Summary of Trial results 1972 (February 1973)

1.0.0. Trials in Progress During 1972 observations were made on 16 small plot legume species trials and 11 grazing trials. In 1973 the small plot trials will be reduced to 10. This report summarizes the results from the grazing trials under the following headings:- 2.0.0. Seasonal conditions 3.0.0. Grazing experiments 3.1.0. 68MO23 - Legume grazing management trial, West Moora 3.2.0. 71LG17 - Comparison of production from Cyprus Medic and volunteer pasture 3.3.0. Comparison of production from tornafield medic,serradella and subterranean clover 3.3.1. 70ME2 - Walgoolan 3.3.2. 71WH13 - Wongan Hills 3.3.3. 69MO17 - Watheroo 3.3.4. 69LG24 - Lake Grace 3.4.0. Low oestrogen legume grazing trials Series 2 - 3.4.1. 68TS12 - Eneabba 3.4.2. 68NA15 - Bullaring 3.4.3. 68LG17 - Pingrup Series 3 - 3.4.4. 68MO24 - Kirwan 3.4.5. 68GE9 - Gutha A report on the small plot trials will be submitted in June 197

1976 Pasture species investigations - wheatbelt

Trials in Progress. Only four grazing trials were continued in 1976. The pasture species and management trial at Moora (68M023) required a disproportionate amount of available work time. About 6 man-months were spent in completing the fencing, repairing and modifying the water system and increasing the working efficiency of the experiment. Sheep were reintroduced to the trial early in June. This report summarizes the results from the trials under the following headings:- Seasonal Conditions; Grazing Trials;, Legume Grazing Management Trial, West Moora - 68M023; Comparison of Production from Cyprus Medic and Volunteer Pasture - 71LG17; Tornafield Medic, Serradella and Subterranean Clover Comparisons; Walgoolan - 70ME2; Wongan Hills - 71WH13; Small-plot Trials. Trials Established in 1975 or Earlier. Seasonal Conditions 1975; Results

Pasture species investigations - wheat belt (May, 1975)

Results from trials comparing the growth and persistence of a number of annual pasture legumes are presented in this report. Rainfall conditions during the year are described briefly and a table of annual and growing season rainfall at relevant centres is appended. The experiments are grouped as follows according to average annual rainfall:- Zone A - Average annual rainfall \u3e 400 mm Zone B - Average annual rainfall 345 - 400 mm Zone C - Average annual rainfall \u3c 345 mm and then, further, on soil type. District Rainfall, 1974. 71LG16,, 72LG3, 74KA3, 70OTS2, 72TS5, 70NA3, 71TS22, 74NO3, 70ME4. The early break, with good rainfall continuing through most of the growing season, provided optimal conditions for most wheat belt trials. These conditions were in direct contrast to the dry years of the late 1960\u27s and early 1970\u27s. In 1974, legume growth on droughty deep sands should have been at its best. Serradella responded at Kukerin in direct relationship with earlier heavy dressings of potash. West of Three Springs, serradella and Tornafield medic stayed a little ahead of Harbinger medic and well ahead of Daliak sub. clover and rose clover. On deep sands at Marchagee and Arrino, subterranean clover was the only species worth considering. The failure of Eragrostis curvula to persist through the dry 1973-74 summer after good germination in late winter, indicates a need for more work on the establishment of this grass on deep sands. The low yields of dry matter at Tincurrin do not offer much incentive for such work, but Eragrostis, lupins and serradella probably give the best chance of pasturing the grossly infertile, erodable sands. Under favourable conditions, Geraldton sub. clover continued to show its versatility and aggressiveness. On an alkaline loamy sand at Lake King, waterlogged for periods during the winter, Dwalganup, Geraldton and Northam A produced more dry matter than a wide range of other pasture legumes. At Walgoolan, Geraldton maintained better than 503 content in mixtures with other sub. clover cultivars sown in 1970, while in a trial at Marchagee there was evidence of gradual, aggressive regeneration of Geraldton from a sparse pasture sown before the trial. Only two new legume species trials were planted in 1974, and these were not successful. Trial 74KA3, east of Katanning, demonstrated the need for timely planting. Had seed been available on time, the trial would have been planted before the onset of heavy rains and would have given better results. The failure of Tornafield and Harbinger on 74N03 should not weight the record unduly against these medics; :they have never excelled on clay loams, and they were sorely harassed by redlegged earthmite. The medics will not be replanted, but Northam A and Geraldton will be observed in 1975.

