Early stage evaluation of tropical legumes on clay soils at three sites in central and southern inland Queensland

Abstract

Over 150 legume accessions were evaluated in small plots at three clay soil sites in south-central inland Queensland for use in either permanent or ley pastures. Legumes were either sown alone, or more usually with a companion grass, in 1992/93, 1993/94 and 1994/95 at sites near Mundubbera, Theodore and Emerald. Annual measurements of yield and density were made until May 1998. Summer/autumn rainfall was consistently below average in the three years of sowing.
Legumes best adapted for use in permanent pastures were Desmanthus spp. and Stylosanthes seabrana, both of which were released in the 1990s, and Indigofera schimperi. While I. schimperi showed outstanding persistence and productivity, it has not been released for commercial use, as it was often not adequately grazed. It has been eliminated from the trial sites. Some accessions of desmanthus showed some promise as alternatives to the three lines currently mixed together in the commercially released “Jaribu” desmanthus.
None of the annual species tested was superior to Lablab purpureus for use as an annual legume in leys, but Macroptilium bracteatum showed some promise as a short term perennial for use in ley pastures.