Effect of grazing intensity and number of grazings on herbage production and seed yields of Trifolium subterraneum, Medicago murex, and Ornithopus compressus
1994
Conlan, D.J. | Dear, B.S. | Coombes, N.E. (New South Wales Agriculture, Wagga Wagga (Australia). Agricultural Research Inst.)
The impact of grazing intensity and number of grazings was assessed on the growth and seed production of 5 annual pasture legumes (Trifolium subterraneum var. subterraneum cv. Karridale, var. brachycalycinum cv. Clare, var. yanninicum cv. Trikkala; Medicago murex (murex medic) cv. Zodiac; Ornithopus compressus L. (yellow serradella) cv. Avila). There were 7 grazing treatments: an ungrazed control; and 2 sheep grazing intensities (light and heavy), each for 3 periods of grazing (winter, winter-early spring, winter-late spring). Grazing had variable effects on seed production: up to 35 percent increase for Trikkala, and no significant effect for Karridale. Seed yield of Clare was reduced by 46-49 percent by heavy grazing treatments. Seed yield of murex medic was not significantly affected by grazing, while that of serradella was reduced by 30-55 percent by grazing late in the season. The seed yield responses show that cultivar and species responses to grazing may be highly variable. Under favourable spring conditions, Trikkala, Karridale, and murex medic can be grazed heavily until late in the season without adversely affecting seed yield, whilst Clare and Avila cannot.
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