A second generation of annual pasture legumes and their potential for inclusion in Mediterranean-type farming systems

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Loi ◽  
J. G. Howieson ◽  
B. J. Nutt ◽  
S. J. Carr
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Acid Tolerant ◽  
Annual Medics ◽  
Pasture Legume

A second generation of annual pasture legumes and their root-nodule bacteria has been released to agriculture in Mediterranean-type environments. These new species emanate from selection activity focussed upon ‘alternative legumes’. In 1992, in response to changing constraints upon production, a program was initiated which sought species with different ideotypic traits to the traditional annual medics and clovers used in agriculture in southern Australia. Traits sought in the new species were deeper root systems, improved persistence from higher hardseed levels, acid tolerant symbioses, tolerance to pests and diseases and ease of harvesting with conventional cereal harvesters. Several cultivars of species new to Australian agriculture such as biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus), French serradella (Ornithopus sativus), gland clover (Trifolium glanduliferum) and improved varieties of arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) and yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus) were developed and have had rapid adoption and impact in southern Australian ley- and phase-farming systems. This paper reviews the importance of ley farming for Australian agriculture, the shortcomings of the traditional medics and clovers and the imperatives for a second generation of annual pasture legume species to be developed. In addition to enhancing ley farming, the commercial availability of a second generation of annual pasture legume species has provided a much needed impetus for the development of more flexible and sustainable farming systems.

Australian Legume Research – synthesis and future directions

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 918 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Virgona ◽  
C. Harris ◽  
S. Kemp ◽  
J. Evans ◽  
R. Salmon
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
International Perspectives ◽  
Development Capacity ◽  
Acid Tolerant ◽  
Pasture Legume

The Australian Legumes Symposium was the first in a planned series of regular technical symposia organised by the Australian Grasslands Association. The aim was to provide researchers with the opportunity to interact, present up-to-date reviews on topics related to pasture legume science, present results of current research and participate in planning of future research and development relevant to pasture legumes. This paper is intended to be the key output of the forum – a summary of findings and highlights from review and contributed research papers as well as identifying key research priorities for the future. In terms of the former, reviews presented at the symposium provided an overview of the development and role of pasture legumes in temperate farming systems. Closely related topics – nitrogen (N) fixation, N balance of farming systems and management of legume inoculation provided a focus on the importance of legumes in terms of N input and overall productivity. International perspectives on lucerne – its improvement and adoption provided a noticeable contrast to the apparent paucity of research into this species in Australia – despite its widespread use in temperate farming systems. In terms of content, there were many other papers delivered dealing with a wide diversity of relevant issues. On one hand the diversity of work in pasture legume research and development may stem from the wide array of expertise available in Australia and New Zealand, while on the other it might suggest that research and development inputs are being thinly spread over a large number of species. With respect to determining research priorities, it was surprising that participants were most concerned with how research is funded and conducted and the need to address this by reconsidering current arrangements. A greater role for economic analysis in determining research priorities was foreshadowed. The identification and management of acid-tolerant perennial legumes for higher rainfall zone permanent pastures was nominated as a major research priority, as was the need to address problems related to pre-inoculation of legume seed. The clear message from the symposium was that there needs to be a reorganisation of pasture legume improvement in order for gains to be effectively realised, and to maintain research and development capacity.

Virus diseases of annual pasture legumes: incidences, losses, epidemiology, and management

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. C. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Virus Diseases ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Annual Medics ◽  
Grazed Swards ◽  
Pasture Legume

This paper reviews current knowledge concerning the occurrence, losses caused, epidemiology, and management of virus diseases of annual pasture legumes. The viruses commonly present are spread by contact, or aphid vectors either non-persistently or persistently. Whether they are seed-borne and their means of transmission are critical factors determining their incidences within pastures in climatic zones with dry summers or substantial summer rainfall. Large-scale national or state surveys of subterranean clover pastures revealed that some viruses reach high infection incidences. Contamination with seed-borne viruses was widespread in plots belonging to annual pasture legume improvement programs and seed stocks of subterranean clover, annual medics, and alternative annual pasture legumes, and in commercial annual medic seed stocks. Yield loss studies with grazed swards were completed for three common viruses: two in subterranean clover and one in annual medics. These studies demonstrated considerable virus-induced losses in herbage and seed yields, and established that virus infection causes deteriorated pastures with high weed contents even when foliar symptoms are mild. Comprehensive integrated disease management tactics involving phytosanitary, cultural, chemical, or host resistance measures were devised for these three viruses in infected pastures, and for seed-borne viruses in annual pasture legume improvement programs. Several other viruses are potentially important, but, with these, quantification of losses caused in grazed swards is lacking and information on incidences in pastures is currently insufficient. Critical research and development gaps that need addressing are identified.

