Backup Legumes for Stylos

Summary

Fifty-five legumes were sown over 3 years in large sward plots in 32 separate experiments from Gympie in the south up the Queensland coast to Mt Garnet in the north and Katherine and Daly Waters in the Northern Territory. Sites were on soils suitable for growing stylos and receiving 650 to 1000 mm average annual rainfall. Performance indicators included persistence and dry matter yield, response to phosphorus and contribution to liveweight gain. Soil seed reserves and legume quality were measured for selected legumes at selected sites. Below average and poorly distributed rainfall across most sites in most years quickly "culled" those legumes not well adapted to low and variable rainfall.

However many positive outcomes were achieved. Two new legume cultivars (Reid and Kretschmer) have been developed and will increase the area sown to pastures in the southern spear grass area. Commercial seed and management packages will be available in 1997-98. Results from this project have highlighted the beef industry's reliance on the stylo legumes but have also better characterised the performance of the various stylo and alternative legume cultivars and have improved knowledge of their current adaptation and value.

This updated adaptation and performance information on all current stylo and alternative legume cultivars will increase the area sown to improved pastures. These sown pastures and the updated management packages will be used by the beef industry to meet changing market requirements. A wide network of sites and species is now established and will allow continued recording of performance data, promotion of the benefits of sown pastures and allow identification of further new legume cultivars. Partnership activities between research, extension and producer collaborators have been strengthened and will be maintained to further develop best management practice and promote positive aspects of sown pastures.