The creeping-rooted lucernes (Medicago falcata x M. sativa), cv. Walkabout and breeder's line ECRS 1, were compared with M. sativa cvv. Hunter River and Siro Peruvian for persistence and production under dryland conditions on alluvial and solonetz soils at Biloela and Theodore in central Queensland. The lucernes were sown with green panic (Panicum maximum var trichoglume cv. Petrie) and were grazed intermittently by cattle. Established lucerne populations were similar on each soil, but varied among lines in the range 25-55 plants/m2, with creeping-rooted lucernes having the lowest. Persistence on the two soils differed markedly; after two years, populations had decreased to between 7-22 plants/m2 on the alluvial whereas less than 3 plants/m2 remained on the solonetz. Survival of both creeping-rooted lines was inferior to that of Hunter River on both soils, but only significantly (P < 0.01) so on the alluvial soil. Dry matter yields from the creeping-rooted lines on the solonetz soil during the first year were similar and averaged 2.6 t/ha, compared with Hunter River, 3.4 t/ha, and Siro Peruvian, 6 t/ha.
Nineteen accessions of eight Stylosanthes species were grown in association with volunteer species (mainly native grasses) for three years in small mown swards at three different sites in central Queensland. The outstanding accessions for dry matter yield were S. scabra 40292 and 40205: they significantly out-yielded S. hamata cv. Verano at all three sites and their plant densities in the third year at the wettest site were significantly higher than all other accessions except S. scabra 49833. At all sites, 'Verano' gave significantly higher mean annual dry matter yields than S. guyanensis cv. Oxley and S. humilis cv. Paterson. Other accessions that showed promise were S. scabra 49833 and 40289 and S. viscosa 34904: the latter accession performed relatively better at the wettest site.
Persistence and production of lucerne (Medicago sativa) cvv. Hunter River and Siro Peruvian were studied on alluvial soil under raingrown conditions in a factorial experiment examining effects of lucerne sowing rates (1.1 and 4.4 kg ha-1), competition from buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela) and 3,6 and 9-weekly cutting frequencies. Lucerne populations at establishment from 1.1 and 4.4 kg ha-1seed averaged 18 and 60 plants m-2, which reduced to 4 and 7 plants m-2 respectively after three years. Population initially declined rapidly at the higher sowing rate and the presence of buffel grass accentuated this decline. Persistence of Siro Peruvian was inferior to that of Hunter River. Cutting frequency did not affect lucerne persistence. Sowing pure lucerne and cutting every six weeks produced highest lucerne yield, but total yield was greatest from the lucerne/buffel grass mixture cut either 6- or 9-weekly. Increasing lucerne sowing rate increased lucerne yield only slightly and lucerne cultivar had no effect on total lucerne yield.
An experiment is described in which 48 S. guyanensis accessions, comprising 11 morphological-agronomic (M–A) subgroups, were grown with an associated grass (Urochloa mosarnbicensis or Setaria anceps cv. Narok) for 3 years in small mown swards at up to nine different tropical and subtropical environments in northern Australia. The experiment was non-orthogonal, but could be analysed as three substantially orthogonal subsets; simple ranking techniques were used to explore the complete data set.Significant differences were shown to exist between the M–A groups, but these were less clear-cut than in other Stylosanthes species; the S. guyanensis groups are agronomically more variable. Nevertheless, the results have indicated the existence of five accessions which appear able to outyield any existing cultivar in the appropriate environments. These arc CPI 34911 (M–A group 8A) over a wide range of tropical sites; 40255 (10B) and Q8231 (8A), less wide-ranging than 34911 but outyielding it at a site with a long growing season; and 46590 and 46589C (both 8B), In the high-rainfall subtropics. All would merit more extended trials.
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