Journal articles on the topic 'Pasture cropping'
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1
Luna, Ignacio M., César Fernández-Quintanilla, and José Dorado. "Is Pasture Cropping a Valid Weed Management Tool?" Plants 9, no. 2 (January 21, 2020): 135. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants9020135.
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The aim of the present work was to study the feasibility of pasture cropping under the Mediterranean conditions prevailing in central Spain and its potential as a weed management tool. Three cropping systems were assessed: conventionally grown winter barley and winter barley in pasture cropping with two perennial summer species, Cynodon dactylon and Eragrostis curvula. The results showed that the growth of these two species in a pasture cropping system was limited by the severe drought conditions and high temperatures present during the summer in some of the study years. Although there were no differences in the establishment of winter barley in any of the treatments assessed, pasture cropping reduced winter barley yields up to 50%–60% in years with low rainfall in spring. Regarding weed control, pasture cropping showed a significant suppression of the total weed density and number of weed species. As a conclusion, pasture cropping can be considered as a valid weed management tool. However, the economic feasibility of this system under the climatic conditions of central Spain (characterized by a high risk of severe summer droughts) is still not clear. The availability of supplemental irrigation may reduce competition between pastures and winter crops and ensure a profitable production of summer pastures.
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Ward, P. R., R. A. Lawes, and D. Ferris. "Soil-water dynamics in a pasture-cropping system." Crop and Pasture Science 65, no. 10 (2014): 1016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp14046.
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Pasture cropping is a farming system in which annual crops are sown into established perennial pastures. It may provide environmental benefits such as increased groundcover and reduced deep drainage, while allowing traditional crop production in the Mediterranean-style climate of south-western Australia. In this research, we investigated deep drainage and the temporal patterns of water use by a subtropical perennial grass, annual crops, and a pasture-cropping system over a 4-year period. Both the pasture and pasture-cropped treatments reduced deep drainage significantly, by ~50 mm compared with the crop treatment. Competition between the pasture and crop components altered patterns of average daily water use, the pasture-cropped treatment having the highest water use for July, August and September. Consequently, water-use efficiency for grain production was lower in the pasture-cropped plots. This was offset by pasture production, so that over a full 12-month period, water-use efficiency for biomass production was generally greater for the pasture-cropped plots than for either the pasture or crop monocultures. Pasture cropping may be a viable way of generating sustainable economic returns from both crop and pasture production on sandy soils of south-western Australia.
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Macedo, I., G. Cantou, and J. A. Terra. "Soil Use Intensity Effects on Soil Organic Carbon in No-till Crop-pasture Rotations Systems." Agrociencia 19, no. 3 (December 2015): 25. http://dx.doi.org/10.31285/agro.19.254.
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Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key soil quality indicator for cropping systems sustainability. We evaluated 20 yrs. soil use intensity effects on SOC (0-5 cm and 5-15 cm depth) in a 72 ha no-till crop-pasture rotation experiment (33°:15’36"S, 54°:29’26"W, 60-m elevation) in Treinta y Tres, Uruguay (Abruptic Argiaquolls and Oxiaquic Vertic Argiudolls). Treatments between 1995-2005 were: Continuous cropping (CC) of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. or oat Avena sp. in winter and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or foxtail millet (Setaria italica) in summer; 2) Short Rotation (SR): two years idem CC and two years pasture of red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and Holcus lanatus L.; 3) Long Rotation (LR) two years idem CC and four years pasture of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.); 4) Permanent Pasture (PP): natural pasture overseeded with legumes used in RL. Since 2005 until now, grain crops substituted forage crops in the «cropping phase» of all rotations (CC, SR, LR), maintaining without modifications the pasture phase of them. Grain cropping sequence was: Oat (Avena sativa L.), Sorghum bicolor (L.), black oat (Avena sp., as a winter cover crop), soybean (Glycine max L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). After 20 years, significant SOC differences (0-5 cm) were found between rotations. Continuous cropping decreased SOC by 16%, 18%, 31% compared to SR (25.55 g kg-1), LR (26.17 g kg-1) and PP (31.32 g kg-1), respectively. Although no SOC differences were found between rotations that include perennial pastures (SR and LR), both had 18% lower SOC than PP. A trend of SOC decrease (12%) was observed also in PP compared to the original situation that existed at the beginning of the experiment (natural pasture 35.25 g kg-1). No SOC differences were found in the 5-15 cm depth between treatments that included pastures. However, there was an average SOC increase of 14% in these treatments (13.34 g kg-1) compared to CC. The aggregate of data suggest that, even under no-till, continuous cropping reduced SOC compared with cropping systems that include some proportion of pastures in the rotation. For undisturbed fragile soils incorporated to grain production, like those prevalent in 1 million ha in Eastern Uruguay, the inclusion of perennial pastures in the rotations is critical for soil conservation and mitigation of SOC losses in cropping systems.
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Gardyne, Graeme. "Value and potential of white clover for sheep production." NZGA: Research and Practice Series 6 (January 1, 1996): 71–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.6.1995.3380.
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The Gardyne Family farm a 710 hectare property at Chatton near Gore in Southland. The property is intensively farmed with 9,375 stock units, sheep and beef being carried at rates of 17.5 su/ha on the cropping property and 12.5 su/ha on the Pyramid Hill grazing property. White clover is the key to animal, crop and herbage production supplying nitrogen for highly productive pastures, building organic matter levels for the cropping rotation, and providing very high quality feed for finishing young stock. Management techniques to maximise clover production are essential and include: (i) use of adequate P, K and S fertiliser to ensure Olsen P levels above 20, (ii) set stocking the grazing block from lambing to weaning to generate maximum clover yields, (iii) returning older grass dominant pastures to cropping to harvest the fertility build up and restore a clover-dominant pasture, and (iv) maintaining adequate pasture cover to allow the pasture plants to express their potential. The Gardyne family use and experience the benefits of the regionally bred Grasslands Demand white clover on their property. Establishment of new cultivars is discussed, and suggestions made for further research. Keywords: beef, cropping, fertiliser, Grasslands Demand, pasture establishment, pasture management, sheep, Southland, stocking rates, white clover
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Millar, G. D., and W. B. Badgery. "Pasture cropping: a new approach to integrate crop and livestock farming systems." Animal Production Science 49, no. 10 (2009): 777. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an09017.
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Pasture cropping is a farmer-initiated concept of sowing a winter active cereal into a summer-active native perennial pasture. Proponents claim that by using pasture cropping they are able to maintain or improve the perennial pasture. Research was carried out on a Bothriochloa macra dominant pasture at Wellington, in the central western slopes of New South Wales, to compare pasture cropping to conventional no-till cropping and pasture only systems under different fertiliser rates and rotations. Key variables for the comparison included forage and crop production, pasture perenniality and ground cover, soil fertility and water use, and profitability. Our results show that pasture cropping can successfully retain perennial grasses and ground cover while still producing profitable cropping and grazing compared with continuous pasture. Crop yields from pasture cropping were less than 65% of those for conventional no-till cropping, which led to conventional no-till cropping having the greatest, but also most volatile, gross margin throughout the experiment. However, the lower input costs associated with pasture cropping reduced the effects of crop failure on farm profit. While soil moisture differences did not occur between treatments during the experiment, soil fertility, especially N, played a major role in determining crop yield. The role of pasture cropping in farming systems is discussed.
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Robinson, J. B., D. M. Silburn, D. Rattray, D. M. Freebairn, A. Biggs, D. McClymont, and N. Christodoulou. "Modelling shows that the high rates of deep drainage in parts of the Goondoola Basin in semi-arid Queensland can be reduced with changes to the farming systems." Soil Research 48, no. 1 (2010): 58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr09067.
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Clearing native vegetation and introducing crops and pastures may increase deep drainage and result in dryland salinity. In south-west Queensland, native vegetation of the Goondoola Basin has been substantially cleared for cropping and pastoral activities, resulting in shallow groundwater and localised salinity. Simulation modelling was used to estimate the water balance of a range of vegetation and soil types. Six soils were studied, with plant-available water capacity (PAWC) of 71 mm (a Kandosol) to 198 mm (a Vertosol) for 1200 mm depth. Vegetation types were annual wheat, opportunity cropping, and perennial pastures in poor and good condition, and high quality perennial pasture with deep roots growing on deep (2400 mm) variants of the 6 soil types. Opportunity cropping did not reduce deep drainage. Substantial differences were found in long-term average deep drainage (mm/year) between wheat crops and pastures for all soil types. The differences in deep drainage between wheat cropping and pasture in good condition were greatest for the 2 Kandosols, which had the lowest PAWC (34 and 21 mm/year less deep drainage, reductions of 53% and 62%, respectively), and a Vertosol with intermediate PAWC (23 mm/year less deep drainage). A Chromosol and a Dermosol with intermediate PAWC had smaller reductions in deep drainage (14 and 11 mm/year, respectively). In the case of a Vertosol with high PAWC (198 mm), deep drainage was negligible with all pastures. Due to increased infiltration and reduced soil evaporation, more deep drainage was simulated with pasture in good condition than pastures in poor condition, especially for 2 Kandosols. Pasture with deep roots (2400 mm) growing on deep variants (2400 mm) of the 6 soils had lower rates of deep drainage than the other pastures. Simulated deep drainage and other components of the water balance were in good agreement with field measurements and expectations. These results indicate that large reductions in deep drainage can be achieved in the Goondoola Basin by replacing cropping with pastoral activities. Kandosol soils used for wheat cropping should be the primary target for land use change.
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Swan, A. D., M. B. Peoples, R. C. Hayes, G. D. Li, G. R. Casburn, J. I. McCormick, and B. S. Dear. "Farmer experience with perennial pastures in the mixed farming areas of southern New South Wales: on-farm participatory research investigating pasture establishment with cover-cropping." Crop and Pasture Science 65, no. 10 (2014): 973. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp13448.
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In 2009, 95 farmers in the mixed farming zone of southern New South Wales (NSW), average annual rainfall 450–700 mm, were surveyed about their use of perennial pasture species. Survey responses indicated that, on average, 52% of land was under crop, 29% contained perennial pasture and 19% annual pastures. The proportion of land sown to perennial pastures and the species used differed with rainfall. Farmers identified concerns about the cost of establishment and poor survival of perennial pasture species as constraints to wider adoption. The survey also revealed that cover-cropping (sowing pasture species under the final grain crop in a cropping phase) was the dominant method of pasture establishment. Large-scale, on-farm participatory experiments were sown with the farm machinery, three at Ariah Park and one at Brocklesby in southern NSW in 2009 (annual rainfall 100 mm less than long-term average), and a further two experiments (one at each location) commenced in 2010 (annual rainfall >200 mm above average). These experiments compared the effect of cereal cover-crop sowing rate (standard rates used by the collaborating farmer and half of the standard rate) on the establishment of the perennials lucerne (Medicago sativa), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and chicory (Cichorium intybus) sown in different mixes and rates with various annual legume species. The persistence and productivity of individual species were monitored for 2 years after sowing. Results indicated little or no effect of the presence of a cover-crop on the initial establishment of any of the perennials, but pasture species survival were severely affected by cover-crop sowing rates as low as half of the farmer practice (10 kg barley or 12 kg wheat ha–1) in 2009. Despite higher than average annual rainfall in 2010 and 2011, the residual effect of establishing pastures under a cover-crop in 2009 was poorer persistence and lower productivity by lucerne at the standard cover-cropping rate, and by phalaris, cocksfoot and chicory at all cover-crop rates, and an increased incidence of weeds. Similar responses to cover-cropping occurred between 2010 and 2012, even with the wetter establishment conditions in 2010, for phalaris, chicory and weeds, despite demonstration at Ariah Park that higher populations of individual perennial species could be achieved by doubling the sowing rate of pasture seed in 2010. Lucerne compensated for lower plant numbers by increasing herbage growth in response to rainfall, but phalaris could not and total pasture productivity over the first 2 years after establishment was greatly reduced by the use of cover-crops in both 2009 and 2010. Cover-cropping also reduced annual legume seedset, which could have implications for future pasture performance. Lucerne was the most consistently productive perennial pasture species evaluated regardless of establishment technique or climatic conditions.
