The CCRSPI Conference 2011

Novel perennial based farming systems are a key tool in adaptation to climate change

Mike Ewing, John McGrath & Kevin Goss

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Why perennials?

Selected forms can:

Use water efficiently

Fully utilize the variably available water

Convert water into products of high value

Persist under drought conditions (drought avoidance and or drought tolerance)

Use resources unfavourable for traditional annual crop and pasture systems

Wide scope of new perennial plants and systems

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Trees – short cycle systems for wood, energy and carbon (also Richard Bennett, Transformational adaptation for the wheatbelt)

New woody crops

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Shrubs

Australian native species for fodder (also Zoey Durmic, ‘Antimethanogenic plants for grazing systems’)

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EverGraze

Perennial pastures – plants and systems for enhanced livestock production

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EverCrop

Crops – Perennials for crop dominant mixed farming

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Match opportunities to farm resources

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Common steps – not always neat

Gap/opportunity exploration & analysis (understand drivers)

Germplasm acquisition and evaluation

Plant improvement (breeding) and cultivar development

Field testing and proof of concept

System development and integration

10to

20years

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Lotus corniculatus – Birdsfoot trefoil

Gap identified

White clover drought sensitivity

Lucerne – acidity and waterlogging sensitive

Sub-clover poor summer quality

Target 12m ha? - 600-850 mm rainfall zone

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303 wild populations evaluated for reproductive characteristics

63 elite breeding lines from INIA, Uruguay

Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot trefoil)

Populations sown on-farm in acid soils

Best individuals from the bestpopulations are crossed

Progeny sown on-farm

Best individuals from the bestpopulations are crossed

Progeny sown on-farm

Cultivars

TIME

Genetic Improvement

5years

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Current activity

Field impact of elite cultivars

Prolific flowering & seed production

Field persistence under drought

Bloat prevention – methane reduction (tannins)

Systems for introduction, stand management and livestock exploitation

How much of the 12m ha target will

look like this?

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Sub-tropical grasses

Northern NSW Coastal WA

Before & after grazingSummer active grass (above) and winter active legume (below)

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Sub-tropical grasses N/NSW and coastal WA

Novel system being developed and adopted. Emerging issues under investigation include:

Optimising establishment

Improved cultivars (persistence, quality…)

Grazing strategies

Winter active companions (legumes)

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Bituminaria bituminosa (Tedera)

Selected for development from >100 species based on:

drought tolerance

infertility tolerance

productivity

persistence and summer grazing tolerance and

nutritional value

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Tedera - responding to available moisture

Early summer

Early summer after grazing

Regrowth after 6 weeks

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Tedera comparisons

Tedera vs. sub-clover Tedera vs. lucerne

Tedera is now entering the breeding phase in parallel with development of appropriate systems.

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General findings

Perennials an important opportunity

Current perennials – readily ‘improved’ (genetically diverse)

Success with novel plants/systems needs:

Ruthless targeting (bio-physical and economic)

Adequate resourcing and continuity (15 years)

Right team (producers, breeders, agronomists, seed companies......)

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