MR RICHARD BENNETT

Profile

Richard has always had interests in both Australian native plants and agriculture, so

when an opportunity to combine these interests and get paid to research the use of native plants in agriculture came along, he

happily applied for the job. The CRC Salinity employed him for three and a half years to

collect native perennial grasses and legumes from the wild and evaluate their potential to be

used as pasture plants in the wheatbelt.

Survival and productivity of Australian Cullen species on

deep acid sands in WA’s low-rainfall wheatbelt

Survival and productivity of Australian Cullen species on

deep acid sands in WA’s low-rainfall wheatbelt

Richard Bennett, Megan Ryan, Tim Colmer, Daniel RealRichard Bennett, Megan Ryan, Tim Colmer, Daniel Real

Acknowledgements

Funding: Meat and Livestock AustraliaAW Howard Memorial TrustFuture Farm Industries CRCSchool of Plant Biology – UWA

Assistance: Lori KroissDion NicholTammy Edmonds-TibbettLalith Suriyagoda

Outline

Introduction

Hypotheses

Trial designResults - species

- population

Hypotheses

Conclusions

Introduction

Hypotheses

Trial designResults - species

- population

Hypotheses

Conclusions

• Salinity control through recharge control

• Erosion control – wind & water

• Productivity benefits – year-round feed

• Reduced fertiliser – legumes fix nitrogen

Benefits of perennial legumes

Annual crops or pastures

(eg. wheat & sub-clover)

Saturated Soil

Saline groundwater↑Evaporation↑

Benefits of perennial legumes

N

NN

N

N

N

Perennial legumes

(eg. lucerne, Lotus corniculatus)

Recharge control

Increased productivity

Erosion control

Nitrogen fixation

Benefits of perennial legumes

- low rainfall

- long dry seasons/drought

- highly acid or alkaline soils

Effect - reduced productivity

- reduced persistence

- low rainfall

- long dry seasons/drought

- highly acid or alkaline soils

Effect - reduced productivity

- reduced persistenceWA wheatbelt - May 2007

Limitations of existing perennial legumes?Limitations of existing perennial legumes?Limitations of existing perennial legumes?

Robertson M (2006) Lucerne prospects…

Lucerne in WA

The genus Cullen

Cullen patens

25 spp. in Australia

Native to arid areas

Palatable & nutritious

Productive

Good seed production

25 spp. in Australia

Native to arid areas

Palatable & nutritious

Productive

Good seed production

The genus Cullen

Ecogeographic study

Points are herbarium collections from CHAH, 2006

The genus Cullen

25 species cut to…

8 species that were…

• perennial • herbaceous • low rainfall• non-tropical• adapted to WA soils

Bennett et al. (2006)

Hypotheses

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

Cullen species will be productive during dry seasons

Germplasm

22C. tenax

1C. lachnostachys

103Total

1Lucerne cv. Sceptre

1Lucerne cv. Sardi10

1Lotus corniculatus

1C. pustulatum

6C. patens

3C. parvum

4C. pallidum

2C. discolor

22C. cinereum

39C. australasicum

# populationsSpecies

Exotic species

tropicalshrub

Trial site

Jan 2008Jan 2008

Buntine

NE, WA wheatbelt

Av. 320 mm p.a. rainfall

Deep, acidic sands

Monthly monitoring

BuntineBuntine

NE, WA wheatbeltNE, WA wheatbelt

Av. 320 mm p.a. rainfallAv. 320 mm p.a. rainfall

Deep, acidic sandsDeep, acidic sands

Monthly monitoringMonthly monitoring

Trial rainfall

2006 2007 2008

2007 total = 199.6 mm

plantedcut back

harvest

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Sep

t

Oct

Nov

Dec Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

t

Oct

Nov

Dec Jan

Feb

Mar

mm

rain

fall

Dry season

0

20

40

60

80

100

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

2006 2007 2008

Species survival

Lucerne Sardi10 Lucerne sceptre

0

20

40

60

80

100

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

2006 2007 2008

Species survival

C. cinereum C. parvumC. patens C. tenaxLucerne Sardi10

0

20

40

60

80

100

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

C. australasicum C. discolor C. pallidum

2006 2007 2008

Species survival

Lucerne Sardi10

0

20

40

60

80

100

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

2006 2007 2008

Species survival

C. pustulatumC. lachnostachysLucerne Sardi10

Hypotheses ???

C. tenax

C. lachnostachys

C. pustulatum

C. patens

C. parvum

C. pallidum

C. discolor

C. cinereum

C. australasicum

Species

Predicted

Not predicted

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

×

×××

Hypotheses ???

C. tenax

C. lachnostachys

C. pustulatum

C. patens

C. parvum

C. pallidum

C. discolor

C. cinereum

C. australasicum

Species

×

×××

Predicted

Not predicted

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

Hypotheses ???

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

Cullen species will be productive during dry seasons

Dry season performance of populations

Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 1 2 3 4 5 6April productivity (1-10 rating)

Surv

ival

% (M

arch

08)

Dry season performance of populations

Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

April productivity (1-10 rating)

Surv

ival

% (M

arch

08)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

C. patens C. tenaxC. cinereum C. parvum

Dry season performance of populations

Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

April productivity (1-10 rating)

Surv

ival

% (M

arch

08)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum

Dry season performance of populations

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

April productivity (1-10 rating)

Surv

ival

% (M

arch

08)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre

C. lachnostachys C. pustulatum

Dry season performance of populations

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

April productivity (1-10 rating)

Surv

ival

% (M

arch

08)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Lucerne Sardi10Lucerne sceptre

Hypotheses ???