Biserrula and subterranean clover can co-exist during the vegetative phase but are out-competed by capeweed

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 236 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Conning ◽  
M. Renton ◽  
M. H. Ryan ◽  
P. G. H. Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Exponential Model ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Broad Leaf ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
The Common ◽  
Pasture Legume

Biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) is a recently domesticated annual pasture legume developed for ley farming systems that have traditionally relied upon subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). This study examined competitive interactions between biserrula and subterranean clover and the common broad-leaf weed capeweed (Arctotheca calendula L.) during seedling establishment and vegetative growth, in order to develop guidelines for successful legume pasture management. Two glasshouse experiments were conducted to investigate the allocation of biomass to roots and shoots in biserrula, capeweed, and subterranean clover and its relationship with competitive ability in the first 100 days after sowing. In Experiment 1, capeweed had a higher relative growth rate of shoots and roots than the two legumes and developed a more extensive root system. Experiment 2 consisted of growing binary mixtures of the three species at different densities. The effect of competition on the biomass of biserrula, capeweed, and subterranean clover was best modelled by a power–exponential model. Increasing capeweed densities suppressed the biomass production of both biserrula and subterranean clover, whereas capeweed biomass increased with increasing densities of subterranean clover. This study suggests that the competitive advantage of capeweed is mainly conferred during the seedling stage. It also suggests that biserrula and subterranean clover germinating at the same time can co-exist as a mixed sward, at least up until flowering, if biserrula density is high relative to subterranean clover.

Lotus ornithopodioides L. a potential annual pasture legume species for Mediterranean dryland farming systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-504
Author(s):  
A. Loi ◽  
B. J. Nutt ◽  
G. A. Sandral ◽  
A. Franca ◽  
L. Sulas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Farming Systems ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Dryland Farming ◽  
Pasture Legume

Evaluating pasture legumes for resistance to aphids

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (11) ◽  
pp. 1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Nair ◽  
A. D. Craig ◽  
G. C. Auricht ◽  
O. R. Edwards ◽  
S. S. Robinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aphid Species ◽  
Aphis Craccivora ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Ornithopus Compressus ◽  
Aphis Craccivora Koch ◽  
Pasture Legume

Sixteen pasture legume species from 11 genera (Astragalus, Biserrula, Hedysarum, Hymenocarpus, Lotus, Medicago, Ononis, Ornithopus, Scorpiurus, Trifolium and Trigonella) were evaluated for resistance to 3�aphid species (Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) fm. maculata, Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji, and Aphis craccivora Koch) at 14, 28 and 42 days after the legumes were sown in a glasshouse. Eleven of the 16 cultivars/accessions were resistant to T. trifolii, 8 were highly resistant to A. kondoi but none of the accessions or cultivars were resistant to A.�craccivora at all growth stages. Ononis alopecuroides L. and Ornithopus compressus L. were the most resistant of all plants tested. The amount of resistance to the aphids was significantly affected by the age of the plants, but was less pronounced in the case of A. kondoi.

Preliminary assessment of bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum L.) as an annual legume for ley farming systems in southern Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Loi ◽  
Brad J. Nutt ◽  
John G. Howieson ◽  
Ron. J. Yates ◽  
Hayley C. Norman
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
General Hypothesis ◽  
Mixed Crop ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Annual Medicago ◽  
Ley Farming Systems

