Changing patterns of pasture production in south-eastern Australia from 1960 to 2015

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Ruchika S. Perera ◽  
Brendan R. Cullen ◽  
Richard J. Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Stress Growth ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The seasonal pattern of pasture production and its variability from year to year are important for pasture-based livestock production systems in south-eastern Australia because they influence key strategic decisions such as stocking rate and timing of the reproductive cycle. In this study, the effects of observed climate variations over the period 1960–2015 on pasture growth patterns were investigated by using a biophysical modelling approach. Pasture growth rates were simulated using DairyMod biophysical software at five sites ranging from high-rainfall, cool temperate at Elliott in Tasmania to medium-rainfall, warm temperate at Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales. Annual pasture yields showed a small increasing rate of 50 kg DM/ha.year at Elliott and 40 kg DM/ha.year at Ellinbank (P < 0.05), whereas other sites showed no significant trend over time. A cross-site analysis of seasonal average pasture growth rates predicted under four different discrete periods of 14 years each showed that winter growth has increased steadily through time (P = 0.001), and spring pasture growth rate has decreased (P < 0.001) in 2002–15 compared with the earlier periods. Year-to-year pasture yield variability (coefficient of variation) during autumn and spring seasons has also increased (P < 0.05) across sites in the period 2002–15 compared with 1998–2001. At each site, the number of spring days with water stress (growth limiting factor_water <0.7) was ~10 times greater than the number of days with temperature stress (growth limiting factor_temperature <0.7). There was an increase in the number of days with water stress at Wagga Wagga, and increased heat stress at Wagga Wagga and Hamilton (P < 0.05) in the most recent period. These results highlight the importance of incorporating more heat-tolerant and deep-rooting cultivars into pasture-based production system. Although previous studies of climate-change impact have predicted increasing winter growth rates and a contraction of the spring growing season in the future (2030), this study provides clear evidence that these changes are already occurring under the observed climate in south-eastern Australia.

LIGULE: An evaluation of indigenous perennial grasses for dryland salinity management in south-eastern Australia. 2. Field performance and the selection of promising ecotypes

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith L. Mitchell ◽  
T. B. Koen ◽  
W. H. Johnston ◽  
D. B. Waterhouse
Keyword(s):  
Field Performance ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L ◽  
Salinity Management ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Broad Overview ◽  
South Eastern Australia

This paper reports the results of an initial evaluation of a large collection of Australian perennial native grasses. The overall aim of the research was to identify accessions that may be useful for pastoral purposes and for controlling land degradation on hill-lands in the high (>500 mm) rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia. Accessions (807) representing 37 target species were established in spaced plant nurseries at Rutherglen and Wagga Wagga. Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Porto and Eragrostis curvula (Schrad) Nees. Complex cv. Consol were established as comparator (control) species. A range of attributes was observed over a 2-year period (19900—1992), including persistence, vigour, productivity, palatability, morphology, and characteristics related to seed production. Accessions were initially culled on the basis of their persistence. Data for a range of attributes were separately analysed using pattern analysis to provide a broad overview of the performance and characteristics of the remaining accessions. A number of selection criteria were applied which resulted in selection of a promising group of 20 accessions (12 species from 8 genera). The promising group of accessions will be evaluated further at field sites typical of hilly landscapes in the 500mp;mdash;600 mm rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia.

Pasture and sheep responses to lime application in a grazing experiment in a high-rainfall area, south-eastern Australia. II. Liveweight gain and wool production

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Li ◽  
K. R. Helyar ◽  
M. K. Conyers ◽  
L. J. C. Castleman ◽  
R. P. Fisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rotation Period ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Lime Application ◽  
High Rainfall Area ◽  
South Eastern Australia

