Seeds for all Seasons Tropical Pasture Guide

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1 Seeds for all Seasons Tropical Pasture Guide

2 Contents 2 Introduction 3 The Key To Success? 4 Good Grazing Management 5 Panic Grass 5 Bluegrass 5 Creeping Bluegrass 5 Buffel Grass 6 Digit Grass 6 Rhodes Grass 6 Fingergrass 6 Setaria 7 Forage Peanut 7 Desmanthus 7 Stylo 7 Purple Pigeon Grass 8 5 Steps To Successfully Introducing Legumes Into Pasture Systems 9 Benefits From The Paddock 10 How Do Grasses Compare For Feed Value? 11 Seed Treatment - SowEasy KickStart 12 Seed Treatment - Envirogro 14 Tropical Seed Planting Guide 15 Contact Details Introduction The aim of AusWest Seeds since the 1950 s has been to distribute high quality seed products which begin with research, technical expertise and a commitment to excellence. AusWest Seeds ability to deliver seed when and where it is required is the result of strategically placed warehouses and depots throughout New South Wales and Queensland. AusWest Seeds association with major seed companies and other distribution networks enables them to supply pasture, pulse, turf, vegetable, bird and tropical seed for the Australian market. Due to the importance of coated and treated pasture seed AusWest Seeds have invested heavily in seed coating equipment to produce SowEasy treated seed. This new equipment has enabled AusWest Seeds to offer benefits to the farming community with quality of coat, accurate applications of specific chemicals, faster throughput of product which enables AusWest to coat seed as close as possible to actual usage. Using the latest in seed treatment technology has enabled AusWest Seeds to professionally apply insecticides to a whole range of different seed species. With the successful release of Gaucho onto the market along with other available seed treatments, AusWest Seeds have now released the brand name KickStart for Gaucho treated seed across a number of pasture species, both temperate and tropical. A partnership between AusWest Seeds and Southedge Seeds, a tropical seed business based in Queensland has been formed. Southedge Seeds focus is on the quality and integrity of their tropical products using their unique Envirogro process which is a patented technology that provides a real point of difference in the market place for tropical seed treatments. Greater predictability and more accuracy with plantings and establishment of coated product were identified as a priority by Southedge Seeds and this led to the development of the Envirogro tropical product range. Using the AusWest Seeds SowEasy and Envirogro tropical product range farmers can see first hand the benefits of improved establishment and subsequent yields in the paddock. 2

3 The Key To Success? The key to success is to plan pasture programs well. This is essential if you want to consistently establish good pastures. Successful producers, plan their overall pasture program years ahead. The most important factors are: Adequate subsoil moisture Always aim to sow on good subsoil moisture. Ideally, sow seed shallow into firm moist soil around the seed. Rain following sowing is critical. Ideally, favourable conditions are needed in the 3 4 weeks following emergence to ensure secondary root development. Rolling, sowing on time and reducing weed competition can make better use of available moisture. Use a moisture probe to monitor subsoil moisture in the fallow. Effective weed control Weed competition is a major cause of failure. Most troublesome weeds can be controlled in the year or two before sowing. Inoculate all companion legumes unless you have good evidence that the correct strain of rhizobia is abundant in the soil. Seed treatment to prevent seed theft by ants is essential for all surface sown seed. Responses are less likely where seed is well covered by soil on farming country. Nutrient seed coating has not shown any advantage except improved physical handling of fluffy seeds. Fungicides are unlikely to give a response except for sowing legumes in cold wet conditions. Shallow sowing depth These grasses are all sensitive to deep sowing. Aim to sow less than 1.5 cm deep, especially with rhodes grass. Sowing deeper usually results in poor establishment. Sowing on the surface with a very light coverage with harrows is adequate. The better the seedling vigour of the species, the more they will emerge from deeper sowing (e.g. purple pigeon grass will establish more readily from depth than panic grass). Similarly, seedlings emerge better from depth in sandy or self mulching soils, than in hard setting soils. Get to know the paddocks intended for sowing and the weeds that are likely to establish following sowing. Remember that potential weeds of summer growing pastures may not be significant weeds in winter crops, and that herbicides for use in pastures are few. Annual grasses and broad leaf weeds such as rape, turnip, caltrop, mintweed threaten seedling establishment. Broad leaved weed herbicides have a role but it is most cost effective to control weeds in the fallow and in crops before sowing. Prevent annual weeds seeding the previous summer. Do not sow in spring unless one good germination of annual weeds is controlled. Good seed quality/treatment The quality of tropical grass seed can be extremely variable and often disappointing. Seed dormancy is common. Insist on a recent seed test for purity, viability, germination and weed contamination (germination percentages in the order of 40% for tropical grasses are acceptable while 70% is considered very good). The risk of bringing parthenium weed and other noxious weeds onto your property in low quality seed can result in enormous ongoing expense. Adequate soil fertility A soil test conducted prior to planting should be undertaken to identify any fertility issues 3

