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New cultivar of eastern star clover to be released to Australian growers in 2006
February 4, 2005

A new cultivar of eastern star clover will be released to growers in 2006, adding to the stable of new generation pasture legumes developed for Western Australia’s farming systems.

Department of Agriculture researcher Angelo Loi said eastern star clover GCN39 would be a useful option for weed control in Mediterranean farming systems.

Mr Loi said GCN39 would also allow growers to further increase the species diversity of their pasture base.

Details of the new pasture legumes will be presented at the Department’s Agribusiness Crop Updates on 16 February, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

“Species such as biserrula, gland clover French serradella and yellow serradella have been commercialised over the past few years and have complemented the use of more traditional subterranean clovers and annual medics,” Mr Loi said.

“These new species have a broad range of characteristics, which make them productive and persistent under stressful conditions and have allowed the development of low-cost seed production systems.

“The new pasture legumes have been selected with attributes leading to increased pasture productivity and persistence. By increasing legume dominance of the pasture, feeding value of the pasture is increased, with benefits for animal production.

“Crops in rotation also benefit through increased nitrogen fixation and the availability of new alternative weed control options.”

Mr Loi said mixtures of cultivars and species could be used to provide a buffer against different seasonal effects and soil types within the paddock.

He said farmers needed to select the most appropriate species based on consideration of soil type, rainfall and farming practice.

Eastern star clover GCN39 is a new species to Australian agriculture. It has high levels of dry matter and seed production and could be harvested with conventional harvesters.

“GCN39 is an early-mid maturing variety and is suitable for use on acid and alkaline fine textured soils in low to medium rainfall areas (350-500 mm),” Mr Loi said.

“GCN39 germinates very late in the season compared to traditional pasture legumes and weeds. The delayed germination offers farmers a new opportunity to control weeds during the pasture phase.

“Non-selective herbicides or intensive grazing can be used after the opening of the season for 4-6 weeks before GCN39 germinates, to obtain 99 per cent weed control.”

Of the other new pasture legumes, hardseeded French serradellas Erica and Margurita ensure good germination at the break of season, while also enabling persistence through crop rotations.

Seed of both Erica and Margurita is easily harvested using a conventional header, however, seed needs to be extracted from pods and scarified for high germination levels.

Mauro Biserrula is two weeks later flowering than Casbah and is less hardseeded, resulting in higher second year regeneration densities. It is suited to mixed farming and permanent pastures in 450-700 mm rainfall areas.

Of the subterranean clovers, Izmir is a hardseed replacement for Nungarin with greater persistence in cropping rotations. It is suited to areas receiving ≤375 mm annual rainfall and produces 7-10 per cent more herbage than Nungarin.

Urana is suited to areas with annual rainfall of 400-525 mm. Urana’s hardseededness should enable it to persist better in cropping rotations than current cultivars.

Coolamon is a replacement for Junee suited to both mixed farming and permanent pastures in areas with 500-700 mm annual rainfall.

Scimitar and Cavalier burr medics are adapted to mildly acid loam and clay soils, and are tolerant of moderate salinity. They are more productive and softer-seeded than the original cultivars Santiago and Circle Valley, giving them greater second year regeneration.

Good seed quantities of all new cultivars will be available in 2005, however, only limited quantities of Coolamon will be available. Limited seed of Izmir will be available in 2006.

This work has been supported by Grains Research and Development Corporation and Australian Wool Innovation.

Regional Crop Updates kick off for growers on 21 February in Bencubbin, Carrabin - 22 February, Hyden and Kukerin - 23 February, Northam - 24 February and Narrogin – 25 February, Jerramungup - 9 March, Ravensthorpe - 10 March, Esperance - 11 March, Geraldton - 14 March, Mingenew Irwin -15 March, Liebe – 16 March, Moora and Ballidu – 17 March and concluding in Katanning on 18 March.

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