A comparison of biosuper and superphosphate on a sandy soil in the monsoonal tropics of north Queensland

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (78) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
RK Jones ◽  
JBF Field
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Elemental Sulphur ◽  
First Year ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Cape York ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Biological Fertilizer

Biosuper, a biological fertilizer consisting of rock phosphate, elemental sulphur and an inoculum of sulphur-oxidising thiobacilli was compared with superphosphate as a source of phosphorus for Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) pastures on a deep sandy soil in Cape York Peninsula. The fertilizers were applied in the first year only, at rates varying between 24 and 84 kg of phosphorus ha-1. Harvests were made at the end of the first, second, and third growing seasons. Biosuper tended to be inferior to superphosphate in the first year with respect to dry matter and phosphorus yields, but over the three-year period the two fertilizers gave comparable results. At the higher rates of application, biosuper gave higher yields of sulphur ha-1, presumably because of its higher sulphur content and greater resistance to leaching then superphosphate. Under the conditions of the experiment (i.e. without maintenance dressings of phosphorus and sulphur) biosuper compared quite favourably with superphosphate and, for example, gave 3-year yields of 14,000 kg dry matter ha-1 at the lowest rate of application (24 kgP ha-1).

Effect of time of cessation of wet season grazing on Townsville stylo-annual grass pasture at Katherine, N.T

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (64) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJT Norman ◽  
LJ Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Active Growth ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Townsville Stylo

A Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)-annual grass pasture at Katherine, N.T., was subjected to a series of treatments in 1969-70 and 1970-71 under which plots were grazed heavily from the beginning of the wet season for a period and then allowed to recover undefoliated for the remainder of the season. The dates at which heavy grazing ceased were spaced at 2-week intervals from November 24 to March 16. At the end of the wet season, total dry matter yield was linearly related to length of recovery period. Townsville stylo yield declined as recovery period was reduced from 18 to 8 weeks, but showed little response to a further reduction to 4 weeks. In contrast, annual grass yield showed little change as recovery period was reduced from 18 to 8 weeks, but fell with a further reduction to 4 weeks. As a result, the proportion of Townsville stylo in the pasture at the end of the season was high with long and short recovery periods but reached a minimum with an 8 - 10 week recovery period. Dry conditions prevailed in the first half of both seasons. The evidence suggests that young Townsville stylo is sensitive to heavy grazing when under water stress, and that early grazing for grass control should be imposed only during periods of active growth.

Effect of time of sowing on flowering and growth of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mannetje L t ◽  
KHLvan Bennekom
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Maturity Type ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Late Start ◽  
Spring Sowing

A midseason maturity type of Townsville stylo sown at monthly intervals throughout a year in a glasshouse in Brisbane (27�30' south) started flowering from 42 to 76 days after sowing between February and September, with dry matter yields at flowering ranging from 0.05 to 5.82 g/per plant. Sowings between October and January resulted in flowering after 98 to 157 days, with yields ranging from 26.41 to 54.75 g/per plant. Flowering was mainly determined by daylength, although low temperatures during winter delayed inflorescence elongation. Growth after onset of flowering was measured in plants sown in winter, spring and late summer. Plant weights increased after flowering in all sowings. In the spring sowing this consisted entirely of stem and inflorescence, but in the other sowings leaf was formed after onset of flowering as well. Winter and spring sowings gave the highest, late summer sowing the lowest final yields. The main agronomic implication is that sowing early in the growing season is necessary for obtaining a good first year's yield, but that seed production is little affected by sowing date, ensuring good regeneration even in years with a late start of the growing season.

Herbicides for the control of grass weeds in pastures of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 790
Author(s):  
IMW Wood
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Plant Population ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
Townsville Stylo

The use of herbicides to control annual grasses in pastures of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) was studied at Katherine, N.T. The herbicides chlorthal, trifluralin, benefin, sindone B, and siduron all controlled the annual grasses Digitaria adscendens and Brachiaria ramosa. The outstanding herbicide was chlorthal, which at 6 lb a.i. an acre pre-emergence gave a Townsville stylo dry matter yield of 3250 lb an acre compared with 1130 lb an acre for the unweeded control and 2440 lb an acre for the handweeded control. At maturity there was no grass in the chlorthal plots and 1940 lb an acre in the unweeded control plots. The data suggest that, without defoliation during the growing period, total suppression of Townsville stylo can be expected when the grass population at establishment exceeds 37 per cent of the total plant population.

