In this section:
Lucerne Cultivars
Why choose a SARDI bred variety?
SARDI, with support from industry and research partners, has the most extensive lucerne breeding and evaluation network in Australia. It has some 60 field trials in every major lucerne-growing region, from South East Queensland, through NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. The trials are sown in the middle of farmer’s paddocks and the whole paddock is managed as one, by the farmer. SARDI lucerne breeders dig up surviving plants from trials all over Australia and incorporate these into their new varieties. Each variety has years of field testing in Australian conditions, so when you grow a SARDI bred lucerne variety you can be confident it will perform in your paddocks.
SARDI Five
SARDI Five is a semi winter dormant variety (class 5), with a bushy appearance, fine stems and dark green leaves. SARDI Five has a low, broad crown, which makes the plant very persistent under grazing.
SARDI Five performs well in both irrigated and dryland environments, and is well suited to permanent stands of lucerne, where persistence, summer production and herbage quality are the most important attributes. Our extensive range of field evaluation trials show that SARDI Five is most persistent lucerne variety in Australia. SARDI Five also has a very high level of resistance to each of the 4 major lucerne diseases and pests (Phytophthora, anthracnose, and spotted alfalfa and blue green aphids). This results in a cultivar that is well suited to challenging, wet, cold environments, or sites with a known high disease pressure.
SARDI Five should be the first choice for permanent lucerne stands under sheep or cattle grazing in high rainfall environments, and also in specialised hay production ventures where prime quality hay is required.
Whilst winter production from SARDI Five will be low, this is the best lucerne for mixed pastures with winter active annual or perennial grasses (ryegrass, fescue, etc).
SARDI Five (.PDF 640KB) provides more details about establishment (seeding rate and sowing, inoculation, nutrition, weed control, pest control and grazing), winter activity/ dormancy levels, rainfall and soil requirements, pests and disease resistance, grazing frequency and environmental conditions.
A detailed description of SARDI Five with results from field trials.
SARDI Seven
A high yielding, multipurpose lucerne variety with excellent persistence and tolerance to grazing. This winter active variety has improved performance over Hunterfield, Aurora, Eureka, Genesis and Trifecta.
- A broad crown and high leaf to stem ratio make it well suited to grazing.
- Persists well in dryland and irrigated systems.
- Suited to conservation as hay or silage and can be grown in pasture mixes or oversown with oats.
- Very good levels of insect and disease resistance ensuring plants will maintain high productivity throughout the life of the stand. Under rotational grazing a stand life of 10 years can be anticipated.
SARDI Seven (.PDF 124.7KB) provides more details about establishment (seeding rate and sowing, inoculation, nutrition, weed control, pest control and grazing), winter activity/ dormancy levels, rainfall and soil requirements, pests and disease resistance, grazing frequency and environmental conditions.
A detailed description of this cultivar.
SARDI Ten
A bushy, highly winter active lucerne variety which maximises winter production
- A breakthrough highly winter active lucerne variety which maximises winter
production and seed yield. - Bushier and more tolerant of grazing than other highly winter active varieties.
- Performs well under dryland and irrigated systems and is particularly suited to phase
cropping rotations in low-medium rainfall zones. - Exceptional persistence for its winter activity class, lasting for 4–8 years.
- Very good levels of pest and disease resistance ensure good production throughout
its life.
SARDI Ten (.PDF 124.3KB) provides more details about establishment (seeding rate and sowing, inoculation, nutrition, weed control, pest control and grazing), winter activity level, rainfall and soil requirements, pests and disease resistance, grazing frequency and environmental conditions.
A detailed description of SARDI Ten with results from field trials
