PIRD.98.Q10 Improving Pasture Productivity

Summary

​The project

MacKenzie River Big Bend Landcare Group president Paul MacKenzie said pasture research funded by the former Meat Research Corporation (now MLA) in Central Queensland had previously found that existing pasture, oversown with improved pasture legumes and grasses, can improve animal growth rates through better nutrition.

"The research found grazing pressure can be manipulated to maintain groundcover and reduce rainfall run-off and erosion. And burning pasture and manipulating stocking rates can also control wiregrass," Mr MacKenzie said.

This was the basis of the MacKenzie River Big Bend Landcare Group Producer Research Support project and aimed to:

• improve soil nitrogen and feed stocks on heavy black soil;​

• improve soil profile and groundcover in lighter, phosphorus deficient tableland country; and

• provide cover and pasture density in previously cultivated paddocks.

Objectives

1. Oversow existing pasture with improved pasture legumes and grasses to improve animal growth rates through better nutrition;

2. Reseed pasture to improve groundcover and reduce erosion;

3. Burn pasture and manipulate stocking rates to control wiregrass; and

4. Manage grazing pressure to maintain pasture groundcover and reduce rainfall run-off.

What was done

Ten sites on five properties were involved in the demonstration.

Arizona

Site 1 and 2: Re-pasturing old cultivation paddocks with Butterfly Pea at 0.50kg/ha, Biloela Buffel and Gayndah Buffel at 0.25kg/ha.

Site 3: Established Buffel pasture ripped to 30cm deep oversown with

Butterfly Pea and Secca Stylo at the rate of 0.50kg/ha to improve soil nitrogen levels. This was done in January 1999.

Boombah

A Biloela, Gayndah and USA Buffel mixture was planted at 0.56kg/ha, Secca Stylo at 0.28kg/ha and Rhodes Grass at 0.28kg/ha in February 1999.

Coreen

Site 1 and 2: Planted Butterfly Pea at 0.50kg/ha in May, 2000.

Gordon

A 45-hectare section of old cultivation country was planted to Butterfly Pea at 0.50kg/ha and Forage Sorghum at 2kg/ha in January, 1999.

Old Gordon

Site 1 and 2: Biloela, Gayndah and USA Buffel mixture, Secca Stylo and Verano Stylo broadcast with drum​ seeder at recommended rates.

Site 3: Broadcast Gayndah and American Buffel seed on old cultivation country using drum seeder. Seed distributed at 2kg/ha in late December 2000.