Legumes to improve production
NEW NSW Department of Primary Industries research has revealed superior companion legumes to maintain productivity of tropical pastures and increase feed base production for livestock.
The research was conducted in areas of low to medium rainfall in northern inland and central-west New South Wales.
NSW DPI senior research scientist Dr Suzanne Boschma said the research provides graziers with more informed options on a range of legumes suitable as companion species for use in tropical grass pastures.
“Maintaining productivity and quality of tropical pastures is important and can be achieved by applying fertiliser, primarily nitrogen,” Dr Boschma said.
“Whereas legumes are a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to fertiliser as they offer high nutritive value and can fix nitrogen for use by the tropical pastures.
“The research found desmanthus was the superior tropical legume. It has the potential to increase total pasture production by 40 per cent compared with a non-persistent legume.
“Desmanthus is a new legume for inland New South Wales. Individual plants commonly last two to three years, but plants set a lot of seed which has high levels of hard seed, allowing seedlings to regenerate following summer storms.
“Unlike many temperate legumes, desmanthus is non-bloating.
“Tropical legumes won’t extend the growing season of a tropical grass pasture but they do allow soil moisture to be stored over winter, which can be used to produce high-quality forage in spring,” Dr Boschma said.