4 Good grazing management In the establishment year, do not graze until plants have seeded down. The exceptions are where weed competition is severe, in which case ensure that grasses are well anchored before grazing. The second exception is where plants are well advanced for the season with good soil moisture. Light grazing may then assist tillering. Management of established pastures is difficult with large paddocks, yet for high livestock growth rates, these grasses should be kept leafy and legumes must be kept in the pasture for as long as practical. This ensures grasses remain vigorous and improves the likelihood of nitrogen being available for following crops. Some producers have found that by grazing pastures hard late in summer/early autumn to open up the sward, that annual medics establish better. By grazing a number of paddocks in rotation, say one year in three, medic may become sufficiently dense to maintain or increase soil nitrogen and promote grass growth. Perennial grasses in general benefit from being allowed to seed periodically. This spelling allows root reserves to be replenished and provides seed for regeneration. Key guidelines for establishing pastures by conventional means are: Select paddocks early and plan especially to reduce weed competition through until the pasture is established Reduce weed problems through the cropping phase Sow on good subsoil moisture Sow shallow (i.e. aim at 1.5 cm deep) Use press wheels or a roller (not on crusting soils) Check fertiliser needs Sow when there is the greatest chance of follow up rain for your area Sow annual legumes with a crop or introduce the following year Monitor weeds and pests and control if necessary Key guidelines for establishing pastures by direct drill are: Select paddocks early and plan especially to reduce weed competition through until the pasture is established Reduce weed problems the year before sowing Control growth in season prior to sowing by heavy grazing pressure. Ensure absolute weed control prior to sowing Check fertiliser needs Sow only on good subsoil moisture Sow with a suitable machine (i.e. aim at 1.5 cm deep) Press wheels can enhance establishment Monitor weeds and pests and control if necessary Preferably do not graze until plants have seeded 4

5 Featured Tropical Varieties Panic Main production late spring, summer & autumn Palatable Capable of withstanding flooding Tolerant of drought & saline soils Some tolerance of frosting Available in Bambatsi, Gatton & Green Bluegrass Suited to alkaline clay cracking soils Extremely vigorous perennial Capable of withstanding flooding Good drought tolerance Available in Floren Creeping Bluegrass Tufted perennial with prostrate creeping stems Provides quality forage Provides quick groundcover Flowers late autumn Available in Bisset & Hatch Buffel Grass Summer growing erect tussocky grass Drought tolerant - survives in low rainfall areas Responds quickly to rain Frost sensitive Available in USA, Biloela & Gayndah 5

6 Digit Grass Widely adapted from acidic to heavy clay soils Highly palatable Good tolerance to cold & drought Late spring, summer & autumn grazing Available in Premier Digit Rhodes Grass Widely adapted depending on variety Particularly suited to sandy & sandy loam soils Moderate tolerance of salinity & acidity Easily established Available in Pioneer, Katambora, Nemkat & Callide Fingergrass Suited to light & medium textured soils Vigorous perennial spread by stolons Good drought tolerance Can withstand flooding Available in Jarra & Strickland Setaria Wide adaptability to soil types High dry matter production Tolerates occasional flooding Suitable for hay & grazing Available in Solander, Kazungula & Narok 6

7 Forage Peanut High dry matter production Excellent shade & drought tolerance Suitable ground cover for plantations Adapted to a wide range of soils Available in Pinto Peanut & Bolton 495 Desmanthus A woody stemmed, fern-like perennial Low bloat risk Drought & cold tolerant Rapid growth rates Available in Marc & Bayamo Stylo Suited to well drained sandy loam soils Easy to manage Hardy perennial shrubby legume Tolerates hard conditions Available in Cattinga, Seca & Verano Purple Pigeon Grass Easy to establish in medium to heavy textured soils Drought tolerant Rapid growth rates Needs reasonable fertility levels Available in Purple Pigeon 7

8 5 Steps To Successfully Introducing Legumes Into Pasture Systems An example of pasture legumes and pasture grasses co-existing succesfully 8