Trifolium spumosum L. (bladder clover) is an aerial seeding annual legume that is adapted to fine-textured soils throughout the Mediterranean Basin. This article is the first of two papers that describe the process of domestication of T. spumosum as a new species to commercial agriculture. This paper describes a broad range of investigations into the ecology, agronomy and rhizobiology of this new species. Through a series of five experiments, we have tested the general hypothesis that T. spumosum accessions demonstrate a range of sought-after agronomic traits and offer an alternative to annual Medicago spp. for ley farming systems in the medium to low rainfall areas of the mixed crop/livestock zone of southern Australia. T. spumosum presents seeds at the top of the canopy in heads that do not readily shatter, so seed can be harvested using conventional cereal harvesters instead of the specialist suction equipment required for harvest of seed from annual T. subterraneum and Medicago spp. T. spumosum was found to be relatively fecund and had high levels of biomass production in comparison to the other annual legumes that were tested. The species also demonstrated high levels of within-season hardseededness (remaining hard in summer and softening in autumn) so seedbanks would be protected from summer rainfall events. In addition, T. spumosum showed high levels of between-season dormancy, which allows the species to carry a seedbank through a cropping phase or series of poor seasons. A herbicide experiment showed that clover species varied in tolerances, with T. spumosum the least sensitive of all of the legumes tested to Flumetsulam. A cross-inoculation experiment to measure symbiotic effectiveness revealed that WSM1325 (current clover strain) surpasses WSM409 (previous strain) in its relationship with the annual clovers of contemporary interest, while being highly effective at nitrogen fixation with T. spumosum. The results of this study and an associated investigation into feeding value indicate that T. spumosum offers a productive alternative to annual Medicago spp. on fine-textured soils. Of the T. spumosum accessions tested, the most promising has been released under the cultivar name of AGWEST Bartolo.

A comparison of proton excretion of twelve pasture legumes grown in nutrient solution

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Tang ◽  
L. Barton ◽  
C. D. A. McLay
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Solution Culture ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Total Acid ◽  
Ash Alkalinity ◽  
Proton Excretion ◽  
Excess Cations ◽  
Pasture Legume

Summary.The use of legumes to improve the productivity of pastures has usually been associated with an increase in soil acidification. The present study compared the acidification potential of 12 N2-fixing pasture legume species/genotypes using a solution culture assay. The legumes were chosen because of their use or potential use in farming systems in the mediterranean zones of southern Australia. The species grown were Trifolium subterraneum L. (vars. Dalkeith, Yarloop and Clare), Trifolium glomeratum L., Trifolium tomentosum L., Medicago murex Willd., Medicago polymorpha L., Medicago truncatulaGaertn., Ornithopus compressus L., Ornithopus sativusBrot., Trifolium vesiculosum and Trifolium balansae. Proton excretion was measured over a period of 21 days from days 40 to 61 after germination. The amount of protons excreted into solution varied between 143 and 265 cmol H+ /kg dry matter for the different species and genotypes. In general, T. tomentosum and T. glomeratum excreted greater amounts of protons per unit biomass than Medicago species and T. subterraneum, which, in turn, excreted more protons than Ornithopus species. The amount of proton excreted per kilogram biomass was well correlated with the concentrations of excess cations over anions and ash alkalinity in plants across all the species. Total acid production was highly correlated with accumulation of excess cations and ash alkalinity, total dry matter production and total nitrogen fixation during the study period. It is suggested that the potential proton excretion by new pasture legume species should be considered when they are introduced into farming systems.

Temperate pasture legumes in Australia—their history, current use, and future prospects

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 691 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. H. Nichols ◽  
C. K. Revell ◽  
A. W. Humphries ◽  
J. H. Howie ◽  
E. J. Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Annual Legumes ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
Perennial Legumes ◽  
Pasture Legume

Australian farmers and scientists have embraced the use of new pasture legume species more than those in any other country, with 36 annual and 11 perennial legumes having cultivars registered for use. Lucerne (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), and red clover (T. pratense) were introduced by the early European settlers and are still important species in Australia, but several other species, notably annual legumes, have been developed specifically for Australian environments, leading to the evolution of unique farming systems. Subterranean clover (T. subterraneum) and annual medics (Medicago spp.) have been the most successful species, while a suite of new annual legumes, including serradellas (Ornithopus compressus and O. sativus), biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus) and other Trifolium and Medicago species, has expanded the range of legume options. Strawberry clover (T. fragiferum) was the first non-traditional, perennial legume commercialised in Australia. Other new perennial legumes have recently been developed to overcome the soil acidity and waterlogging productivity constraints of lucerne and white clover and to reduce groundwater recharge and the spread of dryland salinity. These include birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Talish clover (T. tumens), and hairy canary clover (Dorycnium hirsutum). Stoloniferous red clover cultivars and sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) cultivars adapted to southern Australia have also been released, along with a new cultivar of Caucasian clover (T. ambiguum) aimed at overcoming seed production issues of cultivars released in the 1970s. New species under development include the annual legume messina (Melilotus siculus) and the perennial legume narrowleaf lotus (L. tenuis) for saline, waterlogged soils, and the drought-tolerant perennial legume tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata). Traits required in future pasture legumes include greater resilience to declining rainfall and more variable seasons, higher tolerance of soil acidity, higher phosphorous utilisation efficiency, lower potential to produce methane emissions in grazing ruminants, better integration into weed management strategies on mixed farms, and resistance to new pest and disease threats. Future opportunities include supplying new fodder markets and potential pharmaceutical and health uses for humans and livestock. New species could be considered in the future to overcome constraints of existing species, but their commercial success will depend upon perceived need, size of the seed market, ease of establishment, and management and safety of grazing animals and the environment. Molecular biology has a range of potential applications in pasture legume breeding, including marker-assisted and genomics-assisted selection and the identification of quantitative trait loci and candidate genes for important traits. Genetically modified pasture plants are unlikely to be commercialised until public concerns are allayed. Private seed companies are likely to play an increasingly important role in pasture legume development, particularly of mainstream species, but the higher risk and more innovative breakthroughs are likely to come from the public sector, provided the skills base for plant breeding and associated disciplines is maintained.