Plant nutrition studies on some yellow and red earth soils in northern Cape York Peninsula. 2. Phosphorus: plant response and soil retention

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (81) ◽  
pp. 542 ◽  
Author(s):  
WH Winter ◽  
GP Gillman
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
First Year ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
The Third ◽  
Nitrogen Yields ◽  
P Rate ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
Cape York

The response of a Stylosanthes guyanensislBrachiaria decumbens pasture to phosphorus on a yellow earth soil in northern Cape York Peninsula was studied over three years. Establishment rates of 0 to 130 kg ha-1 P were used followed by various combinations of 0 or 20 kg ha-1 P in the next two years. With comparisons made at the same cumulative P rate the dry matter and nitrogen yields were not affected by timing of application but P yield was increased in the third year when P was freshly applied. The dry matter yield response was modified by the botanical composition of the pasture. In the first year the pasture was 90-95 per cent legume and 110 kg ha-1 P was required to give 90 per cent of the presumed maximum yield whereas in the third year when the legume content was lower, (increasing from 10 to 40 per cent with P rate) this requirement had been reduced to about 90 kg ha-1 P. The third year P yield data were used to show that the value of applied P declined by about 70 per cent each year. After three years all the applied P was recovered in the 0-60 cm zone and the distribution was not affected by timing of application. In the 0-10 cm zone the acid extractable P increased from 0 with no P applied to 40 p.p.m. with 150 kg ha-1 P applied.

The utilization and excretion of sulphur in cattle fed on tropical roughages

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Small Decrease ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Total Sulphur ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Townsville Stylo

The effect of additions of sulphateh to the diet of cattle given tropical spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) and Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) was studied in three experiments. In one experiment there was a small increase in the digestibility of dry matter, but the intake of feed was not affected. The concentration of volatile fatty acids in ruminal liquor from cattle offered spear grass was increased by supplemental sulphate; there was a concurrent small decrease in the proportions of propionic and isovaleric acids. Excretion of faecal sulphur varied with the intakes of total sulphur, organic matter, and digestible organic matter, while urinary sulphur excretion varied with the sulphur and organic matter intakes. Excretion of organic sulphur and total sulphate in urine and faeces increased with sulphur intake. The ratio of nitrogen to sulphur in faeces declined when sulphate was given. The retention of nitrogen was correlated with sulphur retention. It was concluded that the intake and digestion of the hays were not limited by the intake of sulphur.

Effectiveness of topdressed and incorporated superphosphate and Duchess rock phosphate for subterranean clover on sandy soils near Esperance Western Australia

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
The Other ◽  
Deep Yellow ◽  
Phosphate Incorporation

In 2 experiments on sandy soil near Esperance, W. A., superphosphate and Duchess (Queensland) apatite rock phosphate were either left on the soil surface after application (topdressed) or incorporated into the top 10 cm of the soil with a rotary hoe (incorporated). One experiment was on Fleming gravelly sand which had a greater capacity to adsorb phosphorus than did the deep yellow sand (Gibson sand) used in the other experiment. Dry matter or seed yield of subterranean clover and phosphorus content of dry herbage or seed were used as indicators of the effectiveness of the phosphorus treatments. Compared with topdressed superphosphate, incorporation of superphosphate did not greatly influence its effectiveness on the Gibson soil, but reduced its effectiveness by about 20% on the Fleming soil. Relative to topdressed rock phosphate, incorporation of rock phosphate almost doubled its effectiveness on the Fleming soil, and improved its effectiveness by about 1.5 times on the Gibson soil. Superphosphate was the more effective fertiliser. Relative to topdressed superphosphate, the effectiveness of topdressed and incorporated Duchess rock phosphate, respectively, was about 15 and 30% on the Fleming soil, and about 25 and 40% on the Gibson soil. There was no evidence of any leaching of phosphorus from Duchess rock phosphate from the 0-10 cm layer of either soil, nor of superphosphate on the Fleming soil. However, on the Gibson soil, there was some leaching of superphosphate to below 10cm, but not below 20 cm.