9 Benefits From The Paddock 9

10 How Do Grasses Compare For Feed Value? 10

11 Seed Treatments The Benefits of AusWest tropical seed can be SowEasy KickStart treated SowEasy KickStart combines the advantages of SowEasy coated seed together with the KickStart treatment to offer growers the advantages of ready to sow seed. Works from the moment the seed is planted Protects each seedling during the vulnerable establishment stage Even and faster emergence of clovers, allowing broadleaf weeds to be targeted earlier with selected herbicides Weight buildup is dependent on the species Coated Seed SowEasy legume seed is inoculated with the correct strain of nitrogen fixing bacteria to enhance plant growth, ensuring successful legume production in your pasture. Note nodulation on legume roots as pictured above. Rhizobia shelf life on coated seed giving sowing time flexibility Increased seedling emergence and survival compared to untreated seed. The other benefit of SowEasy seed coating is that we are able to bring you a better quality seed coat through the use of new powders, polymers and adhesives and the added advantage of reducing the weight gain applied to the seed. Meaning that you are actually getting more seed in your bag with SowEasy seed. The Benefits of Coated Seed AusWest KickStart treated seed consists of Gaucho insecticide. Gaucho protects seedlings for the critical period after germination from numerous biting and sucking insects, including Red Legged Earthmites and Blue Oat Mites. Gaucho is systemic and is rapidly absorbed by the seed. This results in a rapid translocation to cotyledons and leaves. It has a strong anti-feeding action against predators. Using Gaucho insecticide on the seed is safe on beneficial organisms, such as ladybirds and earthworms. Gaucho should always be used as part of an overall pest management program. It is always advisable to use a bare earth insecticide spray to reduce overall pest populations before planting. Death of newly germinated plants is frequently caused by fungi, which live in the soil and attack the seed or seedlings. Where registered, appropriate fungicides are included with KickStart treated seeds to protect against pythium, phytophthora root rot and damping off. The consequences of fungal damage to legume pastures are: reduced plant populations reduced vigour of surviving plants reduced resistance to other stresses such as insect attack The fungicides are taken up by the emerging roots and transported throughout the root system and leaves of the young plants, protecting it from within, during the early stages of development, for a period of approximately 3-4 weeks after sowing. SowEasy seed has a coating ratio of 1:1.6 that is a 60% weight gain. Some commercial coaters are working on coating ratios of 1:1.9 that is a 90% weight gain. Never forget the fresher the coated seed the better AusWest use Nodulaid Inoculants on all coated seed AusWest SowEasy coated seed always shows the coating ratio on the bag Bare KickStart 11

12 ENVIROGRO pelleted tropical pasture seed has been developed by Southedge Seeds, using its 35 years experience in tropical pasture seed production and processing. ENVIROGRO pelleted tropical pasture seed uses the fully patented process of removing the seed kernel from the chaffy glume or husk of the bare seed. Through this process, there is greater control around seed quality, removing weed seeds, inert matter and light immature seed, which results in high quality seed. 12

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14 Species Variety Angleton Blue Grass Bahia Brachiaria Humidicola Brachiaria Signal Buffel Creeping Blue Grass Sowing Rate kg/ha SowEasy KickStart Minimum Rainfall Requirement mm Soil Type Climatic Tolerance Envirogo Drought Cold Floren >700 Cracking clay Good Good Argentine Pensacola 3-6 N/A >700 Light texture, low fertility Very Good Moderate Poor Growing Activity Persistence Palatability Features Very Good Good Very Good Tully >1000 Wide range Fair Poor Summer Good Fair Basilisk 4-8 N/A >1000 Well drained Fair Fair Summer Good Fair Biloela Gayndah USA Bisset >550 Hatch >550 Light textured to heavy soils Clay loam to sandy loam Clay loam to sandy loam Moderate Low Excellent Poor Summer Good Good Good Good Good Good Very Good Good Tufted & very stoloniferous Very Good Good Vigorous spreading sets new roots at the lower nodes, tolerates short periods of water logging, suits alkaline soils, moderate salt tolerance. Pensacola can become a weed if planted on fertile soils and has poor frost tolerance and low palatability. Stoloniferous rooting tightly at the nodes, vigorous grower, tolerates waterlogging, acid tolerant and fair salt tolerance. Trailing stems that set root at the nodes, responds well to nitrogen. Deep rooted, erect tussocky plant, recovers quickly after light rain. Tufted & stoloniferous but doesn t set root at the nodes as well as Bisset, tolerates short periods of waterlogging. Digit Premier >600 Low fertility Good Good Summer Good Good Highly palatable, suited to a wide range of soils. Marc Desmanthus Medium to heavy clay Good Good Summer Good Very Good Productive and palatable plant that does not cause bloat. Bayamo Jarra Finger Grass >600 Light to medium textured Good Good Summer Good Good Stoloniferous, will withstand periods of waterlogging. Strickland Forage Peanut Forest Blue Grass Indian Blue Grass Pinto Peanut >1100 Bolton 495 Swan 3-8 N/A >500 Keppel Medway >600 Kikuyu Whittet 2-8 N/A >800 Millet Note: These are guidelines only, for specific recommendations suited to your region and Tropical Seed Planting Guide farming enterprise contact your local agronomist or seed retailer. Key: N/A = Not Available Shirohie, Japanese Siberian Bare: 8-10 >600 Moist, fertile well drained soils Traprock, low fertility, forest Moderate to low fertility Fertile lighter texture, well drained Well structured fertile soils Fair Fair Good Good Very Good Good Summer Good Good Shade tolerant, well adapted to tropics, produces high quality feed. Tussocky, tolerates heavy grazing and acid soils, fair aluminium tolerance. Fair Fair Summer Very Good Good Tussocky with vigorous stolons of a low creeping habit. Fair Good Good N/A Summer Good Good Annual Good Deep rooted with stolons & rhizomes, can dominate sward, suitable for acid & aluminim soils. Suited to early plantings and cooler soil temperatures, no prussic acid issues, will tolerate some waterlogging, high quality quick feed. Semi prostrate high tillering, slower but longer growth than Japanese and Shirohie millet.