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Lawes, R. A., P. R. Ward, and D. Ferris. "Pasture cropping with C4 grasses in a barley–lupin rotation can increase production." Crop and Pasture Science 65, no. 10 (2014): 1002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp13442.
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In southern Australia, intercropping, pasture cropping and overcropping have evolved as techniques to address environmental problems such as dryland salinity and wind erosion and to utilise soil water outside the conventional winter-dominant growing season. We paired three winter-dormant pastures, including two subtropical C4 perennial species (Rhodes grass, Chloris gayana; Gatton panic, Megathyrsus maximus) and the summer-active perennial C3 legume siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), with a conventional barley (Hordeum vulgare)–lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) rotation to explore the extent to which different summer-active species reduced crop yields. We also examined whether the competition for resources could be altered by supplying increased nitrogen to the crop and changing the row spacing of the pasture. Under high-input conditions, pasture reduced cereal crop yields by up to 26% and lupin yields by up to 29%. Under low-input conditions, pasture cropping did not significantly reduce crop yield, and frequently increased crop yields. With low inputs, barley yield increases in 2011 ranged from 23% to 31%. In lupins under low-input conditions, yield increases ranged from 91% to 106% in 2010 and from –6% to +39% in 2012. The impact of the crop on the pasture was less pronounced, where the timing of pasture growth was delayed by the crop, but absolute levels of production were not influenced by the crop. Row spacing altered the temporal dynamic of pasture production; initially, the pasture produced less than the narrow spaced equivalent, but after 2 years, production exceeded that in the narrow row. Across all pasture species in 2009 and 2012, winter pasture production reduced crop yield by 0.32 and 0.4 t grain/ha pasture biomass produced, implying that moderate yield losses occurred because pasture production was also moderate. In the other two years, winter pasture production did not affect crop yield, suggesting that the pasture was able to utilise resources surplus to crop requirements. In this environment, with this combination of crops and summer-active pastures, higher levels of inputs did not enhance crop yield in a pasture-cropping system. We suggest that grain yield losses are lower in the low-input system and this implies that, at some level, competition between the species was reduced in a nitrogen-limited environment and the extent of the competition depended on season.
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Williams, Alwyn, Ryan Farquharson, David Lawrence, Jeff Baldock, and Mike Bell. "Estimating Soil Organic Carbon Under Different Land-Use Types in Australia’s Northern Grains Region Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy." Proceedings 36, no. 1 (April 3, 2020): 141. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019036141.
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Land-use type is known to affect levels of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the degree to which SOC is affected by land-use type over the short—(<10-years) and long—(≥10-years) term remains relatively uncertain. Moreover, there is limited data on the distribution of SOC across particulate (POC), humus (HOC) and resistant (ROC) fractions, and the responses of these fractions to land-use. Using mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR) coupled with partial least squares regression (PLSR) algorithms generated from the Australian Soil Carbon Research Program (SCaRP), soil organic carbon (TOC, POC, HOC and ROC) was estimated across 280 paired samples across Australia’s Northern Grains Regions. Our analysis covered five land-use types: remnant native vegetation, long-term pasture (≥10-years), short-term pasture (<10-years), short-term cropping (<10-years) and long-term cropping (≥10-years). All land-use types except long-term pasture generated significant declines across all SOC fractions compared with native vegetation. Long-term cropping resulted in the greatest declines, with an average decrease of 6.25 g TOC/kg soil relative to native vegetation. Long-term cropping also reduced POC (−0.71 g/kg) and HOC (−3.19 g/kg) below that of short-term cropping. In addition, the ROC fraction responded to land-use type, with native vegetation and long-term pasture maintaining greater ROC compared with other land-use types. The results demonstrate substantial reductions across all SOC fractions with long-term cropping. The ability of long-term pastures to maintain levels of SOC similar to that of native vegetation indicates the importance of limiting soil disturbance and maintaining more continuous living plant cover within cropping systems.
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Tarawali, S. A., and M. Peters. "The potential contribution of selected forage legume pastures to cereal production in crop-livestock farming systems." Journal of Agricultural Science 127, no. 2 (September 1996): 175–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859600077959.
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SUMMARYThe potential of 3-year-old grazed pastures ofStylosanthes hamata, Chamaecrista rotundifoliaandCentrosema pascuorumto contribute to subsequent maize production was investigated in subhumid Nigeria in 1993. All three legume pastures had the ability to give better maize grain yields than native pasture but this was significant only forStylosanthes hamataandChamaecrista rotundifolia. For the legume species, maximum yield of maize per kg of N applied was attained at 60 kgN/ha. The subsequent yields of maize could be related to the legume species used, pasture management and the length of the fallow period.Centrosema pascuorumbehaved as an annual, and as such there was little legume present after 3 years; crop yield was therefore relatively low. Nevertheless, this species could be useful in 1-year fallow/pasture situations. Maize cropping was economically viable for legume plots only with 60 or 120 kgN/ha and not for native pasture. There were no significant differences in the time required to till or to weed legume pastures as compared with native pasture. Forage legume pastures could also have a positive effect on maize residue yields which represent a fodder resource in addition to the herbage understorey remaining after cropping, the quality of which could be enhanced by the presence of the forage legumes. The use of forage legumes for the promotion of both crop and livestock production in sustainable agricultural systems is discussed. The results of the study are used to highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate legume species, pasture management practices and duration of fallow period in relation to the prevailing farming system to maximize benefits from the legumes.
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Schwenke, G. D., M. K. McLeod, S. R. Murphy, S. Harden, A. L. Cowie, and V. E. Lonergan. "The potential for sown tropical perennial grass pastures to improve soil organic carbon in the North-West Slopes and Plains of New South Wales." Soil Research 51, no. 8 (2013): 726. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr13200.
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Sown tropical perennial grass pastures may be a means to restore soil organic carbon (C) lost by cropping with conventional tillage to the levels originally present in native grass pastures. To assess this, total organic carbon and related soil properties were measured under sown tropical pastures, conventionally cultivated cropping, and native pastures on 75 Chromosols and 70 Vertosols to 0.3 m depth in the New South Wales North-West Slopes and Plains region of Australia. The impact of several perennial pasture species on soil organic carbon was also assessed in a 6-year-old, sown pasture experiment on a previously cropped Chromosol. Soil cores in 0.1-m segments to 0.3 m were analysed for total organic carbon, total nitrogen (N), pH, and phosphorus (Colwell-P). Mid-infrared scans were used to predict the particulate, humus, and resistant fractions of the total organic carbon. Bulk density was used to calculate stocks of C, N, and C fractions. In Chromosols, total organic carbon in the surface 0–0.1 m was greater under sown tropical pastures (23.1 Mg ha–1) than conventional tillage cropping (17.7 Mg ha–1), but still less than under native pastures (26.3 Mg ha–1). Similar land-use differences were seen for particulate and resistant organic C, and total N. The proportional differences between land uses were much greater for particulate organic C than other measures, and were also significant at 0.1–0.2 and 0.2–0.3 m. Subsurface bulk density (0.1–0.2 m) was lower under sown tropical pastures (1.42 Mg m–3) than conventionally tilled cropping (1.52 Mg m–3). For Vertosols, total organic carbon in the surface 0–0.1 m was greater under sown tropical pastures (19.0 Mg ha–1) and native pastures (20.5 Mg ha–1) than conventional tillage cropping (14.0 Mg ha–1). Similar land-use effects were seen for the particulate and humus organic C fractions, and total N. In the sown pasture species experiment, there was no significant difference in total N, total organic carbon, or any C fraction between soils under a native-grass species mixture, two improved tropical grass species, or a perennial pasture legume. Regular monitoring is required to better discern whether gradual changes are being masked by spatial and temporal variation. The survey results support previous research on Vertosols within the New South Wales North-West Slopes and Plains that show sown tropical grass pastures can improve total organic carbon. Improvements in total organic carbon on Chromosols have not previously been documented, so further targeted soil monitoring and experimentation is warranted for the region.
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Thomas, Dean T., Roger A. Lawes, Katrien Descheemaeker, and Andrew D. Moore. "Selection of crop cultivars suited to the location combined with astute management can reduce crop yield penalties in pasture cropping systems." Crop and Pasture Science 65, no. 10 (2014): 1022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp13436.
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Pasture cropping is an emerging farming-systems practice of southern Australia, in which winter grain crops are sown into an established stand of a winter-dormant, summer-growing perennial pasture. There is a pressing need to define times, locations and climates that are suitable for pasture cropping. To evaluate effects of management interventions, agro-environment, and possible interactions on crop and pasture productivity associated with pasture cropping, an AusFarm® simulation model was built to describe a pasture-cropping system based on annual crop and subtropical grass. The model was parameterised using data from field research on pasture cropping with barley cv. Buloke and a C4 subtropical grass, Gatton panic (Panicum maximum cv. Gatton), conducted at Moora, Western Australia. The simulation was run over 50 years using the historical climate data of five southern Australian locations (Cunderdin, Jerdacuttup, Mingenew, and Moora in Western Australia, and Karoonda in South Australia). Two wheat cultivars and one barley crop were considered for each location, to examine the impact of crop phenology on this farming system. Jerdacuttup and Moora favoured pasture cropping, with average barley-yield penalties of 10 and 12%. These locations were characterised by colder growing seasons, more plant-available water at anthesis, and more winter–spring rain. The cereal crops did not rely on stored soil moisture, growing instead on incident rain. The winter–spring growth of the Gatton panic pasture was highest at Mingenew. This generated a high yield penalty, 38% loss under pasture cropping, compared with the other locations. Changing the efficacy of a herbicide application to the pasture when the crop was sown had a strong effect on yield. Yield penalties at Moora and Mingenew reduced to 7 and 29%, respectively, when the proportion of live biomass killed by the herbicide was doubled. Utilisation of soil moisture by the Gatton panic pasture during summer and early autumn had little effect on subsequent grain yield, whereas reduced pasture growth during the winter–spring growing period had a substantial effect on crop yield. Pasture cropping can therefore succeed in agro-climatic regions where crops can be grown on incident rain and pasture growth is suppressed through low temperature or herbicide. Perennial pasture growth should be minimised during the crop growing period through the management of crop sowing date, nitrogen fertiliser application and C4 grass suppression to minimise the effect on stored soil water at crop anthesis.
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Angus, J. F., T. P. Bolger, J. A. Kirkegaard, and M. B. Peoples. "Nitrogen mineralisation in relation to previous crops and pastures." Soil Research 44, no. 4 (2006): 355. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr05138.