C. tenax

C. lachnostachys

C. pustulatum

C. patens

C. parvum

C. pallidum

C. discolor

C. cinereum

C. australasicum

Species

×

×××

Predicted

Not predicted

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

Hypotheses ???

C. tenax

C. lachnostachys

C. pustulatum

C. patens

C. parvum

C. pallidum

C. discolor

C. cinereum

C. australasicum

Species

×

Predicted

Not predicted

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

×

×

×

Hypotheses ???

C. tenax

C. lachnostachys

C. pustulatum

C. patens

C. parvum

C. pallidum

C. discolor

C. cinereum

C. australasicum

Species

×

Predicted

Not predicted

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

Hypotheses ???

Cullen species predicted by ecogeography will survive

Cullen species will be productive during dry seasons

Conclusions

Will any Cullen species offer a perennial pasture legume with drought, and acid soil tolerance for WA?

Too early to say– Not a true Mediterranean dry season– Long cutting duration (4 months)– No dry season harvest (just ratings)

+ Variation & potential in populations of several spp.+ Some Cullen spp. will not be useful + Identified potential in unexpected spp. + Impressive performance for wild germplasm

Conclusions

Speculation on a systems fit for Cullen

• Long term rotations• Dry areas• Poor soil / low input• Not in competition with lucerne• Pasture mix with annuals• Out of season feed store

0102030405060708090

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35September leaf production (g/plant)

Surv

ival

(Mar

ch 0

8)

Wet season performance of accessions

Lucerne sceptre Lucerne Sardi10

C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum C. patensC. tenax Lotus corniculatus

C. cinereumC. parvum

C. lachnostachysC. pustulatum

The genus Cullen

productivitypersistenceproductivitypersistence

=3 monthly

-Robinson et al. 2007Cullen tenax

-=Dear et al. 2007Cullen australasicum

6 monthly

Britten, E. & De Lacy, I. 1979*C. australasicum, C. discolor, C. pallidum, C. patens

Lotus corniculatusLucerne

Species

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Prod

uctiv

ity (1

to 1

0 ra

ting)

Lotus australis performance

Lucerne SceptreLotus australis

Summary of species results

Species predicted by ecogeography

• C. tenax, C. parvum, C. patens, C. cinereum

survived poorly (< 30 %) & unproductive (rating < 3.5)

• C. australasicum, C. discolor, C. pallidum

survived well (> 60 %) & productive (rating ~4)

Species not predicted by ecogeography

• Good productivity over summer

• Some frost damage during winter

• Excellent survival

Summary of accessions results

Variability

• Many species had variable survival

• C. australasicum, C. cinereum, C. discolor and C. pallidum all seem to have useful accessions

Dry season• C. australasicum survived and was

productive in dry season

• C. cinereum was productive in dry season

• C. pustulatum and C. lachnostachys both survived better and were more productive than lucerne during the dry period

Non-predicted Cullen spp.

Lucerne Sardi10

Cullen pustulatum

Key dates31-07-06 seeds planted

06-09-06 trial planted

15-01-07 plants cut back (not harvested)

26-09-07 dry matter harvest

Monthly monitoring• productivity (0-10 rating)

• survival

• flowering

Trial management

Trial rainfall

2006 2007 2008

2007 total = 199.6 mm

plantedcut back

harvest

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Sep

t

Oct

Nov

Dec Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

t

Oct

Nov

Dec Jan

Feb

Mar

Dry season

Wet season

Lotus corniculatus performance

Lucerne SceptreLotus corniculatus

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Prod

uctiv

ity (1

to 1

0 ra

ting)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Prod

uctiv

ity (1

to 1

0 ra

ting)

Lotus corniculatus performance

Lucerne SceptreLotus corniculatus

Lucerne sceptreLucerne Sardi10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35September leaf production (g/plant)

Surv

ival

(Mar

ch 0

8)Wet season performance of accessions

C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum C. patensC. tenax Lotus corniculatus

C. cinereumC. parvum

Lotus australis

C. lachnostachysC. pustulatum

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Prod

uctiv

ity (1

to 1

0 ra

ting)

Lucerne Sardi10

Lucerne performance

Lucerne sceptre

2006 2007 2008

C. cinereum

C. parvum

C. patens

C. tenaxLucerne Sceptre

Cullen spp. poor performance

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Prod

uctiv

ity (1

to 1

0 ra

ting)

2006 2007 2008

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Prod

uctiv

ity (1

to 1

0 ra

ting)

C. australasicum C. discolor

C. pallidumLucerne Sceptre

Cullen spp. good performance

2006 2007 2008

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08

Surv

ival

(% o

f est

ablis

hed)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Prod

uctiv

ity (1

to 1

0 ra

ting)

Non-predicted Cullen spp.

Lucerne Sceptre C. pustulatum

C. lachnostachys2006 2007 2008

Lucerne sceptre Lucerne Sardi10C. australasicum

C. discolorC. pallidum

Dry season performance of populations

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00April productivity (1-10 rating)

Surv

ival

(Mar

ch 0

8)

The genus Cullen

Bennett et al. (2006)

• wide distributions

• various soil types

• various climates

Ecogeographic study

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35September leaf production (g/plant)

Surv

ival

(Mar

ch 0

8)Wet season performance of accessions

Lucerne sceptre Lucerne Sardi10

C. australasicum C. discolorC. pallidum C. patensC. tenax Lotus corniculatus

C. cinereumC. parvum

C. lachnostachysC. pustulatum