Summary of trial results - 1975

1. From September 1971 to late August 1974 there was a mean reduction of legume content in the medic pastures from 40 per cent to 22.0 per cent but the reduction at 7.4 sh/ha was to 31 per cent. The drop in woolly clover content on the volunteer pastures was closely similar. 2. In 1972, at 7.4 sheep/ha a difference in body weight of 7-9 kg rapidly developed in favour of sheep grazing barrel medic compared with sheep on volunteer pasture. This difference was maintained consistently throughout the trial. At lower stocking rates the differences were smaller and less consistent. 3. Differences in wool production between pastures and between \u27superphosphate\u27 and \u27no superphosphate\u27 were small and not significant. 4. In 1975 no advantage in wheat yields was shown from growing the crop after barrel medic compared with volunteer woolly clover and barley grass pasture. Slightly increased production from the use of 100 kg/ha of superphosphate was not profitable. 5. On the results from this experiment no firm recommendation could be made to replace similar volunteer pasture with Cyprus barrel medic. Furthermore at this site it may be several years before the responses from superphosphate justify its use at the same rate and price. It is hoped to continue this experiment using the same treatments but cropping to wheat in alternate years. 68MO23, 68TS12, 69LG24, 70ME2, 71LG17, 71WH13

Summary of trial results - 1974

Observations and measurements were made on 10 grazing trials and 11 small-plot legume species trials in 1974. Three of the grazing trials were under crop, two of them concluding low oestrogen species trials which had been grazed since 1969, and one of them, 68M023, West Moora, as an interval between pasture phases. The small-plot trials dated from 1970 or later and on most of them half of each plot could be grazed by sheep and half was protected. These trials have continued to supply useful information on the suitabiliy of cultivars to soil and climate and will be the subject of a separate report. This report summarizes the results from the grazing trials under the following headings:- Seasonal Conditions; Grazing Experiments; 68M023 - Legume Grazing Management Trial, West Moora; 71LG17 - Comparison of Production from Cyprus Medic and Volunteer Pasture; Comparison of Production from Tornafield Medic, Serradella and Subterranean Clover - 70ME2 - Walgoolan, 71WH13 - Wongan Hills, 69M017 - Watheroo, 69LG24 - Lake Grace. Low Oestrogen Legume Grazing Trials: 68TS12 - Eneabba, 68M024 - Kirwan, 68NA15 - Bullaring, 68GE9 - Gutha, 68LG17 - Pingrup

Summary Report 1977 Pasture species investigations - Wheatbelt

Trials in progress - 68MO23, 70ME2, 71LG17, 71WH13, 76M5. Seasonal conditions. Grazing trials - 68MO23, 70ME2, 71LG17, 71WH13, 75N18, 76M5 - Mini-ley, Merredin. Legume species grazing management trial (West Moora) - 68M023. Comparison of production from Cyprus barrel medic and volunteer pasture (Lake Grace) - 71LG17. Comparison of production from Tornafield medic, serradella and subterranean clover (Wongan Hills Research Station) - 71WH13. Comparison of Geraldton and Northam subterranean clover (Walgoolan) - 70ME2. Early maturing subterranean clover grazing trial (Merredin Research Station) - 75M5. Small plot trials: Early maturing subterranean clovers Subterranean clover trials - southern wheatbelt - 75LG21, 75LG23, 76N16, 76N17, 76N18, 77N22, 77N23, 77N24, Medic trials - evaluation of Murrayland medic (West Moora) - 75MO25, Medic trials - evaluation of T. subterraneum subf. brachycalycinum and annual medics (Salmon Gums) - 75ES23. 1977 Series. The location of trials sown in 1977 and brief indicationsof surface soil and climate are shown below: Trial No. 77GE32, 77GE40, 77GE41, 77LG21, 77ME21, 77ME22, 77ME23, 77MO21, 77MO22, 77NA29, 77NO24, 77TS25