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Most of the nitrogen (N) used by Australian crops is mineralised from the residues of previous crops and pastures. Net N mineralisation was studied in 2 field experiments in southern NSW, one comparing different residue-management and tillage systems during continuous cropping and the other comparing residues of annual and perennial pastures in a pasture–crop system. After 14 years of continuous cropping, soil total N concentration had decreased by 50%. Neither stubble retention nor direct drilling affected potential N mineralisation or the decrease in total N. However, soil mineral N in the field was greater after direct drilling than cultivation and greater after stubble retention than stubble burning. There were 2 reasons for the discrepancy. One was because retained stubble conserved soil water, leading to periods of increased mineralisation. The other was that direct drilling and stubble retention reduced growth and N uptake by crops. In contrast to the similar rates of potential mineralisation under different tillage and stubble systems, there were significant differences following different pasture species. In a 5-year study of a pasture–crop system we measured net mineralisation following annual pasture based on subterranean clover and perennial pasture based on lucerne and/or the grasses phalaris and cocksfoot. Mineralisation generally decreased with number of years after pasture removal. Previous lucerne pastures led to slow net mineralisation in the first year after removal, apparently because of immobilisation by high C : N residues. Mineralisation in soil containing perennial grass residues was the highest measured. This high rate may be due to redistribution of N to the topsoil by roots of perennial grasses. The comparison of continuous crop and pasture–crop systems showed that the decline in soil N supply was not prevented by direct drilling and stubble conservation, but N mineralisation was increased by pastures, particularly those containing perennial grasses.
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Evans, P. M., X. Z. Zhang, and P. A. Riffkin. "Annual pasture legumes for farming systems in cool-temperate areas with summer soil moisture deficits." NZGA: Research and Practice Series 11 (January 1, 2003): 149–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.11.2003.3014.
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Seed softening rates of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) are lower in cool-temperate environments than in typical Mediterranean areas, allowing the accumulation of large seed banks. These large seed banks should enable a pasture to selfregenerate following a year of cropping in which the pasture has been removed. To test this hypothesis, a 1:1 pasture/crop rotation system was established at three sites in southern Victoria, Australia, with subterranean, balansa (T. michelianum), Persian (T. resupinatum) and arrowleaf (T. vesiculosum) clovers. At Hamilton, pure subterranean clover herbage yields of up to 10 t DM/ha were obtained under grazing. This was followed by wheat grain yields averaging 7 t/ha with 12.7% grain protein over three seasons. After a year of dryland cropping, the pastures selfregenerated with more than 3 000 clover seedlings/ m2. At Gnarwarre and Streatham, all four clover species were well adapted to the pasture/crop rotation in terms of their seed-seedling dynamics, with the highest regeneration after cropping at 8 000 seedlings/m2 in balansa clover and the highest seasonal herbage production of 12.8 t DM/ha in arrowleaf clover. No nitrogen fertiliser was applied in the system. Key words: annual legumes, cool-temperate climate, crops, seed softening rates
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Lattimore, MAE. "Pastures in temperate rice rotations of south-eastern Australia." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34, no. 7 (1994): 959. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9940959.
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Legume-based pastures have long been an integral part of rice growing in the southern New South Wales irrigation areas and still offer potential to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the temperate rice-cropping system.This paper reviews both historical and current aspects of pastures in temperate rice rotations in southern New South Wales and highlights the importance of pastures in sustaining this cropping system as environmental pressures increase. Topics discussed include pasture species and rotations, their role in improving soil fertility and sustainability, the value of pastures in weed control, and their management for maximum profitability.
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Robertson, F. A., R. J. K. Myers, and P. G. Saffigna. "Nitrogen cycling in brigalow clay soils under pasture and cropping." Soil Research 35, no. 6 (1997): 1323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/s97026.
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Clay soils previously under native brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest are highly productive under annual cropping in central and southern Queensland. Grass pastures sown on these soils are initially productive, but deteriorate after several years because of N-stress (rundown). The aim of this work was to compare the patterns of N cycling in these pasture and cropping systems, in order to understand the rundown of the pastures. A small pulse of 15N-labelled ammonium sulfate was applied in the field to sites cropped with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and under green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume) pasture, and its movement through the soil and plant pools was followed over 2 growing seasons. There were large differences in the cycling of 15N in the cropping and pasture systems. Under sorghum, 60% of the applied 15N was immobilised by microorganisms after 4 days, after which it was re-mineralised. Plant uptake and stabilisation in soil organic matter and clay were relatively slow. The first sorghum crop assimilated 14% of the applied 15N. During the second season, most of the 15N was stabilised in soil organic matter and clay (maximum 42%). A significant proportion of the 15N remained in the soil inorganic pool over the 2 seasons. Under green panic, 82% of the 15N left the soil inorganic pool within 4 days and entered the microbial biomass, soil organic matter, and the plant. Uptake and re-release of 15N were most rapid in the microbial biomass (maximum uptake 34% of applied after 4 days). Microbial immobilisation and re-mineralisation were, however, slower under green panic than under sorghum. The pasture plant accumulated 32% of the applied 15N, two-thirds of which was re-released in the second season. Stabilised N represented up to 62% of the applied 15N, and was consistently greater under green panic than under sorghum. After 2 seasons, 15N was released from the stabilised N pool in both systems, at approximately the same rate as it had been stabilised. At the end of the experiment, 40% of the applied 15N was unaccounted for in the pasture system, and 66% in the crop system. The reduced N availability in the pasture system was attributed to immobilisation of N in soil organic matter and clay, plant material, and, to a lesser extent, soil microbial biomass. This immobilisation resulted from the large accumulation of carbonaceous plant residues.
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Brennan, R. F., B. Penrose, and R. W. Bell. "Micronutrients limiting pasture production in Australia." Crop and Pasture Science 70, no. 12 (2019): 1053. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp19087.
Full textAbstract:
Low levels of plant-available micronutrients were an inherent feature of many agricultural soils in Australia, mostly due to the prevalence of highly weathered soil parent materials. The diagnosis and correction of the widespread deficiencies of micronutrients, especially copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn), were prerequisites for the development of productive, legume-based pastures in southern Australia. In subtropical and tropical regions, Mo deficiency commonly limited pasture-legume production. Soil treatments involving micronutrient fertiliser incorporated in soils, or applied as additives to superphosphate, were generally effective in alleviating micronutrient deficiencies. In the low-output dryland pasture systems, the annual removal of micronutrients in wool and meat is small compared with rates added in fertiliser. Hence, in general, the residues of soil-applied micronutrient fertilisers remain effective for many years, for example, up to 30 years for Cu. By contrast, shorter residual values occur for manganese (Mn) fertiliser on highly calcareous soils, and for Zn in high-output pasture systems such as intensive dairy production. In the last two decades since the recommendations for micronutrient management of pastures were developed, there have been many changes to farming systems, with likely implications for micronutrient status in pastures. First, increased cropping intensity and low prices for wool and meat have meant lower nutrient inputs to pastures or to the pasture phase of rotations with crops. However, when pastures have been rotated with crops, ongoing small additions of Cu, Zn and Mo have been common. In cropping phases of farming systems, lime application and no-till may have altered the chemical and positional availability of micronutrients in soils to pastures. However, there has been little study of the impacts of these farming-systems changes on micronutrient status of pastures or profitability of the production system. The intensification of dairy production systems may also have altered the demand for, and removal rates of, micronutrients. Soil tests are not very reliable for Mn or Mo deficiencies, and well-calibrated soil tests for boron, Cu and Zn have been developed only for limited areas of pasture production and for a limited range of species. There is limited use of plant tests for nutrient management of pastures. In conclusion, there is limited knowledge of the current micronutrient status of pastures and their effects on animal health. Pasture production would benefit from targeted investigation of micronutrients status of pasture soils, pasture plants and micronutrient-linked animal-health issues.
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Lloyd, D. L., B. Johnson, S. M. O'Brien, and D. N. Lawrence. "Action learning in partnership with Landcare and catchment management groups to support increased pasture sowings in southern inland Queensland." Animal Production Science 49, no. 10 (2009): 907. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08298.
Full textAbstract:
The incorporation of sown pastures as short-term rotations into the cropping systems of northern Australia has been slow. The inherent chemical fertility and physical stability of the predominant vertisol soils across the region enabled farmers to grow crops for decades without nitrogen fertiliser, and precluded the evolution of a crop–pasture rotation culture. However, as less fertile and less physically stable soils were cropped for extended periods, farmers began to use contemporary farming and sown pasture technologies to rebuild and maintain their soils. This has typically involved sowing long-term grass and grass–legume pastures on the more marginal cropping soils of the region. In partnership with the catchment management authority, the Queensland Murray–Darling Committee (QMDC) and Landcare, a pasture extension process using the LeyGrain™ package was implemented in 2006 within two Grain & Graze projects in the Maranoa-Balonne and Border Rivers catchments in southern inland Queensland. The specific objectives were to increase the area sown to high quality pasture and to gain production and environmental benefits (particularly groundcover) through improving the skills of producers in pasture species selection, their understanding and management of risk during pasture establishment, and in managing pastures and the feed base better. The catalyst for increasing pasture sowings was a QMDC subsidy scheme for increasing groundcover on old cropping land. In recognising a need to enhance pasture knowledge and skills to implement this scheme, the QMDC and Landcare producer groups sought the involvement of, and set specific targets for, the LeyGrain workshop process. This is a highly interactive action learning process that built on the existing knowledge and skills of the producers. Thirty-four workshops were held with more than 200 producers in 26 existing groups and with private agronomists. An evaluation process assessed the impact of the workshops on the learning and skill development by participants, their commitment to practice change, and their future intent to sow pastures. The results across both project catchments were highly correlated. There was strong agreement by producers (>90%) that the workshops had improved knowledge and skills regarding the adaptation of pasture species to soils and climates, enabling a better selection at the paddock level. Additional strong impacts were in changing the attitudes of producers to all aspects of pasture establishment, and the relative species composition of mixtures. Producers made a strong commitment to practice change, particularly in managing pasture as a specialist crop at establishment to minimise risk, and in the better selection and management of improved pasture species (particularly legumes and the use of fertiliser). Producers have made a commitment to increase pasture sowings by 80% in the next 5 years, with fourteen producers in one group alone having committed to sow an additional 4893 ha of pasture in 2007–08 under the QMDC subsidy scheme. The success of the project was attributed to the partnership between QMDC and Landcare groups who set individual workshop targets with LeyGrain presenters, the interactive engagement processes within the workshops themselves, and the follow-up provided by the LeyGrain team for on-farm activities.
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Cotching, W. E., J. Cooper, L. A. Sparrow, B. E. McCorkell, and W. Rowley. "Effects of agricultural management on sodosols in northern Tasmania." Soil Research 39, no. 4 (2001): 711. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr00029.
Full textAbstract:
Attributes of 25 Tasmanian sodosols were assessed using field and laboratory techniques to determine changes associated with 4 typical forms of agricultural management [long-term pasture, cropping with shallow tillage using discs and tines, cropping (including potatoes) with more rigorous and deeper tillage including deep ripping and powered implements, and cropping (including potatoes) where the potatoes were harvested when the soil was wet]. Soil organic carbon in the top 150 mm was 2.7% under long-term pasture compared with 1.8% in rigorously tilled cropping paddocks, and microbial biomass C values were 194 and 129 mg/kg, respectively. Readily oxidisable organic C concentrations were 1.8 mg/g and 1.3 mg/g, respectively. Infiltration rate was greater in paddocks with shallow tillage cropping than long-term pasture but was 43% less in paddocks which had grown potatoes and 70% less after a wet potato harvest. Dry aggregate-size showed no change under shallow tillage cropping compared with long-term pasture but decreased significantly in more rigorously tilled potato cropping paddocks. Aggregate stability in all cropped paddocks was nearly 50% less than in long-term pasture paddocks, with values in intensively tilled potato cropping paddocks approaching relatively low levels. Colwell extractable phosphorus (P) increased with all cropping, particularly after potatoes. Lower organic carbon and poorer physical properties were associated with paddocks which had grown potatoes, which adds weight to the view that cropping rotation and associated soil management practices are critical for sustainable management of Tasmanian sodosols. Farmers were surveyed about their views of the condition of their paddocks. They identified more healthy than unhealthy soil attributes under all management histories but reported more unhealthy soil attributes when potatoes were included in their rotation.