Intrinsic capacity for nutrient foraging predicts critical external phosphorus requirement of 12 pasture legumes

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme A. Sandral ◽  
Rebecca E. Haling ◽  
Megan H. Ryan ◽  
Andrew Price ◽  
Wayne M. Pitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Length ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Root Hairs ◽  
Specific Root Length ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Phosphorus Requirement ◽  
Pasture Legume

The mainstream pasture legume species such as Trifolium subterraneum, T. repens and annual Medicago spp. used in the temperate pasture systems of southern Australia have high critical external requirements for phosphorus (P) (i.e. P required to achieve 90% of maximum yield). This work aimed to identify alternative pasture legume species that could be used in systems with lower P input. Shoot and root biomass of 12 species of pasture legume was measured in response to seven rates of P applied to the top 48 mm of soil in a pot experiment. Most species had maximum yields similar to T. subterraneum, but some required only one-third of the applied P to achieve this. The critical external P requirement of the species, ranked from lowest to highest, was as follows: Ornithopus compressus = O. sativus < Biserrula pelecinus < T. michelianum = T. vesiculosum = T. glanduliferum < T. hirtum = Medicago truncatula = T. purpureum = T. incarnatum < T. spumosum = T. subterraneum. An ability to maximise soil exploration through a combination of high root-length density, high specific root length and long root hairs (i.e. a large specific root-hair-cylinder volume) was associated with a low critical external P requirement. The results indicate that Ornithopus spp. could be used to achieve productive, low P-input pasture systems.

Effect of root-zone temperatures on morphology, growth and development, yield, and yield components of annual medics

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Amini Dehaghi ◽  
Seyed Ali Mohammad Modarres Sanavy
Keyword(s):  
Yield Components ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Root Zone Temperature ◽  
Yield And Yield Components ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Annual Medics ◽  
Zone Temperature

Annual medic pastures are an effective component of ley-farming systems (cereal–legume rotations) in Australian areas with a Mediterranean climate, but they have been unsuccessful in areas near the Mediterranean Sea. In some zones with a Mediterranean climate, like Iran and Syria, root-zone temperature is considered the major growth-limiting factor for annual medic early in the growing season. In order to study the effect of low root-zone temperature (RZT) on growth and development, yield, and yield components of some annual Medicago species, an experiment was conducted in a controlled-environment chamber. In this experiment, 3 species of annual medics, namely Medicago polymorpha, M. radiata, and M. rigidula, thought to be adapted to cold and temperate conditions, were used. Four root-zone temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20�C) were considered. The experimental layout was a completely randomised block design with 4 replications. There were differences among the annual medics for dry matter and yield components. Two species, M. polymorpha and M. rigidula, had more leaf, stem, and root dry matter, plant height, leaf and stem to root ratio, leaf to stem ratio, and leaf area and yield than M. radiata. Therefore, M. polymorpha and M. rigidula may be better suited for ley-farming systems in cold and temperate zones. The results also showed that the 5�C RZT effectively decreased the yield and yield components of the annual medics. In conclusion, application of ley-farming is not likely to be successful when RZT is below 5�C, especially during vegetative development. Therefore, in the zones where soil temperature is greater than 10�C, annual medics have normal growth and produce average yields. Ley-farming (cereal–legume rotation) could be replaced with fallow–cereal rotation.

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