Pasture species for the granite and traprock areas of south-east Queensland

Abstract

The outstanding perennial legume was lucerne Medicago sativa which was persistent and productive for up to 7 yr. Siratro and lotononis were moderately persistent but were only sporadically productive whereas other tropical legumes failed to persist. Some winter annual legumes persisted well and were productive in years with near average winter rainfall, but their productivity was reduced at times by slow seedling growth and poor nodulation, particularly on the sandstone soil. The best species were the clovers Trifolium hirtum, T. subterraneum and T. glomeratum, and the medics Medicago littoralis and M. truncatula. The best tropical perennial grasses were Rhodes grass Chloris gayana and tall finger grass Digitaria smutsii. Temperate grasses were moderately productive but generally unable to persist through summers with rainfall below average. -from Author