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Cameron, AG. "Evaluation of tropical pasture species as leys in the semi-arid tropics of northern Australia." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36, no. 8 (1996): 929. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9960929.
Full textAbstract:
Testing of pasture plants as leys in the semiarid tropics of northern Australia has been limited. Characteristics of successful ley pasture plants are discussed. The most important characteristic is the ability to contribute nitrogen to subsequent crops, which has been demonstrated for a number of legumes but not for grasses. Over 2300 legume and grass introductions have been evaluated as permanent pastures. Of the genera which are adapted to the environment of northern Australia, 14 grass cultivars (including Brachiaria, Cenchrus and Digitaria spp.) and 11 legume cultivars (including Aeschynomene, Centrosema and Stylosanthes spp.) are productive and are currently recommended for use as permanent pasture plants. Field experiments and commercial practice have shown that Centrosema pascuorum (cvv. Bundey, Cavalcade) is well adapted for use as a ley pasture plant. Other legumes which are suitable for use in leys are Alysicarpus vaginalis, Chamaecrista rotundifolia cv. Wynn, Macroptilium gracile cv. Maldonado and Stylosanthes hamata cvv. Amiga and Verano. The grasses are generally not suitable for ley pastures as they are strong perennials which are difficult to control in cropping areas. The exception is Urochloa mosambicensis which may be suitable as a break crop to control broadleaf weeds such as Sida acuta, Senna obtusifolia and Hyptis suaveolens. This species can be controlled with economic rates of herbicide and has seed dormancy characteristics which allow it to regenerate following a cropping phase.
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Dalal, R. C., B. P. Harms, E. Krull, W. J. Wang, and N. J. Mathers. "Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen." Soil Research 43, no. 2 (2005): 179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr04076.
Full textAbstract:
Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and open forests occupy about 150 Mha in Australia, and originally occupied 11.2 Mha in Queensland. Substantial areas (1.3 Mha) of the mulga vegetation have been cleared in Queensland, mostly for pasture production, but some areas are also used for cereal cropping. Twenty years after mulga clearing we found a significant loss of total soil organic C (28–35% from the 0–0.05 m depth) and light fraction C (>50% from the 0–1 m depth) from soil under pasture and cropping at a site in southern Queensland. We report here the changes in soil N and labile N pools in a paired-site study following conversion of mulga to buffel pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris) and cereal (mostly wheat) cropping for more than 20 years. Conversion from mulga forest to pasture and cultivation resulted in greater losses of soil N than organic C in the top 0.1 m depths. As a result, C/N ratios in soil under both pasture and cropping were higher than soil under mulga, indicating a decline in soil organic matter quality after mulga clearing. Although land-use change had no significant effect on 15N natural abundance (δ15N) values of total soil N down to a depth of 1 m, δ15N values of wheat tops and roots indicated that the primary source of N under cropping was soil organic N, while that of buffel pasture was a mixed source of soil N and decomposed litter and root N. Light fraction N (<1.6 Mg/m3) declined by 60–70% throughout the 1 m soil profile under pasture and cropping, but it was 15N-enriched in these 2 land-use systems. The δ15N values of mulga phyllodes, twigs, and fine roots, indicated an input of atmospheric fixed N2 that was estimated to be about 25 kg N/ha.year. However, the source and magnitude of this N resource needs to be confirmed. Soil N losses were estimated to be 12 kg N/ha.year under pasture and 17 kg N/ha.year under cropping over a 20-year period. These findings raise the issue of the long-term sustainable use of cleared mulga areas for pasture and/or cropping. The labile C and N pools and N mineralised also declined, which would have an immediate adverse effect on soil fertility and plant productivity of cleared Mulga Lands, as well as reducing their potential as a soil sink for greenhouse gases.
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Young, R. R., B. Wilson, S. Harden, and A. Bernardi. "Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia." Soil Research 47, no. 3 (2009): 273. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr08104.
Full textAbstract:
Australian agriculture contributes an estimated 16% of all national greenhouse gas emissions, and considerable attention is now focused on management approaches that reduce net emissions. One area of potential is the modification of cropping practices to increase soil carbon storage. Here, we report short–medium term changes in soil carbon under zero tillage cropping systems and perennial vegetation, both in a replicated field experiment and on nearby farmers’ paddocks, on carbon-depleted Black Vertosols in the upper Liverpool Plains catchment. Soil organic carbon stocks (CS) remained unchanged under both zero tillage long fallow wheat–sorghum rotations and zero tillage continuous winter cereal in a replicated field experiment from 1994 to 2000. There was some evidence of accumulation of CS under intensive (>1 crop/year) zero tillage response cropping. There was significant accumulation of CS (~0.35 Mg/ha.year) under 3 types of perennial pasture, despite removal of aerial biomass with each harvest. Significant accumulation was detected in the 0–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.4 m depth increments under lucerne and the top 2 increments under mixed pastures of lucerne and phalaris and of C3 and C4 perennial grasses. Average annual rainfall for the period of observations was 772 mm, greater than the 40-year average of 680 mm. A comparison of major attributes of cropping systems and perennial pastures showed no association between aerial biomass production and accumulation rates of CS but a positive correlation between the residence times of established plants and accumulation rates of CS. CS also remained unchanged (1998/2000–07) under zero tillage cropping on nearby farms, irrespective of paddock history before 1998/2000 (zero tillage cropping, traditional cropping, or ~10 years of sown perennial pasture). These results are consistent with previous work in Queensland and central western New South Wales suggesting that the climate (warm, semi-arid temperate, semi-arid subtropical) of much of the inland cropping country in eastern Australia is not conducive to accumulation of soil carbon under continuous cropping, although they do suggest that CS may accumulate under several years of healthy perennial pastures in rotation with zero tillage cropping.
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Basher, LR, KM Matthews, and L. Zhi. "Surface erosion assessment in the South-Canterbury downlands, New Zealand using 137Cs distribution." Soil Research 33, no. 5 (1995): 787. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr9950787.
Full textAbstract:
Redistribution of the radionuclide tracer 137Cs was used to examine the pattern of erosion and deposition at two sites with contrasting long-term land uses (pasture and cropping) in the South Canterbury downlands, New Zealand. There were clear differences between the two land use types in variation in 137Cs concentrations and areal activity, erosion rates and topsoil depth variability. Erosion and deposition have resulted in greater variability and lower mean levels of 137Cs areal activity under cropping (46.3 mBq cm-2) than pasture (55.0 mBq cm-2). At the cropping site, erosion and deposition roughly balanced with the mean value over all sampling sites, suggesting no net soil loss, but considerable redistribution of soil within paddocks. At the pasture site results suggested slight net deposition. There was evidence for both sheet/rill and wind erosion being important in soil redistribution. While there was no difference in mean topsoil depth between pasture and cropping, there were significant differences with slope position. At the pasture site, there was little variation of topsoil depth with slope position, except for swales which tended to be deeper, whereas at the cropping site there was considerable variation in topsoil depth with slope position. Topsoil depth was a poor indicator of erosion status.
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Roberts, J., A. Suarez Infiesta, B. Schäbitz, J. Fourie, and A. Werner. "Active optical sensing of canopies in pasture management." Journal of New Zealand Grasslands 77 (January 1, 2015): 35–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2015.77.487.
Full textAbstract:
Commercial units of Active Optical Sensor (AOS) systems are designed for sensing arable crops to estimate the required amount of nitrogen fertiliser and are well established in intensive arable cropping systems in Europe. A research version AOS (RU-AOS) of a commercial system was tested as a potential canopy sensor for New Zealand dairy pastures. To study the applicability of this sensor a sensitivity experiment was conducted. Additionally, a plot experiment investigated the relationship between the spectrometer and biomass attributes on ryegrass and white clover canopies fertilised with five different nitrogen amounts. The pasture plots were sensed with the RU-AOS and results compared with measured biomass dry matter and nitrogen amount. For some events a strong linear relationship between dry matter (DM) and the water index (WI) was evident (i.e. r2 = 0.80) as well as between nitrogen (N) amount and simple ratio (SR) (i.e. r2 = 0.89). The results suggest there is potential for this sensor to estimate New Zealand dairy pasture attributes. This could be used to develop a pasture system similar to commercial arable cropping nitrogen sensor AOSs. Keywords: Active Optical Sensor; pasture; nitrogen
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Thornton, C. M., and B. Yu. "The Brigalow Catchment Study: IV. Clearing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) for cropping or grazing increases peak runoff rate." Soil Research 54, no. 6 (2016): 749. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr15121.
Full textAbstract:
In Queensland, Australia, large tracts of native vegetation have been cleared for agriculture, resulting in substantial hydrological changes in the landscape. Australia’s longest-running paired catchment study, the Brigalow Catchment Study (BCS), was established in 1965 to monitor hydrological changes associated with land development, particularly that of the 1960s Land Development Fitzroy Basin Scheme. The BCS has unequivocally shown that developing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) for cropping or for grazing doubles runoff volume. However, to date little research had been undertaken to quantify the changes in peak runoff rate when brigalow is cleared for cropping or grazing. The present study compared peak runoff rates from three brigalow catchments, two of which were subsequently cleared for cropping and pasture. Prior to land development, average peak runoff rates from the three brigalow scrub catchments were 3.2, 5 and 2mmh–1 for catchments 1 to 3 respectively. After development, these rates increased to 6.6mmh–1 from the brigalow scrub control catchment (catchment 1), 8.3mmh–1 from the cropping catchment (catchment 2) and 5.6mmh–1 from the pasture catchment (catchment 3). Peak runoff rate increased significantly from both the cropping and pasture catchments after adjusting for the underlying variation in peak runoff rate due to climatic variation between the pre- and post-development periods. The average peak runoff rate increased by 5.4mmh–1 (96%) for the cropping catchment and by 2.6mmh–1 (47%) for the pasture catchment. Increases in peak runoff rate were most prevalent in smaller events with an average recurrence interval of less than 2 years under cropping and 4 years under pasture.
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McCallum, M. H., M. B. Peoples, and D. J. Connor. "Contributions of nitrogen by field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in a continuous cropping sequence compared with a lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)-based pasture ley in the Victorian Wimmera." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 51, no. 1 (2000): 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar99023.
