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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 55(6)

Effects of pasture species mixture, management, and environment on the productivity and persistence of dairy pastures in south-west Victoria.

Z. N. Nie A C , D. F. Chapman B , J. Tharmaraj A and R. Clements A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Agriculture and Food Systems, The University of Melbourne, RMB 6200, Terang, Vic. 3264, Australia.

B School of Agriculture and Food Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.

C Present address: Department of Primary Industries, Primary Industries Research Victoria, Private Bag 105, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia; email: Zhongnan.Nie@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55(6) 637-643 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR03175
Submitted: 20 August 2003  Accepted: 31 March 2004   Published: 7 July 2004

Abstract

Poor persistence of perennial pastures, particularly perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)-based pasture, is a major problem for the dairy industry in southern Australia. The effects of pasture species mixture, management and environment on plant population density and persistence were studied in a field experiment at 2 sites for 4 years (1998–2001). Five pasture types, combined with 3 management treatments, were established on a light-textured soil at Naringal, and on a heavier-textured soil at Terang in south-west Victoria in April 1998. The 5 pasture types were: (1) Old persistent type; (2) District mix; (3) Stoloniferous clover; (4) Alternative grasses; and (5) High producing. Most of the types were ryegrass-based except for Alternative grasses that consisted of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.). The 3 management treatments involved different levels of fertiliser input and weed/pest control.

There were significant differences in sown grass tiller density between pasture types in all years. Tiller density of the Alternative grasses remained at around the same level (95–105%) as its establishment tiller density, compared with only 55–62% for ryegrass-based pastures 3–4 years after sowing. Inclusion of stoloniferous white clover cvv. Prestige and Sustain significantly increased sown legume density in 3 out of 4 years. However, the overall legume density was low across all treatments. There was a significant negative exponential relationship between density of sown and volunteer species (predominantly annual grasses and broadleaf weeds). Soil fertility did not affect pasture persistence due to a high basal fertility level at both sites. Pasture persistence was poorer on the light-textured soil than on the heavier soil where soil moisture stress was a major limiting factor. Higher endophyte incidence in perennial ryegrass pasture appeared to improve its persistence. The results suggest that the sown species density should be maintained at >3000 growing points/m2 for ryegrass-based pasture types and >2300 growing points/m2 for Alternative grasses, to achieve a pasture composition with over 70% of sown species.

Additional keywords: soil type, competition, ryegrass, alternative grass, stoloniferous clover.


Acknowledgments

We thank John and Kate Dalton for their permission and assistance with this experiment on their property; DemoDairy at Terang for providing the site and assistance in grazing the trial; Ewan Letts, Anne Lynch, Andrea Lane, and John Marshall for technical assistance; Trevor Pollard, Kevin Smith, Paul Quigley, and John Graham for their comments on the manuscript; Gavin Kearney for his advice on statistical analysis; and Malcolm MaCaskill and Graeme Ward for climate data at Terang. This work was funded by Dairy Australia, WestVic Dairy, and the University of Melbourne. Two degree students, A. Adams and G. Ross, were involved in the project in 1998.


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