In this section:
Mallee Lucerne
Lucerne is a sustainable and profitable option for marginal cropping paddocks in the Mallee drylands. Read the final report.
Why use lucerne?
Lucerne can be used for:
- erosion control
- quality year-round grazing
- nitrogen input
- herbicide resistant weed control
- fat lambs
- recharge control
Where can lucerne be used?
Lucerne can be established:
- in sandy high erosion risk paddocks
- in rocky paddocks with reasonable soil depth
- in low yielding cropping paddocks
- as a short term phase before or after cropping
- as a long term phase with overcropping
How can lucerne be established?
Lucerne is a challenge to establish in the low rainfall Mallee zone. Treat lucerne sowing with the same or more effort as you would when sowing crops. Lucerne establishment requires:
- high inputs, planning, and monitoring to ensure success
- good weed and insect control at planting
- sowing into good stubble cover or with a covercrop
- sowing seed shallow with good soil contact
- spraying out covercrop for best-bet establishment
- no grazing until established
- grazing rotationally for persistence and production
Recommended reading
Success with Lucerne (Manual, Topcrop) contains information on all aspects of lucerne management. The manual is available from PIRSA's Resource Centre and Online Shop
CNRM Project: Mallee Dryland Grazing Systems – Lucerne and New Perennial Legumes
| Project: | Mallee Dryland Grazing Systems - Lucerne and New Perennial Legumes |
|---|---|
| Centre for Natural Resources Management (CNRM) | |
| Funded by: | National Action Plan(NAP) |
| Collaborators: | (MSFS), Grain and Graze, South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management (NRM), Murray Mallee Local Action Planning (LAP) Association, Primary and Industries Resources South Australia (PIRSA) Rural Solutions |
| Duration: | 2005 to 2007 |
| Objectives: |
Survey of newly sown lucerne paddocks for soil-borne disease and pests affecting lucerne establishment. Field trials sown at Wanbi, Walpeup, Minnipa in 2005 to trial:
Extension of lucerne establishment techniques and lucerne management. |
| Outcomes: |
Improve success of lucerne establishment in the Mallee. Increase area of the Mallee sown to profitable perennials. Decrease area of the Mallee at risk to wind erosion. Decrease recharge to ground water. Recommend and breed improved varieties of perennial legumes for sustainable and profitable dryland grazing systems in the Mallee. |
| Contacts: |
Eric Kobelt Project Manager, Plant Breeder, SARDI Pastures. Alan Humphries Senior Plant Breeder, Perennial Pasture Legumes. |
