Year of study:
2000-02
Lead organisation & collaborators:
Cock Livestock
Southern Farming Systems
HiFert
Gallagher
Waratah
Stephens Seeds
Wesfarmers landmark
Contact:
Malcolm J. Cock
T: 03) 5668 5166
Best available science assessment:
Overall Score: 23
Overall rating: High
|
Objectives |
Conceptual model |
Study design |
Soil analysis |
Production & financial |
Method reporting |
Data analysis |
Results reporting |
Publication |
|
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Project details
Objectives:
The trial was conducted to identify effective methods for renovating run-down pastures using pasture cropping.
Hypotheses:
Pasture production and costs can be improved by:
- Traditional cultivation methods, being replaced by direct drilling.
- Encouraging pasture establishment through time of year
Basis of trial:
The trial is specifically considering the effects of the following factors on pasture improvement:
- Preparatory method
- Timing and conditions at the time of sowing
- Machinery use
- Fencing method
- Costs and pasture production
Location details
Management practices tested:
Pasture establishment methods
Trial site details:
Buchan
800 hectares (~ 550 ha grazing area)
775mm/a rainfall
70% Red clay loam with limestone rock outcrops, some river and creek flats. Undulating to hilly.
Pre-trial management:
Cattle (320) and sheep (1400) grazing
Rotational grazing
Trial management:
Fertiliser and rotational grazing continued across paddocks
Summary of key findings of trial
The low cost of direct drilling establishment far outweighs the approx 10% reduced plant establishment.
The direct drilled paddocks are out of production a much shorter period (alternative cost).
High possibility of erosion with ploughing. Little to none with direct drilling.
Less chance of soil structure and plant damage during wet seasons.
Far shorter time frame to establish improved productive pasture (alternative use of time.).
Sow into dry soils for best results (more crumbling giving better soil / seed contact). Sowing into wet soils caused “glazing” and poor germination.
Direct drill the paddock twice (“criss-cross”). Halve the seed and fertilizer rates for each run. Reduces the amount of bare ground between rows and overcrowding in the rows.
Rocks can be ridden over by the seeder with little damage provided travel speed is low and rocks not too big.
Sowing depth should be approx 2 cm.
May sowing had the best results in germination and subsequent growth. P40E&W had approx 98% germination and P35E approx 90%.
Spring sowing in pad 38’s case was too wet with approx 65% germination.
Spring sowing in P35W had very little rain after sowing with only approx. 35% germination. The following spring saw this go to approx 70%.
Best time of sowing at Amberley Park is May (before autumn rains!), for the seed mixture and methods used.
The conventional method of ploughing etc, sowing fodder crop and then ploughing etc and sowing the permanent pasture, was very costly in dollar terms and more particularly in total soil loses
Variations in soil C and pH not specified.
Other soil treatments not specified.
Experimental design
Treatments:
2000-2002
Roundup
Fertiliser application
Trial design/layout:
3 paddocks were selected (of similar soil type and topography). The trial layout followed:
Paddock 40:
Spring 2000: Spray out (Roundup), Disc twice, Lime, Harrow & smudge, roll, sow fodder crop (Rape & Millet) with DAP, roll.
Autumn 2001: Spray out, chisel plough (on contour) & harrow, pick up big rocks, roll seed pasture mix / fertiliser & roll if required.
Paddock 38:
Winter 2001: Spray (Roundup), Direct drill with ‘triple disc’ drill pasture mix / fertiliser.
Paddock 35:
Divide paddock into two with 3 wire electric fence (P35A & P35B).
Paddock 35B: Late Spring 2001: Spray top (Roundup), Autumn 2002: Spray out, direct drill with ‘triple disc’ drill pasture mix / fertiliser.
Paddock 35A: Late Spring 2001: Spray top (Roundup), July 2002: Spray out, direct drill with ‘triple disc’ drill pasture mix / fertiliser.
Conduct yearly application of fertiliser and soil tests.
Soil sampling method:
Soil tests undertaken annually
Plant and/or animal production measurements:
Pasture composition was measured, as follows:
| Paddock |
40E |
40E |
40W |
40W |
38 |
38 |
35E |
35E |
35W |
35W |
|||||||||
| Date |
2000 |
2003 |
2000 |
2003 |
2000 |
2003 |
2000 |
2003 |
00 |
2003 |
|||||||||
| Improved grasses |
10 |
80 |
10 |
80 |
10 |
75 |
10 |
70 |
10 |
50 |
|||||||||
| Clovers |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
|||||||||
| Unimproved grasses |
40 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
40 |
5 |
40 |
5 |
40 |
0 |
|||||||||
| Annual grasses |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|||||||||
| Dead pasture |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|||||||||
| Broadleaf weeds |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
2.5 |
5 |
5 |
|||||||||
| Other weeds |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
2.5 |
10 |
5 |
|||||||||
| Bare |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
20 |
|||||||||
|
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
||||||||||
Cost and value of production:
|
Calculations |
Cost |
P40 E |
P40 W |
P38 |
P35 W |
P 35E |
||||||
|
Hectares |
6.25 |
6.25 |
8 |
9 |
13 |
|||||||
| Total cost ($) |
25515 |
7086 |
7087 |
2695 |
3631 |
5091 |
||||||
Reportage:
How results have been reported:
Summary report
How a copy of relevant reports can be obtained:
Malcolm J Cock
farmydynamics@dcsi.net.au
Level of review of results:
N/A
Next steps
Timing of sowing and method of sowing has a large impact on pasture establishment.
“I believe we will not be able to gauge the full benefits for another 4 or 5 years of data collection particularly in the area of DM production and soil nutrients, due to the different times of sowing and the big variation in the seasons. The longer the time span and volume of data the more accurate the information gained from the trial. ‘Nature’s time frame is a lot longer than a politicians’.”