Western Australia -Mosaic agriculture trials commence

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Publish time: 20th May, 2015      Source: Western Australia
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Western Australia -Mosaic agriculture trials commenceWestern Australia -Mosaic agriculture trials commence" title="Share this link on Facebook">Western AustraliaMay 20, 2015DAFWA technical officer Tony Shimmin with a plot of Pearler millet, five weeks after seeding, on Birdwood Downs, near Derby.A series of pasture trials have been planted in the Kimberley and Pilbara that could eventually pave the way for a wider range of agricultural crops to be grown in the State’s north to support the cattle industry.The research is part of the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Northern Beef Futures project’s Mosaic Agriculture sub-project, made possible by State Government Royalties for Regions.The trials focus on the potential for selected grass, fodder crops and legume pastures to persist and/or spread, providing evidence for a new Weed Risk Assessment process being developed for the Western Australian rangelands.Before non-indigenous plants can be grown on a pastoral lease, a pastoralist must obtain a Diversification Permit from the Pastoral Lands Board, which considers the potential for these plants to become a risk to the environment.Department research officer Geoff Moore said the experiments would examine how the various species were influenced by a range of factors to add value to the new assessment process.DAFWA senior research officer Clinton Revell with a plot of sorghum a week after seeding at Wallal Downs station, 400km south of Broome.“We are developing a system that takes into account the context, including the climate, soils and vegetation, of the proposed site and surrounding landscape,” Mr Moore said.A wide range of grasses and legumes had been selected from the list of species submitted by pastoralists.The first two trial sites were at Wallal Downs station, 400 kilometres south of Broome, and at Birdwood Downs, 15 kilometres north east of Derby on Pindan soils.“A total of 23 species of grasses were sown in April in replicated three metre rows with and without added fertiliser, including varieties of sorghum millet and maize, as well as a range of perennial grasses, such as Rhodes grass, panic grass and Birdwood grass,” Mr Moore said.“Nearby another trial with 23 species of tropical and temperate legumes was sown, including eight varieties of stylo, Aztec atro (siratro), lablab and Cavalcade centro.”The legume trials will also examine the effect of added fertiliser and inoculation with Rhizobia strains specific for each species.To ensure good establishment the sites are being watered with a trickle irrigation system.“Once the trials are well established the irrigation will be turned off and the plants will be subject to the vagaries of the season so we can assess what persists and what regenerates,” Mr Moore said.“While some of the larger species will need to be regularly cut back, the plan is to allow everything to set seed at least once to assess what regenerates from seed.”The site will be closely monitored and maintained by the project team and regular checks will be conducted after the trial has been completed.Mr Moore said the data collected from the trials would provide valuable information on the weed risk of specific non-indigenous species.“It is important for policy makers and pastoralists to have credible, clearly documented information about the risk of these plants becoming weeds in the State’s north,” he said.“This information will aid the development of a functional and transparent process for pastoralists to make informed decisions about diversifying their feed base and production systems for both for irrigated and dryland scenarios.”Initial trial results are expected in mid-2016.A field walk for local pastoralists to examine the trial sites is planned for later in the year.For more information about the Northern Beef Futures project is available on the department website at www.cnchemicals.com news from: Western Australia, Department of Primary IndustriesWebsite: http://www.cnchemicals.com/: May 20, 2015The news item on this page is copyright by the organization where it originatedFair use notice