1973_Pasture species investigations - wheatbelt

Results from trials comparing the growth and persistence of a number of annual pasture legumes in 1973 are presented in this report. Rainfall conditions during the year are described briefly and a table of annual and growing season rainfall at relevant centres is appended. The experiments are grouped as follows according to average annual rainfall:- Zone A - Average annual rainfall 400 mm. Zone B - Average annual rainfall 345 - 400 mm. Zone C - Average annual rainfall 345 mm. and then further on soil type. 70GE4, 70ME3, 70ME4, 70NA3, 70TS2, 70TS5, 71LG16, 71TS22, 72LG3, 72LG26

Summary of trial results 1971

The small plot legume species trials were reduced by seven this year because it was considered that no further useful information could be derived from them. The remaining trials are located on problem soils, principally deep sands, in the Merredin, Three Springs, Geraldton and Lake Grace districts. The trials at Pindar and Merredin were designed for more effective grazing control, but the dry season restricted grazing and they have made little progress. Apart from seasonal difficulties the species showed established preferences for soil types. The subterranean clovers performed satisfactorily on the better sands and gravels, and barrel medic on the heavier soils. Tornafield medic has grown well on deep sand at Three Springs and on a sandy gravel complex at Eneabba. On most sites where yellow serradella and Uniserra were compared, the former was most productive. Detailed results from the small-plot trials will be presented in a separate report when the 1971 seed yields are known. This report deals briefly with the 1971 results from the following pasture species grazing trials : 68GE9, 68LG17, 68MO17, 68MO23, 68MO24, 68NA15, 68TS12, 69LG24, 69MO17, 70ME2, 71LG17, 71WH13

Supplementary summary report 1977 Pasture species investigations - Wheatbelt.

Seed yields of early maturing subterranean clovers. A brief description of weather conditions in 1977, site details and results of germination counts and growth ratings were included in the Summary Report for 1977. Drill-sown trials - Seed yields from the trials varied from good in the southern wheatbelt to very poor in the northern areas. Test samples were taken from trials 77GE32, 77GE40 and 77GE41 in the Pindar and Tardun districts, 77ME22 at Koorda and 77TS25 at Perenjori but the quantity of seed did not warrant yield assessment. Trial 77M022 at Gabalong was not sampled. Seed yields from the rest of the trials sown in 1977 are shown below - 77LG21, 77ME21, 77ME23, 77MO15, 77MO21, 77NA29, 77NO24. From these results, weather conditions in 1977 were apparently even less conducive to seed production by Northam than by most other strains. The low yields on 77ME23 (South Yilgarn), 77NA29 (Hyden) and 77LG21 (Lake King) were particularly disappointing. There was considerable variation between sites but on average the three new varieties were comparable, and better than Northam or Geraldton. Seed yields from trials sown in 1976 are probably more interesting because they indicate performance in the second year, and except for 76ME6, under heavy grazing. Small-plot trials - Lake King - 75LG21, 76LG23. Small-plot trials - Newdegate Research Station - 76n16, 76N17, 77N22, 77N24

Pasture species investigations, wheat belt.

Trials in progress, 71WH13, 7OME2, 71LG17, 68MO23, 78C13, 75N18. Seasonal conditions. Grazing trials, 68M023, 71LG17, 71WH13. Small plot trials, subterranean clover trials. Subterranean clover strain trials, 75LG21 and 76LG21. 76N16, 77N23, 76N17, 76N18, 78KA12, 78C13, 75M025 and 75ES23. Legume species grazing management trial, 68M023. Comparison of production from Cyprus, barrel medic and volume pasture, 71LG17. Sheep. 71WH13, wheat yields. Clover cover, 76LG5, 76ME6, 76NA6, 76LG5. Growth and cover ratings. Composition. Subterranean clover trials, 75N18. Strain competition and seed yields 1977. Hand sown. Dwalganup crossbred trials. Seedling density and growth and cover rating. Medic trial