, Li GD, Norton MR (2014) A review of pasture establishment by under sowing with special reference to the mixed farming zone of south-eastern Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 956–972.
Monjardino M, Revell D, Pannell DJ (2010) The potential contribution of forage shrubs to economic returns and environmental management in Australian dryland agricultural systems. Agricultural Systems 103, 187–197.
| The potential contribution of forage shrubs to economic returns and environmental management in Australian dryland agricultural systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Monjardino M, Bathgate A, Llewellyn R (2014) Opportunities for plant improvement to increase the value of forage shrubs on low-rainfall mixed farms. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 1057–1067.
Moore GA, Nichols PGH, Yates RJ, Spadek ZE, Barrett-Lennard P, Wintle BJ, Titterington JW, Ramankutty P, Peake B, Knight S, Woolston G (2013) The development of sub-tropical grass-based pastures in a Mediterranean environment. In ‘Perennial grasses in production systems. Technical Symposium 2013, Australian Grasslands Association’. 15–16 May 2013, Canberra, ACT. (Australian Grasslands Association: Melbourne)
Morris JE, Cronin GM, Bush RD (2012) Improving sheep production and welfare in extensive systems through precision sheep management. Animal Production Science 52, 665–670.
Norton MR, Lelièvre F, Fukai S, Volaire F (2008) Measurement of summer dormancy in temperate perennial pasture grasses. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 498–509.
| Measurement of summer dormancy in temperate perennial pasture grasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Connell M, Young J, Kingwell R (2006) The economic value of saltland pastures in a mixed farming system in Western Australia. Agricultural Systems 89, 371–389.
| The economic value of saltland pastures in a mixed farming system in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Oliver Y, Lefroy T, Stirzaker R, Davies C, Waugh D (2005) Integrate, segregate or rotate trees with crops?—Measuring the trade-off between yield and recharge control. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Report No. 04/177. RIRDC, Barton, ACT.
Oram RN, Hoen K (1967) Perennial grass cultivars for long leys in the wheat belt of southern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 7, 249–254.
| Perennial grass cultivars for long leys in the wheat belt of southern New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Puckridge DW, French RJ (1983) The annual legume pasture in cereal-ley farming systems of southern Australia: a review. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 9, 229–267.
| The annual legume pasture in cereal-ley farming systems of southern Australia: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Real D, Li G, Clark S, Albertsen TO, Hayes RC, Denton MD, D’Antuono MF, Dear BS (2011) Evaluation of perennial forage legumes and herbs in six Mediterranean environments. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 71, 357–369.
| Evaluation of perennial forage legumes and herbs in six Mediterranean environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reeves TG, Ewing MA (1993) Is ley farming in mediterranean zones just a passing phase? In ‘Proceedings of the XVII International Grassland Congress’. Rockhampton, Australia. pp. 2169–2177. (International Grasslands Congress)
Revell DK, Norman HC, Vercoe PE, Phillips N, Toovey A, Bickell S, Hulm E, Hughes S, Emms J (2013) Australian perennial shrub species add value to the feed base of grazing livestock in low- to medium-rainfall zones. Animal Production Science 53, 1221–1230.
| Australian perennial shrub species add value to the feed base of grazing livestock in low- to medium-rainfall zones.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertson MJ (2006) ‘Lucerne prospects: Drivers for widespread adoption of lucerne for profit and salinity management.’ (Cooperative Research Centre for Plant Based Management of Dryland Salinity: Perth, W. Aust.)
Robertson MJ, Bathgate A, Moore AD, Lawes R, Lilley J (2009) Seeking simultaneous improvements in farm profit and natural resource indicators: a modelling analysis. Animal Production Science 49, 826–836.
| Seeking simultaneous improvements in farm profit and natural resource indicators: a modelling analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanford P, Whalley DL, Norton MR, Waters CM, Smith AB, Mitchell ML, Kobelt E, Friend DA, Hall E, Auricht G (2005) Identification of superior native and introduced grasses for low-input pastures in temperate Australia. The Rangeland Journal 27, 55–71.
| Identification of superior native and introduced grasses for low-input pastures in temperate Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott BJ, Ridley AM, Conyers MK (2000) Management of soil acidity in long-term pastures of south-eastern Australia: a review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 1173–1198.
| Management of soil acidity in long-term pastures of south-eastern Australia: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Suriyagoda LDB, Real D, Renton M, Lambers H, Ryan MH (2013) Establishment, survival, and herbage production of novel, summer-active perennial pasture legumes in the low-rainfall cropping zone of Western Australia as affected by plant density and cutting frequency. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 71–85.
| Establishment, survival, and herbage production of novel, summer-active perennial pasture legumes in the low-rainfall cropping zone of Western Australia as affected by plant density and cutting frequency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Swan AD, Peoples MB, Hayes RC, Li GD, Casburn GR, McCormick JI, Dear BS (2014) Farmer experience with perennial pastures in the mixed farming areas of southern New South Wales: on-farm participatory research investigating pasture establishment using cover-cropping. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 973–987.
Thomas DT, Lawes RA, Descheemaeker K, Moore AD (2014) Selection of crop cultivars suited to the location combined with astute management can reduce yield penalties in pasture cropping systems. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 1022–1032.
Ward PR, Lawes RA, Ferris D (2014) Soil-water dynamics in a pasture-cropping system. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 1016–1021.
