mr richard bennett - university of western australia · bennett et al. (2006) hypotheses cullen...
TRANSCRIPT
MR RICHARD BENNETT
Profile
Richard has always had interests in both Australian native plants and agriculture, so
when an opportunity to combine these interests and get paid to research the use of native plants in agriculture came along, he
happily applied for the job. The CRC Salinity employed him for three and a half years to
collect native perennial grasses and legumes from the wild and evaluate their potential to be
used as pasture plants in the wheatbelt.
Survival and productivity of Australian Cullen species on
deep acid sands in WA’s low-rainfall wheatbelt
Survival and productivity of Australian Cullen species on
deep acid sands in WA’s low-rainfall wheatbelt
Richard Bennett, Megan Ryan, Tim Colmer, Daniel RealRichard Bennett, Megan Ryan, Tim Colmer, Daniel Real
Acknowledgements
Funding: Meat and Livestock AustraliaAW Howard Memorial TrustFuture Farm Industries CRCSchool of Plant Biology – UWA
Assistance: Lori KroissDion NicholTammy Edmonds-TibbettLalith Suriyagoda
Outline
Introduction
Hypotheses
Trial designResults - species
- population
Hypotheses
Conclusions
Introduction
Hypotheses
Trial designResults - species
- population
Hypotheses
Conclusions
• Salinity control through recharge control
• Erosion control – wind & water
• Productivity benefits – year-round feed
• Reduced fertiliser – legumes fix nitrogen
Benefits of perennial legumes
Annual crops or pastures
(eg. wheat & sub-clover)
Saturated Soil
Saline groundwater↑Evaporation↑
Benefits of perennial legumes
N
NN
N
N
N
Perennial legumes
(eg. lucerne, Lotus corniculatus)
Recharge control
Increased productivity
Erosion control
Nitrogen fixation
Benefits of perennial legumes
- low rainfall
- long dry seasons/drought
- highly acid or alkaline soils
Effect - reduced productivity
- reduced persistence
- low rainfall
- long dry seasons/drought
- highly acid or alkaline soils
Effect - reduced productivity
- reduced persistenceWA wheatbelt - May 2007
Limitations of existing perennial legumes?Limitations of existing perennial legumes?Limitations of existing perennial legumes?
Robertson M (2006) Lucerne prospects…
Lucerne in WA
The genus Cullen
Cullen patens
25 spp. in Australia
Native to arid areas
Palatable & nutritious
Productive
Good seed production
25 spp. in Australia
Native to arid areas
Palatable & nutritious
Productive
Good seed production
The genus Cullen
Ecogeographic study
Points are herbarium collections from CHAH, 2006
The genus Cullen
25 species cut to…
8 species that were…
• perennial • herbaceous • low rainfall• non-tropical• adapted to WA soils
Bennett et al. (2006)
Hypotheses
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
Cullen species will be productive during dry seasons
Germplasm
22C. tenax
1C. lachnostachys
103Total
1Lucerne cv. Sceptre
1Lucerne cv. Sardi10
1Lotus corniculatus
1C. pustulatum
6C. patens
3C. parvum
4C. pallidum
2C. discolor
22C. cinereum
39C. australasicum
# populationsSpecies
Exotic species
tropicalshrub
Trial site
Jan 2008Jan 2008
Buntine
NE, WA wheatbelt
Av. 320 mm p.a. rainfall
Deep, acidic sands
Monthly monitoring
BuntineBuntine
NE, WA wheatbeltNE, WA wheatbelt
Av. 320 mm p.a. rainfallAv. 320 mm p.a. rainfall
Deep, acidic sandsDeep, acidic sands
Monthly monitoringMonthly monitoring
Trial rainfall
2006 2007 2008
2007 total = 199.6 mm
plantedcut back
harvest
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Sep
t
Oct
Nov
Dec Jan
Feb
Mar
April
May Jun Jul
Aug
Sep
t
Oct
Nov
Dec Jan
Feb
Mar
mm
rain
fall
Dry season
0
20
40
60
80
100
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
2006 2007 2008
Species survival
Lucerne Sardi10 Lucerne sceptre
0
20
40
60
80
100
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
2006 2007 2008
Species survival
C. cinereum C. parvumC. patens C. tenaxLucerne Sardi10
0
20
40
60
80
100
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
C. australasicum C. discolor C. pallidum
2006 2007 2008
Species survival
Lucerne Sardi10
0
20
40
60
80
100
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
2006 2007 2008
Species survival
C. pustulatumC. lachnostachysLucerne Sardi10
Hypotheses ???
C. tenax
C. lachnostachys
C. pustulatum
C. patens
C. parvum
C. pallidum
C. discolor
C. cinereum
C. australasicum
Species
Predicted
Not predicted
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
×
×××
Hypotheses ???
C. tenax
C. lachnostachys
C. pustulatum
C. patens
C. parvum
C. pallidum
C. discolor
C. cinereum
C. australasicum
Species
×
×××
Predicted
Not predicted
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
Hypotheses ???
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
Cullen species will be productive during dry seasons
Dry season performance of populations
Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 1 2 3 4 5 6April productivity (1-10 rating)
Surv
ival
% (M
arch
08)
Dry season performance of populations
Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
April productivity (1-10 rating)
Surv
ival
% (M
arch
08)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
C. patens C. tenaxC. cinereum C. parvum
Dry season performance of populations
Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
April productivity (1-10 rating)
Surv
ival
% (M
arch
08)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum
Dry season performance of populations
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
April productivity (1-10 rating)
Surv
ival
% (M
arch
08)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre
C. lachnostachys C. pustulatum
Dry season performance of populations
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
April productivity (1-10 rating)
Surv
ival
% (M
arch
08)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre
Hypotheses ???