Full textAbstract:
The nitrogen (N) dynamics (N2 fixation inputs, changes in soil mineral N and total N, N removed in agricultural produce) of a lucerne-based phase farming system (grazed lucerne–annual medic–ryegrass pastures grown in rotation with crops) was compared with that of continuous cropping (cereal, oilseed, and legume pulse crops) in the Victorian Wimmera. The contribution of biological N2 fixation to the N economy of these different systems was strongly linked to biomass production by the legume components of pastures, or field pea in the cropping sequence. The amount of fixed N present in field pea shoots or the total amount of N2 estimated to be fixed by the whole plant (shoots and roots) (121–175 kg N/ha.crop and 181–262 kg N/ha.crop, respectively) was generally greater than the combined measured annual inputs of fixed N by lucerne and annual medic during a pasture ley (40–95 kg N/ha.year in herbage, 80–190 kg N/ha.year in total plant), although large amounts of N were removed in the field pea grain at harvest (115–151 kg N/ha.crop). Over 2 years (1995–96), the seasonal rainfall patterns had a much larger impact on the growth, dry matter production, and N2 fixation of annual medic compared with lucerne. Winter-cleaning of ryegrass from the pasture before cropping resulted in a greater legume content in the pasture and generally increased amounts of fixed N in herbage (by up to 55 kg N/ha.year). Total soil N at depth (0.5–1.0 m) was significantly greater after 2–4 years of pasture than under continuous cropping. In one year (1996), the amount of soil mineral N following a winter-cleaned pasture was greater (by 32–45 kg N/ha, 0–1 m) than after either canola or wheat, producing a yield benefit in a subsequent canola crop that was equivalent to pre-drilling 46 kg N/ha as fertiliser. However, despite some improvements in N fertility, large crop responses to N fertiliser were still observed following pasture. Grain yield was increased by 0.33–0.55 t/ha in canola and by 1.0 t/ha in wheat, grain protein raised by 0.7–2.3% in canola and by 1.3% in wheat, and oil yield in canola enhanced by 124–205 kg/ha with pre-drilled applications of fertiliser N (46 kg/ha). It is speculated that more legume-dominant pastures (>80%) could provide greater flow-on N benefits to farming systems in the Wimmera than the mixed legume–grass swards used in the present study. However, it is likely that a need will remain for supplementary fertiliser N to optimise the nutrition of subsequent non-legume crops in the region.
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McCormick, Jeff I., Richard C. Hayes, Guangdi D. Li, and Mark R. Norton. "A review of pasture establishment by undersowing with special reference to the mixed farming zone of south-eastern Australia." Crop and Pasture Science 65, no. 10 (2014): 956. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp14049.
Full textAbstract:
Pastures continue to provide essential functions for the mixed-farming zone in south-eastern Australia, where crop and livestock production are integral parts of most farms. Establishment of pastures in this zone needs to be low-cost and preferably with minimal risk. Pastures are typically sown either directly or in combination with a cover-crop (also called undersowing; the practice of sowing pasture seed simultaneously with a crop that is intended for grain production in the first year), so that the establishment cost is offset by income from the sale of grain. The purposes of this review are to: (i) draw together the literature on undersowing pastures, including studies conducted since the previous review in 1965; (ii) understand why there is a discrepancy between research results that generally do not support the practice of undersowing pastures, whereas farmer preference appears to establish pastures under a cover-crop; and (iii) identify critical needs for further research to aid in making decisions about pasture establishment on-farm. Published and unpublished data from the Australian wheatbelt on establishing pastures by undersowing was examined from the 1920s to the present and included seven publications for perennial species from 26 different experiments. Eight publications addressing establishment of annual species were available from 30 experiments. Many trials appear to have been conducted without being analysed or published. A further 16 international publications were reviewed. Generally, cover-crops reduced annual pasture seedset and perennial density even though the pastures established under the cover-cropping were commonly deemed ‘satisfactory’ by the authors. Pasture establishment was improved by reducing the sowing rate of the cover-crop and/or sowing on alternate rows. Technological change during the past 25 years has led to different configurations of seeding machinery, increased use of herbicides and longer cropping phases. Conclusions previously reached may therefore need to be re-assessed. No data published quantified the risks associated with undersowing on a seasonal and regional basis to determine the probability of success, and there are insufficient data to model the complex physiological interactions between crop and pasture, with most experiments focused on basic agronomic parameters. Furthermore, long-term effects of establishment method on total pasture biomass production and subsequent effects on following crops have rarely been demonstrated, because of the short time-frames in which most experiments have been conducted. Farmers in the mixed-farming zone still prefer to establish pastures under a cover-crop because of perceived financial benefit of the practice. This review identifies substantial research gaps to be addressed to improve pasture-establishment decisions.
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Dalal, R. C., B. P. Harms, E. Krull, and W. J. Wang. "Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon." Soil Research 43, no. 1 (2005): 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr04044.
Full textAbstract:
Mulga (Acacia aneura) dominated vegetation originally occupied 11.2 Mha in Queensland, of which 12% has been cleared, mostly for pasture production, but some areas are also used for cereal cropping. Since mulga communities generally occupy fragile soils, mostly Kandosols and Tenosols, in semi-arid environments, clearing of mulga, which continues at a rate of at least 35 000 ha/year in Queensland, has considerable impact on soil organic carbon (C), and may also have implications for the greenhouse gas emissions associated with land use change in Australia. We report here the changes in soil C and labile C pools following mulga clearing to buffel pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris) and cereal (mostly wheat) cropping for 20 years in a study using paired sites. Soil organic C in the top 0.05 m of soil declined by 31% and 35% under buffel pasture and cropping, respectively. Land use change from mulga to buffel and cropping led to declines in soil organic C of 2.4 and 4.7 t/ha, respectively, from the top 0.3 m of soil. Using changes in the δ13C values of soil organic C as an approximate representation of C derived from C3 and C4 vegetation from mulga and buffel, respectively, up to 31% of soil C was C4-derived after 20 years of buffel pasture. The turnover rates of mulga-derived soil C ranged from 0.035/year in the 0–0.05 m depth to 0.008/year in the 0.6–1 m depths, with respective turnover times of 29 and 133 years. Soil organic matter quality, as measured by the proportion/amount of labile fraction C (light fraction, < 1.6 t/m3) declined by 55% throughout the soil profile (0–1 m depth) under both pasture and cropping. There is immediate concern for the long-term sustainable use of land where mulga has been cleared for pasture and/or cropping with a continuing decline in soil organic matter quality and, hence, soil fertility and biomass productivity. In addition, the removal of mulga forest over a 20-year period in Queensland for pasture and cropping may have contributed to the atmosphere at least 12 Mt CO2-equivalents.
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Thomas, G. A., R. C. Dalal, E. J. Weston, K. J. Lehane, A. J. King, D. N. Orange, C. J. Holmes, and G. B. Wildermuth. "Pasture - crop rotations for sustainable production in a wheat and sheep-based farming system on a Vertosol in south-west Queensland, Australia." Animal Production Science 49, no. 8 (2009): 682. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea07170.
Full textAbstract:
Rainfed grain production, based on winter cereals, is marginal in south-west Queensland, Australia, because of low and variable rainfall and high evapotranspiration. Also, grain yield and grain quality have decreased as soil fertility, particularly soil nitrogen supply, has declined on older cropping lands. An option for improving soil N supply is to include legume-based pastures in rotation with winter cereals. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of short-term (18 months) legume pastures (annual medics and lucerne + annual medics), and longer term (3 years) mixed grass (Bambatsi panic) and legume (lucerne + annual medics) pasture phases on sheep production and on soil water and N supply and production of subsequent wheat crops on a grey Vertosol soil. Two separate phases of annual medics and lucerne + annual medics pastures produced mean total aboveground dry matter yield of 7.10 t/ha of annual medics and 5.80 t/ha of lucerne + annual medics over the 18-month periods. For two phases of the grass + legume pastures, mean total aboveground dry matter yield was 3.95 t/ha for grass and 8.19 t/ha for legume over 3 years. Over an 18-month period, sheep bodyweight gains and fleece weights were similar for the annual medics, lucerne + annual medics and grass + legume pastures and were approximately five times greater than those from native pasture as a result of the greater stocking rate possible on the sown pastures. Greater drying of the soil profile occurred following lucerne + annual medics and grass + legume pasture phases than continuous wheat, resulting in lower soil water content at sowing of wheat crops following these pasture phases on several occasions. Mean soil nitrate-N benefits before wheat sowing in the first year following termination of the 18-month annual medics, lucerne + annual medics, and the 3-year grass + legume pasture phases were 45, 44 and 42 kg N/ha, respectively. Grain N yields and gross margins of the first wheat crops following the 18-month annual medics, lucerne + annual medics, and the 3-year grass + legume pasture phases were similar in value to continuous wheat with ~60, 80, and 40–60 kg N/ha fertiliser applied at sowing, respectively. Improvements in grain N yield and gross margin were still evident in the fifth wheat crop following annual medics and lucerne + annual medics pastures and in the third wheat crop following grass + legume pasture, compared with continuous wheat without N fertiliser addition. Total gross margins from 1996 to 2005 were 1.6–2.5 times greater for the pasture–crop rotations than continuous wheat where no N fertiliser was applied to wheat. However, gross margins were greater in continuous wheat than in pasture–crop rotations where N fertiliser was applied to target prime hard grade grain protein in wheat. The 3-year grass + legume pasture phase showed potential to improve surface soil structure and water infiltration and to reduce decline in soil organic carbon concentration at 0–0.1 m depth, compared with continuous wheat cropping and shorter-term legume pasture phases.
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Lorimer, M. S., and L. A. Douglas. "Effects of management practice on properties of a Victorian red-brown earth. 2. Wheat root distribution and grain yield." Soil Research 39, no. 2 (2001): 307. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr96067.
Full textAbstract:
The effects of 5 management practices (native forest, native pasture, phalaris pasture, crop-pasture rotation, and continuous cropping), applied prior to sowing wheat seeds, on the distribution of wheat roots and associated grain yields were studied. The grain yield from the 5 treatments decreased in the following order: crop-pasture rotation > native pasture > phalaris pasture > native forest > continuous cropping, and this was directly related to the distribution of the wheat roots in the respective treatment plots. A high incidence of root disease in the phalaris pasture plots severely restricted root distribution and grain yield despite the apparent ‘ideal’ soil conditions for plant growth. The implications of current land management practices, which lead to the formation of plough-pans and reduced root penetration into the subsoil, are discussed in terms of future wheat production on this soil type.
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Tozer, K. N., T. K. James, and C. A. Cameron. "Botanical and management factors associated with Setaria pumila abundance implications for pasture management." New Zealand Plant Protection 61 (August 1, 2008): 121–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.30843/nzpp.2008.61.6882.
Full textAbstract:
Yellow bristle grass (YBG) causes significant production loss on dairy farms as it is unpalatable to stock and can reduce forage intake and milk production This weed is rapidly spreading in North Island dairy pastures and effective control strategies are needed Botanical surveying was undertaken in February 2008 on 12 dairy farms in Waikato to ascertain its presence in pastures in relation to key management factors YBG cover was negatively associated with Olsen P pH paspalum cover and postgrazing residual dry matter in January Stocking rate time since pasture renovation inclusion of a cropping phase prior to renovation sowing rate during renovation ryegrass undersowing after renovation and cover of ryegrass clovers other dicots annual grasses and amount of bare ground had no significant effect on YBG cover Results suggest that while improved soil fertility and increasing pasture competition will enhance YBG control YBG seeds can survive during pasture renovation leading to rapid reinfestation of pastures
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Sparrow, L. A., W. E. Cotching, J. Cooper, and W. Rowley. "Attributes of Tasmanian ferrosols under different agricultural management." Soil Research 37, no. 4 (1999): 603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr98108.