15 Species Variety Sowing Rate kg/ha SowEasy KickStart Minimum Rainfall Requirement mm Soil Type Climatic Tolerance Envirogo Drought Cold Growing Activity Persistence Palatability Features Panic Gatton Green >600 Friable softwood scrub, light clay Moderate Good Summer Good, better in shade Very Good Very palatable, can be preferentially grazed. Can withstand heavy grazing once established. Paspalum Bambatsi 2-4 >600 Dilatatum 3-8 N/A >900 Medium to heavy cracking clay Heavy textured alluvial, red loam Good Good Good Good Blue Dawn >800 Sand/clay loams Good Good Summer Good Very Good Good Good Tolerates heavy grazing, soft leaved, creeping habit, seed heads can be affected by Ergot. Good Very Good Rhizomatous, prefers acid to slightly alkaline soils. Pearl Millet Purple Pigeon Lawrence Katherine Bare: 8-12 > >600 Well structured fertile soils Heavy clays with good fertility Good N/A Summer Summer Early Annual Good Developed for cold tolerance, no prussic acid issues. Good Fair Summer Good Very Good High quality, palatible feed. Late flowering, dark green hairy leaves, no prussic acid issues. Rhodes Callide Katambora Nemkat >600 Wide range sandy to clay Good Good Good Good Later flowering, higher productivity and palatability than Katambora with high fertility conditions. Later flowering, finer leaves and more stoloniferous than Pioneer. Early flowering, fine stems with improved quality. Setaria Pioneer Kazungula Narok >1000 Well drained coastal soils with good moisture holding capacity Poor Fair Poor Good Fair Superseded by Katambora - early flowering erect plant, moderate leafiness. Setaria is tufted, suits coastal lowlands, with high oxalates. Kazungula is reasonably tolerant to drought and flood but has high oxalate levels. Improved frost tolerance and winter growth, higher quality pasture than Kazungula. Solander Similar to Narok but has more even seasonal growth. Sorghum Silk Bare: 2-10 >500 Stylo Urochloa / Sabi Deep, very fertile soils Good Poor 2-3 years Varies with fertility Erect tussocky grass, potential prussic acid issues. Seca >600 Fertile, alluvial soils Good Fair Summer Good Good Seca is a versatile, drought tolerant shrubby legume Verano Saraji N/A Vigorous stoloniferous, summer growing, palatable grass. 2-8 >500 Sandy, loams, clay Excellent Fair Summer Good Very Good Nixon 1-5 More suited to tropical environments.

16 For more information on Tropical Seed contact your local AusWest Seeds Territory Manager. AusWest Seeds Territory Managers: Glen Duckworth Northern and Central QLD Peter Tame Southern QLD and Northern NSW Jacob O Brien Northern NSW Mark Dunham North Western Slopes and Northern NSW Adrian Keith Central Tablelands and South East NSW Greg Miller Central NSW Stuart Mitchell Hunter Valley and NSW Coast AusWest Seeds Offices: Head Office Brisbane P: F: Tobias St, E: brisbane@auswestseeds.com.au Forbes, NSW, 2871 P: Armidale: P: F: F: E: armidale@auswestseeds.com.au E: auswest@auswestseeds.com.au W: Sydney P: F: Depots: Dubbo Depot Tamworth Depot P: P: F: F: Notes: This information has been checked for accuracy and published in good faith. However, AusWest Seeds accepts no responsibility expressed or implied for misuse of information in this brochure. This information is not to be reproduced without the expressed written permission of AusWest Seeds. ENVIROGRO is a registered trademark of PGG Wrightson Seeds in Australia and is protected by Australian patent numbers and