‘Managing Acid Soils Through Efficient Rotations (MASTER)’ is a long-term pasture–crop rotation experiment commenced in 1992. One of the objectives was to demonstrate the extent of crop, pasture, and animal responses to lime application on a typical acidic soil in the 500–800 mm rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia. Two types of pastures (perennial v. annual pastures) with or without lime application were established in 1992. Fifteen- to eighteen-month-old Merino hoggets were used as test animals and were changed annually. This paper reports the results of sheep responses to liming from the 4 continuous pasture treatments over 6 years from 1992 to 1997. The stocking rate was the same on all plots within a treatment during each rotation period, but was varied between treatments based on the pasture availability and sheep body condition. The most important findings from this study are that the limed treatments carried 29% and 27% more stock (up to 4 DSE/ha) than the unlimed treatments for perennial and annual pastures, respectively. As a result, the limed perennial pastures produced 27% more liveweight gain (62 kg/ha.year) and 28% more greasy wool (13 kg/ha.year) than unlimed perennial pastures, whereas the limed annual pastures produced 34% more liveweight gain (77 kg/ha.year) and 24% more greasy wool (11 kg/ha.year) than unlimed annual pastures. The significant responses to lime in liveweight and wool production were detected from the second growing season after the pastures were established. The increased sheep productivity on the limed treatment was due to a combination of increased pasture production and improved pasture quality. Perennial pastures showed a slight advantage in wool production, but not in liveweight gain. However, the seasonal variation of liveweight was greater on annual pastures than on perennial pastures. The larger variation in liveweight change could lead to more adverse effects on wool quality especially at high grazing pressures. Grazing management can be used to manipulate pasture and animal productivity to increase profits from lime use.

scholarly journals Effects of Biosolids Application on Pasture and Grape Vines in South-Eastern Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Nash ◽  
Craig Butler ◽  
Justine Cody ◽  
Michael St. J. Warne ◽  
Mike J. McLaughlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pasture Production ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Soil C And N ◽  
Biosolids Application ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Biosolids were applied to a pasture and a vineyard in south-eastern Australia. At both sites, soil Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations linearly increased with biosolids application rates although not to the extent of exceeding soil quality guidelines. Biosolids marginally increased soil C and N concentrations at the pasture site but significantly increased P concentrations. With lower overall soil fertility at the vineyard, biosolids increased C, N, and P concentrations. At neither site did biosolids application affect soil microbial endpoints. Biosolids increased pasture production compared to the unfertilised control but had little effect on grape production or quality. Interestingly, over the 3-year trial, there was no difference in pasture production between the biosolids treated plots and plots receiving inorganic fertiliser. These results suggest that biosolids could be used as a fertiliser to stimulate pasture production and as a soil conditioner to improve vineyard soils in this region.

Effect of Drought and Defoliation on the Susceptibility of Eucalypts to Cankers Caused by Endothia gyrosa and Botryosphaeria ribis

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
KM Old ◽  
R Gibbs ◽  
I Craig ◽  
BJ Myers ◽  
ZQ Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Eucalyptus Regnans ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Branch Dieback ◽  
Crown Dieback ◽  
Canker Development ◽  
Insect Attack ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Seedlings, saplings and mature eucalypts were susceptible to infection by Endothia gyrosa and Botryosphaeria ribis. Eucalyptus regnans and E. delegatensis were more susceptible than E. grandis and E. saligna. In trees not subjected to stress, cankers were limited in extent and often healed. When trees were defoliated, either manually or by severe insect attack, stem concentrations of both starch and soluble carbohydrates were reduced and canker development in some pathogen/host combinations was increased. Seedlings subjected to water stress were not predisposed to canker formation. The association of E. gyrosa with branch dieback of rural eucalypts suffering from chronic defoliation suggests that canker fungi contribute to the crown dieback syndrome in south-eastern Australia.