Full textAbstract:
Attributes of 25 Tasmanian ferrosols under 5 forms of management (low-input pasture, high-input pasture, intermittent cropping, continuous cropping, and pyrethrum production) were assessed using field and laboratory techniques, to see how these attributes changed as the intensity of land management increased. Among the most notable changes were soil organic carbon (C) in the top 150 mm, which was about 30% less in cropping and pyrethrum paddocks than pasture paddocks, and microbial biomass C, which was about 60% less. Earthworm numbers showed even greater differences, with virtually no earthworms under pyrethrum. Pasture soils had higher shear strength and water contents at the liquid limit in the top 150 mm, and more water-stable aggregates in the subsurface soil. Despite these differences, the absolute values of most attributes in cropping paddocks were of a magnitude, which suggests that Tasmanian ferrosols even under continuous cropping are still in good condition. This agreed with the views of the farmers, obtained by individual survey. The decrease in organic C in the cropped soils has not decreased the effective cation exchange capacity, probably because their higher pH due to liming has compensated. Because ferrosols with organic C contents of 1−2% elsewhere in Australia have been shown to have serious management limitations, we need to know by how much the organic C contents in Tasmanian ferrosols will continue to decrease under intensive cropping to predict whether they might suffer in a similar way.
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Singh, D. K., N. McGuckian, R. A. Routley, G. A. Thomas, R. C. Dalal, Y. P. Dang, T. J. Hall, et al. "Poor adoption of ley-pastures in south-west Queensland: biophysical, economic and social constraints." Animal Production Science 49, no. 10 (2009): 894. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an09015.
Full textAbstract:
The present review identifies various constraints relating to poor adoption of ley-pastures in south-west Queensland, and suggests changes in research, development and extension efforts for improved adoption. The constraints include biophysical, economic and social constraints. In terms of biophysical constraints, first, shallower soil profiles with subsoil constraints (salt and sodicity), unpredictable rainfall, drier conditions with higher soil temperature and evaporative demand in summer, and frost and subzero temperature in winter, frequently result in a failure of established, or establishing, pastures. Second, there are limited options for legumes in a ley-pasture, with the legumes currently being mostly winter-active legumes such as lucerne and medics. Winter-active legumes are ineffective in improving soil conditions in a region with summer-dominant rainfall. Third, most grain growers are reluctant to include grasses in their ley-pasture mix, which can be uneconomical for various reasons, including nitrogen immobilisation, carryover of cereal diseases and depressed yields of the following cereal crops. Fourth, a severe depletion of soil water following perennial ley-pastures (grass + legumes or lucerne) can reduce the yields of subsequent crops for several seasons, and the practice of longer fallows to increase soil water storage may be uneconomical and damaging to the environment. Economic assessments of integrating medium- to long-term ley-pastures into cropping regions are generally less attractive because of reduced capital flow, increased capital investment, economic loss associated with establishment and termination phases of ley-pastures, and lost opportunities for cropping in a favourable season. Income from livestock on ley-pastures and soil productivity gains to subsequent crops in rotation may not be comparable to cropping when grain prices are high. However, the economic benefits of ley-pastures may be underestimated, because of unaccounted environmental benefits such as enhanced water use, and reduced soil erosion from summer-dominant rainfall, and therefore, this requires further investigation. In terms of social constraints, the risk of poor and unreliable establishment and persistence, uncertainties in economic and environmental benefits, the complicated process of changing from crop to ley-pastures and vice versa, and the additional labour and management requirements of livestock, present growers socially unattractive and complex decision-making processes for considering adoption of an existing medium- to long-term ley-pasture technology. It is essential that research, development and extension efforts should consider that new ley-pasture options, such as incorporation of a short-term summer forage legume, need to be less risky in establishment, productive in a region with prevailing biophysical constraints, economically viable, less complex and highly flexible in the change-over processes, and socially attractive to growers for adoption in south-west Queensland.
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Robertson, FA, RJK Myers, and PG Saffigna. "Distribution of carbon and nitrogen in a long-term cropping system and permanent pasture system." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, no. 6 (1993): 1323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9931323.
Full textAbstract:
Nitrogen (N) limitation to productivity of sown perennial grass pastures on the brigalow lands of S.E. Queensland contrasts with adequate N supply to annual crops grown on the same soil. In order to understand this anomaly, the distribution of N and carbon (C) under permanent green panic pasture and under continuous cropping with grain sorghum was compared in an 18 month field study. Total soil N and organic C (0-10 cm) were, respectively, 0.37 and 3.20% under green panic and 0.23 and 2.31% under sorghum. Soil microbial biomass (0-28 cm) contained 246 kg N and 1490 kg C ha-1 under green panic and 147 kg N and 744 kg C ha-1 under sorghum. Enhanced microbial growth under pasture was attributed to the continuous input of available C from surface litter and roots. The C/N ratio of pasture residues was high (greater than 50) and conducive to immobilization of N. Availability of N under pasture was further reduced by approximately 50% of plant N being immobilized in standing dead tissue. Under sorghum, the microbial biomass was well supplied with N, but was limited by C availability. The soil under sorghum received a single large C input when crop residues were returned after harvest. The differences in N availability, and hence productivity, of these soils under cropping and permanent pasture were due primarily to differences in the timing and quality of C inputs.
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Sparling, Graham P., Louis A. Schipper, Allan E. Hewitt, and Bradley P. Degens. "Resistance to cropping pressure of two New Zealand soils with contrasting mineralogy." Soil Research 38, no. 1 (2000): 85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr99065.
Full textAbstract:
Changes in soil properties in response to cropping pressure were measured in 2 mineralogically contrasting New Zealand topsoils. Waiareka clay (Vertic Haplustoll) with >65% smectite clay was compared with Wakanui silt loam (Aquic Haplustept), which contains about 20% mixed or illite clays. Soil properties (0–10 cm) were assessed by changes in organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), pH, cation exchange capacity, Olsen P, microbial C, soil respiration, microbial functional evenness, mineralisable N, bulk density, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, readily available and total available water, macro porosity and total porosity, particle density, and particle size distribution. Additional samples of the Waiareka clay soil were taken at 10–20 cm depth. Cropping pressure was estimated using a scale based on the number of years in crop v. those in pasture. The organic and biological status of the Waiareka pasture soil (0–10 cm) was greater than that of the Wakanui pasture, with contents of 5.1% organic C, 0.43% total N, 1429 microbial C (µg/cm3), and 123 mineralisable N (µg/cm3), compared with values of 4.0%, 0.31%, 795 µg/cm3, and 89 µg/cm3, respectively. Total and macroporosity, and total and readily available water, were also greater on the Waiareka pasture soil compared with the Wakanui pasture soil. Under cropping pressure, the Waiareka soil had marked declines in organic matter C and N, microbial C and soil respiration, microbial functional evenness, macroporosity, and available water. In contrast, the Wakanui silt loam showed little response to cropping pressure; mineralisable N declined slightly and particle density increased under cropping. We concluded that the initial properties of a soil were not good predictors of subsequent resistance to cropping pressure; and that soils with initially high status have the potential for proportionally greater decline.
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Dalal, R. C., W. M. Strong, E. J. Weston, J. E. Cooper, K. J. Lehane, and A. J. King. "Farming systems’ productivity and soil organic carbon stocks following fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes on a fertility-depleted soil in a semi-arid subtropical region." Soil Research 56, no. 4 (2018): 429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr17228.
Full textAbstract:
Depleted soil nitrogen supplies in long-term continuously cultivated soil for cereal grain cropping have resulted in reduced cereal yields, low grain proteins and hence low economic returns. This has necessitated the development of alternative management practices to sustain crop yields, as well as to restore and maintain soil fertility. In the present study we examined the comparative performance of several management options over a 12-year period, including: a 4-year rotation of grass + legume pasture followed by wheat (GL–wheat); 2-year rotations of lucerne–wheat, annual medic–wheat and chickpea–wheat; and continuous conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT), without or with fertiliser N application (0, 25 and 75 kg N ha–1 for each crop). Average wheat grain yields were highest in the chickpea–wheat rotation, followed by the NT wheat with 75 kg N ha–1; the lowest grain yields were in the CT or NT wheat treatment without fertiliser N application. Crop water use and gross margin were strongly correlated. However, there was an increasing potential for the deep leaching of nitrate-N at 75 kg N ha–1 application, as well as from the GL pasture initiated in 1987, but not from that initiated in 1986, emphasising the effect of variability in growing seasons. Soil organic C stocks increased under the 4-year GL pasture in the 0–0.1 m depth only, then decreased steadily following the cropping phase. The rotation of 4-year GL pasture followed by wheat cropping for 4–6 years may maintain initial soil organic C stock, but a shorter cropping phase is required to increase soil organic C and N stocks and soil fertility in the long term. Partial economic analysis of the treatments suggested that restoring or maintaining soil N fertility, either through legume-based pastures, grain legume and/or N fertiliser, provides long-term positive economic return.
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Betteridge, K., J. Crush, S. Ledgard, and M. S. Barton. "Nitrogen leaching implications of poor pasture persistence." NZGA: Research and Practice Series 15 (January 1, 2011): 79–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.15.2011.3220.
Full textAbstract:
Farmers have indicated that perennial pastures sown in the Lake Taupo catchment revert to low quality species within 8 to 10 years. These may be renewed with perennial pasture species following an autumn then spring cropping regime, or resown pasture-topasture by direct-drilling into glyphosate-sprayed turf or following full cultivation. Vegetation which is desiccated and/or ploughed-under before sowing will decay and release mineral nitrogen (N). The mineral N from these sources is available for newly sown plants but can also be leached. In a large, replicated, rotationally cattle-grazed trial near Lake Taupo, new pasture was established with the high sugar ryegrass (HSG) Aberdart in one treatment only by direct-drilling, following glyphosate application in late summer. Existing pasture remained in Control plots. Renovated pasture leached 63 kg nitrate-N ha-1 in the 8 months following establishment compared 8 kg nitrate-N ha-1 in Control (P
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Shepherd, T. G., S. Saggar, R. H. Newman, C. W. Ross, and J. L. Dando. "Tillage-induced changes to soil structure and organic carbon fractions in New Zealand soils." Soil Research 39, no. 3 (2001): 465. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr00018.
Full textAbstract:
The effects of increasing cropping and soil compaction on aggregate stability and dry-sieved aggregate-size distribution, and their relationship to total organic C (TOC) and the major functional groups of soil organic carbon, were investigated on 5 soils of contrasting mineralogy. All soils except the allophanic soil showed a significant decline in aggregate stability under medium- to long-term cropping. Mica-rich, fine-textured mineral and humic soils showed the greatest increase in the mean weight diameter (MWD) of dry aggregates, while the oxide-rich soils, and particularly the allophanic soils, showed only a slight increase in the MWD after long-term cropping. On conversion back to pasture, the aggregate stability of the mica-rich soils increased and the MWD of the aggregate-size distribution decreased, with the humic soil showing the greatest recovery. Aggregate stability and dry aggregate-size distribution patterns show that soil resistance to structural degradation and soil resilience increased from fine-textured to coarse-textured to humic mica-rich soils to oxide-rich soils to allophanic soils. Coarse- and fine-textured mica-rich and oxide-rich soils under pasture contained medium amounts of TOC, hot-water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), and acid hydrolysable carbohydrate (AHC), all of which declined significantly under cropping. The rate of decline varied with soil type in the initial years of cropping, but was similar under medium- and long-term cropping. TOC was high in the humic mica-rich and allophanic soils, and levels did not decline appreciably under medium- and long-term cropping. 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance evidence also indicates that all major functional groups of soil organic carbon declined under cropping, with O-alkyl C and alkyl C showing the fastest and slowest rate of decline, respectively. On conversion back to pasture, both WSC and AHC returned to levels originally present under long-term pasture. TOC recovered to original pasture levels in the humic soil, but recovered only to 60–70% of original levels in the coarse- and fine-textured soils. Aggregate stability was strongly correlated to TOC, WSC, and AHC (P < 0.001), while aggregate-size distribution was moderately correlated to aggregate stability (P < 0.01) and weakly correlated to AHC (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy indicated a loss of the binding agents around aggregates under cropping. The effect of the loss of these binding agents on soil structure was more pronounced in mica-rich soils than in oxide-rich and allophanic soils. The very high aggregate stabilities of the humic soil under pasture was attributed to the presence of a protective water-repellent lattice of long-chain polymethylene compounds around the soil aggregates.