Wet season grazing of Townsville stylo pasture at Katherine, N.T

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 710 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJT Norman ◽  
LJ Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Nitrogen Yield ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Stocking Rates

At Katherine, N.T., stocking rates of 1.33, 1.00, and 0.67 Shorthorn steers an acre for a period of 18 weeks in the wet season beginning January were imposed on established pastures sown to Townsville sty10 (Stylosanthes humilis) alone but subsequently invaded to varying degrees by annual grasses. The experiment was repeated over three years. There were no significant differences in mean liveweight gain per head over three years ; hence liveweight gain per acre at the heaviest stocking rate was approximately twice that at the lightest rate. The mean dry matter yield of grass increased significantly with decreasing stocking rate, but there were no significant differences between stocking rates in Townsville stylo dry matter yield, nitrogen yield, or phosphorus yield. Correlation coefficients were calculated using data from individual paddocks and years. There was a highly significant positive correlation between liveweight gain per head and pasture nitrogen yield, and between liveweight gain per head and pasture phosphorus yield.

Nutritional value of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and of spear grass (Heteropogon contortus)-dominant pastures fed to sheep. 1. The effect of plant maturity

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Playne ◽  
KP Haydock
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Nitrogen Intake ◽  
Plant Maturity ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Maintenance Requirements ◽  
A Site

The voluntary dry matter intake, digestibility and chemical composition of Townsville stylo and of black spear grass cut at different times of the year from a site near Townsville, Queensland, have been examined using penned sheep. Nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus intakes and retention in the sheep were measured. The concentrations of N, P, S, Na, and Ca in most cuts of spear grass and P and Na in Townsville stylo were less than the published requirements of animals. With spear grass, digestible dry matter intake declined rapidly from January to April and more slowly from April to October and by mid-March fell below the estimated energy requirements for maintenance of sheep. There was little change in digestible dry matter intake of Townsville stylo between February and May and the level was well above maintenance requirements. Dry matter intake and dry matter digestibility were linearly related but only about 50 per cent of variations in intake were caused by variations in digestibility. Nitrogen balance was linearly related to nitrogen intake, and sulphur balance was linearly related to sulphur intake. Phosphorus intakes were usually less than 1 g P day-l and animals were usually in negative P retention.

The effect of pre-treatment of native pasture and sowing rate on establishment of Townsville lucerne of Tippera clay loam at Katherine, NT

1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (29) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
HP Miller
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
First Year ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Made In

At Katherine, N.T., on Tippera clay loam soil, Townsville lucerne (Stylosanthes humilis H.B.K.) was sown in December 1965 at 4, 16, and 64 lb an acre of abraded pods into uncleared uncultivated perennial native pasture that had been subjected to three pre-treatments : heavy grazing in the previous wet season, late dry season burning, and early wet season burning. The amount and incidence of rainfall was particularly favourable for establishment. At counts made in December 1965, and in January and February 1966, pre-treatment did not affect Townsville lucerne density, which was proportional to sowing rate on all pre-treatments. Dry matter yields of Townsville lucerne in April 1966 were higher after early wet-season burning than after other pre-treatments. At a final seedling count at the start of the next wet season, December 1966, there was an interaction between pre-treatment and sowing rate, seedling density showing an approximate correspondence with dry matter yield of Townsville lucerne in April 1966. At the practical sowing rates of 4 and 16 lb an acre, first and second year seedling densities and first year yields were comparable with average figures for Townsville lucerne established with full land clearance and cultivation.

Rapid changes in simple mixtures of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) lines differing in flowering time and growth habit

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (84) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
DF Cameron ◽  
RL McCown
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Pod Yield ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Frequency Changes

The ecological adaptation of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) lines was studied by following changes in the composition of mixtures of the lines. At Weipa, a high rainfall site in north Queensland, the composition of a mixture of four maturity types changed rapidly in favour of the later flowering lines, and the earliest line was almost eliminated by the end of the second year. In binary mixtures at 'Lansdown' near Townsville, defoliation every six weeks favoured erect lines but the proportion of prostrate lines was almost doubled at the three week cutting frequency. Changes in mixture composition could not be related to the dry matter yield or pod yield of the monocultures at either site. The capacity of late flowering lines to increase rapidly in populations growing in high rainfall areas, as demonstrated at the Weipa site, could pose problems for the commercial seed production of earlier flowering lines in such areas.

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