C. tenax
C. lachnostachys
C. pustulatum
C. patens
C. parvum
C. pallidum
C. discolor
C. cinereum
C. australasicum
Species
×
×××
Predicted
Not predicted
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
Hypotheses ???
C. tenax
C. lachnostachys
C. pustulatum
C. patens
C. parvum
C. pallidum
C. discolor
C. cinereum
C. australasicum
Species
×
Predicted
Not predicted
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
×
×
×
Hypotheses ???
C. tenax
C. lachnostachys
C. pustulatum
C. patens
C. parvum
C. pallidum
C. discolor
C. cinereum
C. australasicum
Species
×
Predicted
Not predicted
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
Hypotheses ???
Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive
Cullen species will be productive during dry seasons
Conclusions
Will any Cullen species offer a perennial pasture legume with drought, and acid soil tolerance for WA?
Too early to say– Not a true Mediterranean dry season– Long cutting duration (4 months)– No dry season harvest (just ratings)
+ Variation & potential in populations of several spp.+ Some Cullen spp. will not be useful + Identified potential in unexpected spp. + Impressive performance for wild germplasm
Conclusions
Speculation on a systems fit for Cullen
• Long term rotations• Dry areas• Poor soil / low input• Not in competition with lucerne• Pasture mix with annuals• Out of season feed store
0102030405060708090
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35September leaf production (g/plant)
Surv
ival
(Mar
ch 0
8)
Wet season performance of accessions
Lucerne sceptre Lucerne Sardi10
C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum C. patensC. tenax Lotus corniculatus
C. cinereumC. parvum
C. lachnostachysC. pustulatum
The genus Cullen
productivitypersistenceproductivitypersistence
=3 monthly
-Robinson et al. 2007Cullen tenax
-=Dear et al. 2007Cullen australasicum
6 monthly
Britten, E. & De Lacy, I. 1979*C. australasicum, C. discolor, C. pallidum, C. patens
Lotus corniculatusLucerne
Species
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Prod
uctiv
ity (1
to 1
0 ra
ting)
Lotus australis performance
Lucerne SceptreLotus australis
Summary of species results
Species predicted by ecogeography
• C. tenax, C. parvum, C. patens, C. cinereum
survived poorly (< 30 %) & unproductive (rating < 3.5)
• C. australasicum, C. discolor, C. pallidum
survived well (> 60 %) & productive (rating ~4)
Species not predicted by ecogeography
• Good productivity over summer
• Some frost damage during winter
• Excellent survival
Summary of accessions results
Variability
• Many species had variable survival
• C. australasicum, C. cinereum, C. discolor and C. pallidum all seem to have useful accessions
Dry season• C. australasicum survived and was
productive in dry season
• C. cinereum was productive in dry season
• C. pustulatum and C. lachnostachys both survived better and were more productive than lucerne during the dry period
Non-predicted Cullen spp.
Lucerne Sardi10
Cullen pustulatum
Key dates31-07-06 seeds planted
06-09-06 trial planted
15-01-07 plants cut back (not harvested)
26-09-07 dry matter harvest
Monthly monitoring• productivity (0-10 rating)
• survival
• flowering
Trial management
Trial rainfall
2006 2007 2008
2007 total = 199.6 mm
plantedcut back
harvest
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Sep
t
Oct
Nov
Dec Jan
Feb
Mar
April
May Jun Jul
Aug
Sep
t
Oct
Nov
Dec Jan
Feb
Mar
Dry season
Wet season
Lotus corniculatus performance
Lucerne SceptreLotus corniculatus
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Prod
uctiv
ity (1
to 1
0 ra
ting)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Prod
uctiv
ity (1
to 1
0 ra
ting)
Lotus corniculatus performance
Lucerne SceptreLotus corniculatus
Lucerne sceptreLucerne Sardi10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35September leaf production (g/plant)
Surv
ival
(Mar
ch 0
8)Wet season performance of accessions
C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum C. patensC. tenax Lotus corniculatus
C. cinereumC. parvum
Lotus australis
C. lachnostachysC. pustulatum
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Prod
uctiv
ity (1
to 1
0 ra
ting)
Lucerne Sardi10
Lucerne performance
Lucerne sceptre
2006 2007 2008
C. cinereum
C. parvum
C. patens
C. tenaxLucerne Sceptre
Cullen spp. poor performance
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Prod
uctiv
ity (1
to 1
0 ra
ting)
2006 2007 2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Prod
uctiv
ity (1
to 1
0 ra
ting)
C. australasicum C. discolor
C. pallidumLucerne Sceptre
Cullen spp. good performance
2006 2007 2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08
Surv
ival
(% o
f est
ablis
hed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Prod
uctiv
ity (1
to 1
0 ra
ting)
Non-predicted Cullen spp.
Lucerne Sceptre C. pustulatum
C. lachnostachys2006 2007 2008
Lucerne sceptre Lucerne Sardi10C. australasicum
C. discolorC. pallidum
Dry season performance of populations
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00April productivity (1-10 rating)
Surv
ival
(Mar
ch 0
8)
The genus Cullen
Bennett et al. (2006)
• wide distributions
• various soil types
• various climates
Ecogeographic study
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35September leaf production (g/plant)
Surv
ival
(Mar
ch 0
8)Wet season performance of accessions
Lucerne sceptre Lucerne Sardi10
C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum C. patensC. tenax Lotus corniculatus
C. cinereumC. parvum
C. lachnostachysC. pustulatum