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Tharmaraj, J., D. F. Chapman, J. Hill, J. L. Jacobs, and B. R. Cullen. "Increasing home-grown forage consumption and profit in non-irrigated dairy systems. 2. Forage harvested." Animal Production Science 54, no. 3 (2014): 234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an12296.
Full textAbstract:
A dairy farmlet experiment was conducted at Terang in south-west Victoria, Australia, over 4 years to test the hypothesis that a 30% increase in forage harvested per ha could be achieved in a production system that incorporated a range of Complementary Forages with perennial ryegrass (CF) compared with a well managed perennial ryegrass-only farmlet (‘Ryegrass Max’, RM). The CF farmlet included perennial ryegrass pasture (44% of the farmlet area on average over 4 years), but also incorporated oversowing perennial ryegrass with short-term ryegrasses (average 16% of farmlet area) to increase winter growth, tall fescue-based pasture (average 20% of farmlet area) to increase production in the late spring–summer period, a double cropping rotation (15% of farmlet area) based on winter cereal for silage production followed by summer brassica crops for grazing, and summer crops used in the pasture renovation process (average 5% of farmlet area). The RM and CF farmlets were stocked at 2.2 and 2.82 June-calving cows/ha, respectively and average annual nitrogen (N) fertiliser application rates (pasture only) were 141 and 153 kg N/ha, respectively. The total amount of forage harvested per year was generally less than predicted from pre-experimental modelling of both farmlets. However, the proposed target of a 30% increase in home-grown forage harvest per ha in the CF system compared with RM was exceeded in 2005–06 (+33%), with 21, 16 and 11% higher forage harvest achieved in CF in 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09, respectively (average for all 4 years = 20%). Annual forage harvested in RM ranged between 6.5 and 8.9 t DM/ha compared with 7.9–10.3 t DM/ha in CF. Approximately two-thirds of the increased forage harvest in CF came from higher rates of pasture consumption per ha and one-third from the double cropping component of the system, although the performance of the double crop (mean annual production of 11.5 t DM/ha) was well below the expected 20 t DM/ha based on pre-experimental modelling. The higher per-hectare pasture harvest rates in CF were primarily due to increased perennial ryegrass pasture consumption achieved through higher stocking rates and efficient responses to higher N inputs from both higher fertiliser rates and additional supplementary feeding. In CF, the DM harvested from pastures oversown with short-term ryegrasses was lower than perennial ryegrass, while tall fescue-based pastures were similar to perennial ryegrass. Poor spring rainfall in 2006–07 and 2008–09 likely contributed to the lower than expected DM yields of tall fescue-based pasture and the summer crops within the double cropping component. Home-grown forage harvest rates can be increased by 11–33% above what is currently achieved by best industry practice with perennial ryegrass-only pastures using complementary forages but perennial ryegrass will remain a key component of the forage base for dairy production in southern Australia.
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Beecher, HG, JA Thompson, PE Bacon, and BW Dunn. "Soil nitrogen supply to rice: crop sequence effects." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34, no. 7 (1994): 987. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9940987.
Full textAbstract:
The effect of cropping sequence on soil nitrogen (N) supply to a rice crop was investigated using an in situ incubation technique in a direct drill system on a red-brown earth soil in south-eastern Australia. The crop sequences were (i) a rice crop in each of the previous 4 summers, (ii) rice then 4 seasons of annual pasture (long pasture phase), (iii) rice, 2 winter cereal crops then 2 seasons of annual pasture (short pasture phase), and (iv) rice then 4 winter cereal crops. This study was undertaken in the fifth year of the crop sequence experiment, when all sequences had returned to rice. Within the rice crop, fertilised (160 kg N/ha) and unfertilised plots were established on the burnt stubble portion of the main crop sequence plots. Nitrogen uptake in unfertilised plots ranged from 79 kg N/ha in continuously cropped rice treatments to 165 kg N/ha in short pasture phase treatments. Application of 160 kg N/ha at permanent flood increased N uptake to 207 kg N/ha for the short pasture treatment. Crop biomass and tillering varied with cropping sequence and increased with fertiliser nitrogen application. Crop sequence had little effect on soil mineral N content during the growing season. However, total soil N mineralisation during the season varied with both crop sequence and fertiliser application. The continuous rice sequence mineralised 119 kg N/ha, whilst the long pasture phase sequence mineralised 246 kg N/ha. Fertiliser application increased mineralised N to 267 and 337 kg N/ha for continuous rice and short pasture phase treatments, respectively. Nitrogen mineralisation rate peaked (4 kg N/ha.day) some 40-50 days after permanent flood, coinciding with panicle initiation and the period of high N demand in the rice crop. Increased N availability after panicle initiation resulted in significantly higher grain yields. This work demonstrates that both the magnitude and timing of N supply affects the grain yield of the rice crop. Nitrogen supply is affected by the previous crop sequences. Practical implications are that pasture phase length of highly clover-dominant pastures could be reduced (from 4 to 2 years) and still provide similar contributions of N to succeeding rice crops; that continuous rice growing might achieve high yields similar to rice in rotation with legume pastures with the judicious application of fertiliser N; and that these N fertiliser applications may have to be quite high to achieve grain yields similar to rice in rotation with legume pastures.
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Silburn, D. M., P. E. Tolmie, A. J. W. Biggs, J. P. M. Whish, and V. French. "Deep drainage rates of Grey Vertosols depend on land use in semi-arid subtropical regions of Queensland, Australia." Soil Research 49, no. 5 (2011): 424. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr10216.
Full textAbstract:
Changes in land use can affect the soil water balance and mobilise primary salinity. This paper examines changes in soil chloride (Cl) and deep drainage under pasture and annual cropping on five gilgaied Grey Vertosols in southern inland Queensland, Australia, comparing them to remnant native vegetation. Transient soil Cl mass-balance (CMB) was used for crop and pasture sites, as it is suitable for determining the long-term, low rates of drainage since clearing some 40–50 years ago. Steady-state CMB was used for native vegetation. Large masses of salts and Cl were stored under native vegetation (31–103 t/ha of Cl to 3.2 m), and deep drainage was low (0.10–0.27 mm/year). The Cl profiles were generally of a normal shape for matrix flow (e.g. no bypass flow). Soil Cl was lost under cropping (average 65% lost to 1.4 m) and pasture (32%) compared with native vegetation. This lost Cl was not stored within the top 4–5 m of soil, indicating movement of water below 4–5 m. Deep drainage averaged 10 mm/year under cropping for both gilgai mounds and depressions (range 2.7–25 mm/year), and 3.3 and 5.1 mm/year under pasture for mounds and depressions, respectively. Subsoil (depth 1.5–4+ m) was generally dry under native vegetation and wetter under cropping and pasture. Deep drainage over the last 40–50 years was stored in the unsaturated zone (to deeper than 4+ m), indicating a long time lag between land-use change and groundwater response. Steady-state CMB greatly underestimated drainage for crop and pasture sites.
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Li, Guangdi D., Rajinder P. Singh, John P. Brennan, and Keith R. Helyar. "A financial analysis of lime application in a long-term agronomic experiment on the south-western slopes of New South Wales." Crop and Pasture Science 61, no. 1 (2010): 12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp09103.
Full textAbstract:
Management of Acid Soils Through Efficient Rotations (MASTER) is a long-term agronomic experiment commenced in 1992. There were 3 fundamental treatment contrasts in this experiment: (a) annual systems v. perennial systems; (b) limed v. unlimed treatments; and (c) permanent pastures v. pasture–crop rotations. The soil was acidic to depth with pH (in CaCl2) below 4.5 and exchangeable Al above 40% at 0.10–0.20 m when the experiment started. Lime was applied every 6 years to maintain soil pHCa at 5.5 in the 0–0.10 m soil depth. A financial analysis was undertaken to estimate potential benefits and costs involved in liming acid soils on the south-western slopes of New South Wales, based on data from the MASTER experiment. The most important finding from the current study is that liming pastures on soils that have a subsurface acidity problem is profitable over the long-term for productive livestock enterprises. The pay-back period for liming pastures, grazed by Merino wethers, was 14 years for both annual and perennial pastures. More profitable livestock enterprises, such as prime lambs or growing-out steers, were estimated to reduce the pay-back period. This gives farmers confidence to invest in a long-term liming program to manage highly acid soils in the traditional permanent pasture region of the high-rainfall zone (550–800 mm) of south-eastern Australia. Results from the current study also confirmed that the total financial return from liming is greater if the land is suitable for operation of a pasture–crop rotation system. The positive cash flows generated from cropping in a relatively short time can significantly shorten the pay-back period for the investment in lime. But cropping without liming on soils with subsurface acidity was worse than grazing animals. Crop choice is crucial for the perennial pasture–crop rotation. Inclusion of high-value cash crops, such as canola or a wheat variety with high protein, would lead to a rise in the aggregate benefits over time as the soil fertility improved and soil acidity was gradually ameliorated.
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Latta, R. A., and A. Lyons. "The performance of lucerne - wheat rotations on Western Australian duplex soils." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, no. 3 (2006): 335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar04016.
Full textAbstract:
In field experiments on duplex soils in the south-eastern and central Western Australian wheatbelt, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) was compared with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) in pasture–crop rotations. Comparative pasture plant densities and biomass, soil water content, available soil nitrogen, wheat grain yield, and protein content were measured during 2 and 3 years of pasture followed by 2 and 1 year of wheat, respectively. Lucerne densities declined by 60–90% over the 3-year pasture phase but produced up to 3 times more total annual biomass than weed-dominant annual pastures and similar total annual biomass when annual pastures were legume dominant. Lower soil water contents were measured under lucerne than under annual pastures from 6 months after establishment, with deficits up to 60 mm in the 0–1.6 m soil profile. However, significant rain events and volunteer perennial weeds periodically negated comparative deficits. Wheat yields were lower following lucerne (1.3 t/ha) than following an annual pasture (1.8 t/ha) in a low-rainfall season, higher (3.7 v. 2.9 t/ha) in a high-rainfall season, and much higher when the previous annual pastures were grass dominant (3.4 v. 1.5 t/ha). Grain protein contents were 1–2% higher in response to the lucerne pasture phase. Overcropping wheat into a lucerne pasture of 19 plants/m2 reduced wheat grain yields, but a lucerne density of 4 plants/m2 reduced yields only where rainfall was low. The study has shown that lucerne–wheat rotations provide a productive farming system option on duplex, sodic soils in both the south-eastern and central cropping regions of Western Australia. This was most evident in seasons of above-average summer and growing-season rainfall and when compared with grass-dominant annual pastures.
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Galindo, Fernando Shintate, Kathleen Delate, Bradley Heins, Hannah Phillips, Andrew Smith, and Paulo Humberto Pagliari. "Cropping System and Rotational Grazing Effects on Soil Fertility and Enzymatic Activity in an Integrated Organic Crop-Livestock System." Agronomy 10, no. 6 (June 5, 2020): 803. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060803.