Evaluation of chicory cultivars and accessions for forage in south-eastern Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangdi D. Li ◽  
Zhongnan Nie ◽  
Amanda Bonython ◽  
Suzanne P. Boschma ◽  
Richard C. Hayes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Australia ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The comparative herbage production and persistence of 7 chicory cultivars and 14 accessions collected from diverse regions of the world were evaluated over 3 years in 5 agro-ecological environments across New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (Vic.) and South Australia (SA). Results showed that all cultivars had higher herbage yields than the accessions, but varied greatly among sites. Averaged across all cultivars, total herbage yields were up to 24.6 t DM/ha over 3 years at the Hamilton, Vic. site, but as low as 6.9 and 5.7 t DM/ha at the Wagga Wagga and Bookham, NSW sites, respectively, where chicory only persisted for 2 years. In contrast, the average herbage yield of all accessions was only one-half of that produced by the cultivars at the Hamilton site and about one-third of that at the other 4 sites. All cultivars and accessions persisted well under the favourable climate conditions experienced at the Hamilton site. In contrast, severe drought in 2006 resulted in the death of chicory swards at the Wagga Wagga and Bookham sites, and substantial declines in persistence at the Manilla, NSW and Willalooka, SA sites. Nevertheless, accessions collected from Australia and Asia were more persistent than some of the cultivars and may provide opportunities to select genotypes better adapted to intermittently dry mixed farming systems in south-eastern Australia. Our findings indicated that the current cultivars were best suited to sites similar to the Hamilton site in the winter-dominant, higher rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia. Under these conditions chicory was likely to be productive and persistent for 4 years or longer. In the drier mixed farming zone, chicory may be more suitable in shorter (2–3-year) pasture phases. Further research is required to identify those factors contributing to poor persistence.

Complementary ability of three European earthworms (Lumbricidae) to bury lime and increase pasture production in acidic soils of south-eastern Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.Y Chan ◽  
G.H Baker ◽  
M.K Conyers ◽  
B Scott ◽  
K Munro
Keyword(s):  
Acidic Soils ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
European Earthworms ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Influence of earthworms, Aporrectodea spp. (Lumbricidae), on pasture production in south-eastern Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Baker ◽  
P. J. Carter ◽  
V. J. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Initial Number ◽  
Aporrectodea Caliginosa ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Phosphorus Levels ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Most of the earthworms now found in agricultural fields in south-eastern Australia are exotic, patchily distributed, mineral soil dwellers (endogeic species). The influence of two of the most common endogeic species, Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. trapezoides, on pasture production was compared with that of another exotic, surface-feeding, deep-burrowing (anecic) species, A. longa, which is essentially restricted in its Australian distribution to Tasmania. Comparisons were made by introducing 4 different densities of the worms in cages at 10 field sites and measuring pasture production for approximately 5 months. All 3 species increased pasture production at most of the 10 sites. Increases in pasture production were greatest where original pasture production was low. Pasture production increased with earthworm density. Averaged across sites, earthworms increased pasture production by up to 61%. Significant increases in yield were detected with ≥214 A. longa/m 2 and ≥429 A. caliginosa or A. trapezoides/m 2. A. longa is a much bigger worm than A. caliginosa and A. trapezoides. If the initial number of worms introduced to the cages was taken as the measure of earthworm ‘abundance’, then A. longa increased pasture production more than the 2 endogeic species. If the biomass of introduced worms was taken as the measure of abundance, then the reverse was the case. A. longa reduced nitrogen levels in some soils. Phosphorus levels were not affected. No residual effects on pasture production were detected when soil that had been improved by earthworms was potted and resown with ryegrass. Broad scale introduction of A. caliginosa, A. longa, or A. trapezoides to sites lacking them in south-eastern Australia is likely to improve pasture production significantly. Addition of A. longa to existing communities of endogeic species should further increase pasture yield by enhancing functional diversity.

Growth rates of juvenile southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) estimated through a diver-based tag - recapture program

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Linnane ◽  
David Hobday ◽  
Stewart Frusher ◽  
Caleb Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Rock Lobster ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Jasus Edwardsii ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Despite being one of the most economically important fisheries in south-eastern Australia, growth rates of juvenile southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) have not previously been quantified in the wild. This study utilised a diver-based tag–recapture program to estimate growth rates of individuals between 40–80 mm carapace length (CL) in temperate reef sites across south-eastern Australia. Of the 7064 lobsters tagged and released, 978 (14%) were recaptured with recapture rates of 23, 5 and 7% in the States of Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria respectively. Although individual growth increments were similar between the sexes, differences in annual growth rates were evident at 50 mm CL, with males growing ~1.4 times faster than females. Increased levels of growth in males resulted from a higher moult frequency, which was found to significantly reduce in females as they reached sexual maturity at ~70–80 mm CL. No significant difference was found in growth rates of males or females between the States when all sites within each State were combined. The growth estimates from this work contribute to the understanding of juvenile lobster population dynamics and will improve current fishery models by confirming relationships between early juvenile, pre-recruit abundance and entry to the fishable biomass.

