Dryland Legume Pasture Systems: Small plot species adaptation trial

Legume pastures have been pivotal to sustainable agricultural development in southern Australia. They provide highly nutritious feed for livestock, act as a disease break for many cereal root pathogens, improve fertility through nitrogen (N) fixation and mixed farming reduces economic risk. Despite these benefits, pasture renovation rates remain low and there is opportunity to improve the quality of the pasture base on many low to medium rainfall mixed farms across southern Australia. A diverse range of pasture legume cultivars are currently available to growers and new material is being developed. Some of these legumes, such as the annual medics, are well adapted to alkaline soils and have high levels of hard seed, which allow them to self-regenerate fromsoil seed reserves after cropping (ley farming system). Other legume cultivars and species are available and being developed thatoffer improved seed harvestability, are claimed to be better suited to establishment when dry sown and/or provide better nutrition forlivestock. Regional evaluation is being undertaken to determine if they are productive and able to persist in drier areas (