Full textAbstract:
Alternative grazing systems that incorporate cover crops may be useful to achieve a longer grazing season and maximize forage production. However, little is known about their impact on soil properties, especially in the presence or absence of cattle grazing in the early spring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interacting effects of cropping systems with and without cattle grazing in rotation with corn or soybean on the balance and dynamics of soil fertility and enzyme activity. This study was conducted as a system experiment between 2015 and 2019 in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, USA. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included presence or absence of cattle grazing and two types of cropping systems (pasture-rye-soybean-pasture [P-R-SB-P] and pasture-wheat/vetch-corn-pasture [P-W/V-C-P]. Soil samples were collected six times during the study. Soil properties analyzed were soil pH, organic matter, salinity, K, Ca, Mg, cation exchange capacity (CEC), P, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, aryl-sulfatase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, ammonium, nitrate, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), N%, C%, S%, and C:N ratio. Grazing increased glucosidase activity, available Ca, Mg, NO3−, NH4+, soil pH, soil C%, S%, and the C:N ratio. In the P-W/V-C-P cropping system, soil pH, available Ca, NO3−, and sulfatase activity were found to increase compared with the P-R-SB-P cropping system. In contrast, soil OM, available K, Mg, CEC, glucosidase, phosphatase, POXC, and total C%, N%, and S% were greater in the P-R-SB-P cropping system compared with the P-W/V-C-P cropping system. The results of this study suggested that rotational grazing can increase soil quality and microbial decomposition under the P-W/V-C-P cropping system, and that this result was greater than under the P-R-SB-P cropping system, leading to a faster nutrient cycling. These results show promise for producers who are seeking methods to diversify their farming operation and reduce the need for external inputs.
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Bell, M. J., B. J. Bridge, G. R. Harch, and D. N. Orange. "Physical rehabilitation of degraded krasnozems using ley pastures." Soil Research 35, no. 5 (1997): 1093. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/s97005.
Full textAbstract:
The physical fertility of krasnozems and euchrozems (Red Ferrosols) in Australia has declined substantially as a result of continuous cropping. Much of this decline is associated with reduced levels of soil organic carbon and soil compaction due to vehicle trac when soils are too wet. We examined the impact of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) pasture leys with various management inputs on the regeneration of physical fertility of continuously cropped krasnozems from 2 locations in the South Burnett region of southern Queensland. Pasture leys significantly improved the physical fertility of continuously cropped soils within 2–4 years. The most significant effects were on the creation of improved surface and subsurface macroporosity, and in a reduction in surface crust formation under high energy rain due to improved aggregate stability. Final steady state infiltration rates under well-managed leys increased 4-fold compared with those in continuously cropped soil. Pastures were unable to ameliorate compacted layers below approx. 15 cm, although significant improvements in hydraulic conductivity through these layers (and to depths of at least 70 cm) were made, presumably by creating of continuous biopores. Introduced earthworms improved pasture effectiveness in ameliorating this layer, but only to depths of 20 cm, while deep ripping during the ley phase was the most effective treatment. Kikuyu was the more effective pasture species in overcoming soil physical infertility, particularly in terms of improving aggregate stability under rain. In addition, the ability of kikuyu to resist the compacting influence of cattle trampling during wet weather meant that rainfall infiltration eciency was maintained during the ley phase and management options on returning to cropping were more flexible (e.g. direct drill strategies can be used). However, if pastures were ungrazed, the advantages of kikuyu in soil physical restoration were evident in only 2 years.
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Özkan, Şeyda, Julian Hill, and Brendan Cullen. "Effect of climate variability on pasture-based dairy feeding systems in south-east Australia." Animal Production Science 55, no. 9 (2015): 1106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an14493.
Full textAbstract:
The Australian dairy industry relies primarily on pasture for its feed supply. However, the variability in climate affects plant growth, leading to uncertainty in dryland pasture supply. This paper models the impact of climate variability on pasture production and examines the potential of two pasture-based dairy feeding systems: (1) to experience winter deficits; (2) to carry forward the conserved pasture surpluses as silage for future use; and (3) to conserve pasture surpluses as hay. The two dairy feeding systems examined were a traditional perennial ryegrass-based feeding system (ryegrass max. – RM) and a system that incorporated double cropping into the perennial ryegrass pasture base (complementary forage – CF). The conditional probability of the RM and CF systems to generate pasture deficits in winter were 94% and 96%, respectively. Both systems could carry forward the surplus silage into the following lactation almost once in every 4–5 years with the RM system performing slightly better than the CF system. The proportions of the grain-based concentrates fed in the two systems were 25% and 27% for the RM and CF systems, respectively. This study suggests that double-cropping systems have the potential to provide high-quality feed to support the feed gaps when pasture is not available due to increased variability in climatic conditions.
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Doole, Graeme J., Andrew D. Bathgate, and Michael J. Robertson. "Labour scarcity restricts the potential scale of grazed perennial plants in the Western Australian wheatbelt." Animal Production Science 49, no. 10 (2009): 883. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08284.
Full textAbstract:
Rural populations in Australia are in decline and rural farm businesses now endure chronic labour shortages. Livestock enterprises traditionally require more labour than their cropping counterparts and this threatens future increases in their intensity and scale. The influence that labour scarcity has on the profitability of mixed-farming systems in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia is investigated in this study. When labour supply is assumed to be non-limiting, perennial plants are profitable where their out-of-season production sustains a sizeable breeding flock in a prime-lamb enterprise. However, when labour supply is limited and labour demand is defined as a function of enterprise mix, cropping activity increases and livestock production decreases. In addition, the proportion of the farm planted with perennial pasture declines. This has implications for natural resource management, with perennial pasture helping to prevent soil erosion, decrease waterlogging, and reduce recharge to saline watertables. Efforts to improve the labour efficiency of livestock production are therefore highly pertinent if perennial pastures are to offset land degradation on a broader scale.
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Unkovich, Murray, Paul Sanford, John Pate, and Mike Hyder. "Effects of grazing on plant and soil nitrogen relations of pasture-crop rotations." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, no. 3 (1998): 475. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/a97071.
Full textAbstract:
Plant and soil nitrogen (N) fluxes were assessed in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) based pastures set-stocked at 8 sheep per hectare (light grazing) or grazed at a much higher, but variable, intensity to maintain 1400 kg standing dry matter per hectare (intensive grazing) through the addition or removal of sheep. Pasture composition and biomass production, herbage N concentration, plant nitrate (NO-3) utilisation, and N2 fixation by clover were assessed at 3-weekly intervals over the growing season. Soil ammonium (NH+4) and NO-3 availability were assessed at similar intervals using soil coring and in situ incubation cores. Seasonal pasture yield under light grazing was 11·5 t dry matter/ha compared with 7·9 t/ha under intensive grazing, the difference being mostly attributable to reduced grass growth under intensive grazing. However, there was essentially no difference between the pastures in total N accumulation (300 kg N/ha in the lightly grazed and 302 kg N/ha in the intensively grazed pastures). The lesser dry matter production under intensive grazing was compensated for by higher N concentration and increased clover content of the sward, and faster clover growth late in the growing season. N2 fixation by clover under intensive grazing (153 kg N/ha) was slightly greater than under light grazing (131 kg N/ha). Proportional dependence of clover on N2 fixation (%Ndfa) was similar under intensive grazing (78%) and light grazing (84%), despite higher continued availability of soil mineral N under intensive grazing. Uptake of soil N by the grass component amounted to 147 kg N/ha under light grazing v. 96 kg N/ha in the intensively grazed pasture, and for the clover was 18 and 40 kg N/ha, respectively. Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula L.), a common weed of south-west Australian pastures, was extraordinarily active in absorbing, storing, and reducing soil NO-3, especially when subjected to intensive grazing. After the 3 years of the grazing trial, the pastures were cultivated and cropped to oats, triticale, and canola and the biomass and N uptake of each crop assessed. Intensive grazing in the previous pasture resulted in increased availability of soil mineral N in the subsequent cropping phase and accordingly augmented crop N uptake and eventual grain protein levels relative to crops following lightly grazed pasture. The study indicated that intensive grazing before cropping may offer a useful management tool for improving N nutrition and yields of non-leguminous crops in pasture-crop rotations under the conditions prevailing in the south-west of Australia.
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Cotching, W. E., J. Cooper, L. A. Sparrow, B. E. McCorkell, and W. Rowley. "Effects of agricultural management on tenosols in northern Tasmania." Soil Research 40, no. 1 (2002): 45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr01005.
Full textAbstract:
Attributes of 15 Tasmanian sandy tenosols were assessed using field and laboratory techniques to determine differences under 3 typical forms of agricultural management: long-term pasture, cropping with shallow tillage using discs and tines, and cropping (including potatoes) with more rigorous and deeper tillage including deep ripping and powered implements. Soil organic carbon in the surface 75 mm was 2.6% under long-term pasture compared with 1.1% in rigorously tilled cropping paddocks. Readily oxidisable carbon concentrations were 2.3 mg/g and 1.0 mg/g, respectively. These differences were negatively correlated with the number of years cropped, which we viewed with concern. Infiltration rate was greater and shear strength less in cropped paddocks compared with long-term pasture. Dry bulk density was greater and total porosity and macroporosity were less in rigorously tilled paddocks. Subsoil compaction was apparent in paddocks which had grown potatoes. Cropping was not clearly associated with smaller or less stable aggregates. A survey of farmers' perceptions found that they identified more healthy than unhealthy soil attributes under all management histories. Significant negative correlations were found between the number of unhealthy attributes identified in a farmer survey and laboratory-determined water-stable aggregates and mean weight diameter of dry soil aggregates. The effects of cropping are not associated with a broad range of degraded soil attributes on these Tasmanian tenosols. tenosols, sandy soils, organic carbon, soil strength, aggregate stability, land management, cropping.
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Thomson, C. J., C. K. Revell, N. C. Turner, M. A. Ewing, and I. F. Le Coultre. "Influence of rotation and time of germinating rains on the productivity and composition of annual pastures in Western Australia." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, no. 2 (1998): 225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/a94082.
Full textAbstract:
A long-term rotation experiment located in south-western Australia was used to measure the effect of rotation and time of germinating rains on the productivity and botanical composition of grazed annual pastures in 2 contrasting seasons in an environment with an average annual rainfall of 325 mm. The density of self-regenerating seedlings of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), and grasses (Lolium rigidum, Hordeum leporinum, Bromus diandrus) was greatly increased (approx. 3 times the density) when there was a second year of pasture after crop compared with the first year after crop. The lower plant density resulted in first-year pastures having only about 33% of the autumn biomass accumulation of second-year pastures. This difference in early pasture growth had no effect on total pasture production in 1992, but in 1993 total pasture production was 30% greater in second-year pastures compared with first-year pastures. Botanical composition varied between and within seasons with the percentage of subterranean clover increasing throughout the season and the percentage of capeweed decreasing throughout the season. Grasses comprised <20% of the biomass in all seasons and treatments. Production of subterranean clover seed in 1993 was higher in a 1 : 2 crop-pasture rotation than in a 1 : 1 crop-pasture rotation and direct drilling in the cropping phase increased seed set compared with conventional tillage in both 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 crop-pasture rotations. Capeweed seedlings emerged in large numbers after rainfall between February and May and subsequently showed a relative growth rate twice that of subterranean clover and the grasses, but exclusion of rainfall until June resulted in a significant reduction in the emergence of capeweed seedlings. Additionally, capeweed had a lower rate of seedling survival compared with other pasture species, and this is contrary to observations by other researchers that capeweed is highly resistant to moisture stress during early growth.