Resistance of pasture production to projected climate changes in south-eastern Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Cullen ◽  
R. J. Eckard ◽  
R. P. Rawnsley
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Climate Scenarios ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Cool Temperate

Climate change impact analysis relies largely on down-scaling climate projections to develop daily time-step, future climate scenarios for use in agricultural systems models. This process of climate down-scaling is complicated by differences in projections from greenhouse gas emission pathways and, in particular, the wide variation between global climate model outputs. In this study, a sensitivity analysis was used to test the resistance of pasture production to the incremental changes in climate predicted over the next 60 years in southern Australia. Twenty-five future climate scenarios were developed by scaling the historical climate by increments of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4°C (with corresponding changes to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and relative humidity) and rainfall by +10, 0, –10, –20 and –30%. The resistance of annual and seasonal pasture production to these climatic changes was simulated at six sites in south-eastern Australia. The sites spanned a range of climates from high rainfall, cool temperate in north-west Tasmania to the lower rainfall, temperate environment of Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales. Local soil and pasture types were simulated at each site using the Sustainable Grazing Systems Pasture model. Little change or higher annual pasture production was simulated at all sites with 1°C warming, but varying responses were observed with further warming. In a pasture containing a C4 native grass at Wagga Wagga, annual pasture production increased with further warming, while production was stable or declined in pasture types based on C3 species in temperate environments. In a cool temperate region pasture production increased with up to 2°C warming. Compared with the historical baseline climate, warmer and drier climate scenarios led to lower pasture production, with summer and autumn growth being most affected, although there was some variation between sites. At all sites winter production was increased under all warming scenarios. Inter-annual variation in pasture production, expressed as the coefficient of variation, increased in the lower rainfall scenarios where production was simulated to decline, suggesting that changing rainfall patterns are likely to affect the variability in pasture production more than increasing temperatures. Together the results indicate that annual pasture production is resistant to climatic changes of up to 2°C warming. The approach used in this study can be used to test the sensitivity of agricultural production to climatic changes; however, it does not incorporate changes in seasonal and extreme climatic events that may also have significant impacts on these systems. Nonetheless, the approach can be used to identify strategies that may increase resilience of agricultural systems to climate change such as the incorporation of C4 species into the pasture base.

On which timescale(s) do optimal adjustments to vegetation function confer resilience? A case study in South-Eastern Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manon Sabot ◽  
Martin De Kauwe ◽  
Andy Pitman ◽  
Belinda Medlyn ◽  
Silvia Caldararu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Plant Hydraulics ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

<p>Droughts have been implicated as the driver behind recent vegetation die-off across a variety of hydroclimates and are projected to drive greater mortality under future climate change. Predicting ecosystem resilience to future drought requires a predictive capacity, which is currently lacking in state-of-the-art land surface models (LSMs) that rely on simplified empirical relationships to represent the impacts of water stress on vegetation. Novel approaches that optimise stomatal conductance with respect to plant photosynthetic and hydraulic functions have been shown to reduce the biases of LSM gas exchange predictions during drought. These approaches also offer a pathway to further develop mechanistic optimality theory, e.g. pertaining to leaf drought deciduousness. But on what timescale(s) does vegetation function adjust to maximise resource investment? We explore the following timescales of optimality within a simple LSM: (i) instantaneous (regulating canopy gas exchange); (ii) monthly (regulating the investment of nitrogen in photosynthetic capacity); and (iii) seasonal to annual (water stress legacies on plant hydraulics). We use observations from a temperate woodland in South-Eastern Australia to test which optimisation timescales and processes are best supported and whether competing timescales can operate together, both under well-watered conditions and during a severe multi-year drought, and from the leaf-scale to the ecosystem-scale. The insights gained help us characterize how adjoined allocation processes, like leaf biomass adjustment, relate to leaf carbon uptake and plant water status through time (e.g. leaves can be shed to mitigate drought stress or built from structural storage pools when water is not limiting), therefore conferring additional resilience.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document