Five year old clover herb pasture impacts lamb growth
Diversified clover herb ryegrass pastures need specific management to maintain composition, livestock performance and lower methane emissions.
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Pasture Trial Reviews
Irish multi species pastures lift livestock productivity
Evidence is mounting that multi-species pasture gives a lift to ruminant livestock productivity per hectare compared with monoculture pasture while at the same time increasing paddock ecosystem services and reducing methane emissions per kg of carcase weight.
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Give sheep greater pasture species richness and they eat more
Sheep and cattle pasture intake is impacted by a range of complex interactions associated with plant biology and animal physiology, by providing livestock with greater choice they eat more, grow better and paddock biodiversity with all its ecosystem services implications is enhanced.
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Alternative fertiliser trial highlights pasture phosphorous response
The soil treatments with the lowest cost of producing extra pasture were those that addressed first limiting nutrients.
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Adding tonnes of manure and compost to perennial pastures didn’t change soil carbon
Anecdotal examples of increasing soil carbon stocks by changing livestock grazing and pasture management are common, but long term statistically significant trial data demonstrates making a significant change is likely to be difficult especially in perennial pasture paddocks where the existing carbon level in above 3%
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Comparing grasses without grazing them has little value for building climate resilience
Applying artificial climate treatments to pasture species without including different grazing regimes is absurd, it makes the research conclusions around pasture species resilience in face of climate change irrelevant.
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Phosphorus fertiliser an advantage for specific native grass species
Some native grass species will respond to increased plant available phosphorus, but best practice grazing management is critical to ensure their persistence when fertiliser is applied.
Read MoreWA on-farm trial with perennial grasses to boost soil carbon
The potential opportunity for carbon storage in WA sandy soil on the research trail farm near Wagin is more likely to be below 10cm because of the perennial grasses deeper root systems compared to annual grasses.
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Phosphorus source comparison trial has flawed methodology
The Wongwibinda, Northern Tablelands NSW fertiliser trial was established through local farmer interest in composts as an alternative source of phosphorus and other plant nutrients. Unfortunately the trial has produced biased results.
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Considerations in buying and applying lime
By Lisa Miller. Soil monitoring through the Corangamite soil monitoring program and trial sites shows soil acidification issues are not limited to the topsoil (0-10cm) but commonly extend to 10-20cm in all soils types, indicating our liming practices are not keeping pace with acidification rates.
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Pasture trials with lime plus organic and inorganic fertilisers
Farmers should be monitoring soil test data as well as paddock carrying capacity per hectare and per 100 mm of rainfall.
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Lime trial review Woady Yaloak
Results of a three year liming trial on grazing and cropping farms to help farmers make more informed decisions on lime applications.
Read MoreWesternport alternative fertiliser trial review
By Patrick Francis The Westernport Catchment Landcare Network’s alternative fertilisers trial was conducted over six years between 2007 and 2013.
Read MoreWoady Yaloak alternative fertiliser trial review
“The trial from hell” By Patrick Francis The Woady Yaloak Catchment Group’s “alternative fertilisers and biological products for pastures and
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Holbrook alternative fertilisers trial review
Correlations demonstrated between soil fertility, pasture species, carbon flows, biology and rainfall By Patrick Francis The Holbrook Landcare Group’s alternative
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Binalong alternative fertilisers trial review
By Patrick Francis The Binalong Landcare Group and NSW DPI alternative fertiliser trial was professionally set up, monitored and analysed
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