Field evaluation of perennial grasses and herbs in southern Australia. 1. Establishment and herbage production

Abstract

To review pasture species for regions with 465-680 mm average annual rainfall, 22 perennial grasses and herbs were evaluated for pasture establishment and productivity in four states at seven locations where the arrest of groundwater recharge is considered necessary to ameliorate dryland salinity. Species represented introduced and native, temperate and subtropical grasses, chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.). This report describes establishment and yield; the following paper describes persistence and root characteristics. Yields were measured over 2-3 years except at one site, which suffered severe drought. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L., cv. Avalon) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. = syn. Lolium arundinaceum. (Schreb.) Darbysh., cvv. AU Triumph and Resolute MaxP), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L., cv. Porto) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L., cv. Holdfast and Australian) were the most productive species, with dry matter (DM) yields of 13.6-15.1 t/ha. For summer growth, Porto and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth, cv. Katambora) were the most productive species; relative to Australian in summer, Porto and Katambora produced 41% and 26% more DM, respectively (95% confidence). Perennial ryegrass (cv. Avalon), tall fescue (cv. Resolute MaxP) and chicory (cv. Grouse) were particularly valuable for autumn growth; Avalon was 30% more productive than Australian. Tall fescue (cv. Resolute MaxP) was 32% more productive than Australian in winter. Avalon and AU Triumph were the most productive grasses and herbs in spring. Based on natural rainfall over the 2-3 years of measurement, the mean water use productivity, ignoring any runoff, was 10.5 kg DM/ha.mm for the three most productive species. Apart from kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra Forssk), native grasses gradually established, but over a prolonged period weeping grass (Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br., cv. Wakefield) was the most rapid. Perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, cocksfoot and phalaris maintained productive yields across a diverse range of soils and climates. Exploration of the diversity within these species in a nationally coordinated program of genetic improvement appears warranted for improving reliability and expanding the zone of adaptation.

Perennial pastures for recharge control in temperate drought-prone environments. Part 1: productivity, persistence and herbage quality of key species

“…The unreliable establishment is a common constraint to the broader adoption of these otherwise drought-hardy species being more widely utilised in temperate environments (Reed et al 2008b). The lack of summer rain during the experimental period most likely restricted its ability to thrive and colonise.…”

“…Perennial veldt grass is a species that has the distinction of being identified as 'warranting further investigation' in at least four previous agronomic evaluations in Australia (Rossiter 1947;Bryant 1967;Reid 1994) and Flower (1993) cited in Reed et al (2008b), but has never been promoted in front of phalaris, cocksfoot or tall fescue in plant development programmes. This study concludes that this species, which has undergone comparatively little breeding and selection over the last 50 years but was nevertheless found to be the fourth most productive species under unfavourable seasonal conditions, certainly warrants additional investigation to explore its full potential in drier environments.…”

Use of Perennial Grass in Grazing Systems of Southern Australia to Adapt to a Changing Climate

“…In a study to investigate the performance of a range of perennial grasses in southern Australia , rooting depth of 11 temperate perennial grasses and one cultivar of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum cv. Whittet) was measured at two sites (Hamilton and Warrak in western Victoria, Australia) contrasting in rainfall, soil type and slope (Table 1; Reed et al, 2008). The cultivar with the deepest root system (up to 2 m) was Whittet kikuyu grass, followed by phalaris and tall fescue cultivars (rooting depths between 1.12 and 1.5 m at Hamilton and 0.84 and 0.96 m at Warrak).…”

Conceptualising climate change adaption for native bush food production in arid Australia

“…Such work offers the dual potential of advancing the understanding of abiotic stress tolerance physiology and identifying candidate genes for introgression into crops to confer climate change adaptation. In field situations, adaptive characteristics of native plants under adverse growing conditions are being investigated, initially with species for pasture management Reed et al, 2008), aimed at facilitating genetic improvement. This is paving the way for greater understanding of the contribution that endemic plant species can make to climate change adaptation for crops in the arid regions.…”