Demonstrating innovative approaches for introducing legumes into buffel grass pastures

In 2010, a three year Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) was established to quantify sowing strategies for achieving legume establishment and persistence in buffel grass pastures in central Queensland. Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea), burgundy bean (Macroptillium bracteatum) and siratro (Macroptillium atropurpureum cv siratro and cv aztec atro) were sown by broadcast, direct drill and crocodile seeder methods. Intensive herd impact applied immediately post sowing was trialled to determine if seed germination and establishment would benefit from animal induced soil disturbance. Treatments with soil disturbance at sowing (direct drill and crocodile seeder) initially achieved higher germination and establishment rates than broadcasting. Plant persistence in subsequent years showed a significant decline across all treatments with similar plant populations per hectare recorded between treatments at the conclusion of the trial. The results from the application of herd impact were inconclusive. Siratro was the only species to persist within the buffel grass dominated pastures with very low numbers of butterfly pea evident and virtually nil burgundy bean establishment at the conclusion of the trial. Only two per cent of viable seed sown was represented as established plants by year three of the trial. This was despite the application of wet season spelling to permit legumes to mature and set seed annually. An increase in cattle production was recorded within the trial site for all years even though the grazing period was less than the currently adopted strategy across the broader property. This trial has demonstrated that broadcasting legume seed into established buffel grass pastures produced similar plant densities to more expensive and laborious sowing methods. More research on select legume species to compete with established buffel pastures is required for increased plant diversity.

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