Improving saltbush
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Transcript of Improving saltbush
Old man Saltbush Improvementp
Presented by
Ram Nair
BackgroundSouthern Australia’s agricultural regions are
experiencing a growing trend of variable rainfall and increasing risk of crop failure particularly in the moreincreasing risk of crop failure particularly in the more vulnerable marginal areas.
M t t t i t i li tMost common strategic response to managing climate variability in lower rainfall cropping areas is diversification and maintaining a healthy emphasis on livestock enterprises.
Increasing prominence of livestock industries creates g popportunities for shrub forage species.
Old man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) is a keyOld man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) is a key species in productive and resilient grazing systems based on perennials.
Cultivar Development
Development of clonal cultivarOMS is native to Australia and grows naturally in harsh, arid areas. Seed was collected from 600 plants at 27 localities (provenances) aroundwas collected from 600 plants at 27 localities (provenances) around Australia. Comprehensive germplasm collections of OMS were established in SA (Monarto), Condobolin (NSW) and Tammin (WA). - 20,000 plants at each site Sequential selection was conducted for key traits and eliteeach site. Sequential selection was conducted for key traits and elite plants identified for clonal evaluation trials.
Development of seed cultivarSuitable male and female plants identified from the in-situ collections will be utilised for this.be utilised for this.
Over 80 000 plants screened at 4 locationsp2 subspecies
Originating from 27 sites
Methodology
Assessment of variability in:
productivity – edible biomass (Adelaide method)
i l f ( h i )animal preference (sheep grazing)
re-growth after grazing
Nutritive value
Saltbush evaluation site at Monarto, SA
Saltbush evaluation site at Condobolin, NSW
Saltbush evaluation site at Tammin, NSW
Results:
Significant variation was observed for edible biomass.
H it bilit f dibl bi 0 15 t 0 21Heritability for edible biomass: 0.15 to 0.21
What do the animals have to say?What do the animals have to say?
Grazing plan at Monarto SAGrazing plan at Monarto, SA
25 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 45 sheep( Low (rep 1)
( High (rep 1)
25 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 45 sheep
50 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 90 sheep
( Low (rep 2) 25 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 45 sheep
( High (rep 2) 50 /ha; 0.9 ha; therefore 45sheep
Pre-conditioning paddocks
Grazing preference scoring
Score 1 Score 2 Score 3Score 1 Score 2 Score 3
Score 4 Score 5
Saltbush evaluation site at Monarto, SA
- grazing preference by sheep
Saltbush evaluation site at Condobolin, NSW - grazing preference by sheep
Saltbush evaluation site at Tammin, NSW grazing preference by sheep- grazing preference by sheep
Results:
A. nummularia ssp nummularia was grazed in preference to A. nummularia ssp spathulata at all sites.
Heritability for grazing preference: 0.26 to 0.62
Results:
Breeding values were calculated for each individual shrub (20,000 plants at each site) for both
edible biomass and grazing preference for use in index selection.
Based on a selection index for edible biomass and grazing preference by sheep, 1000 plants were short-grazing preference by sheep, 1000 plants were shortlisted at each site.
Selections within A. nummularia
selection index1 Edible biomass + 1.5 Grazing preference
4550
30354045
ed g
ain
Edible biomass
152025
% P
redi
cte Edible biomass
Grazing preference
05
10%
Monarto Condobolin Tammin
Saltbush evaluation site at Tammin, NSW –regrowth after grazingregrowth after grazing
Results:
Based on re-growth after grazing 100 plants were selected at each site for nutritive value analysis- (April 2009).
Nutritive value is the key selection factor
(Marta Monjardino, 2008)
Predicting organic matter digestibility of shrubs(NIR method)(NIR method)
Predicted Organic Matter DigestibilityPredicted Organic Matter Digestibility
54.0
55.0
52.0
53.0
OM
D (%
)
50.0
51.0
Pred
icte
d O
47 0
48.0
49.0P
47.0Tammin across all
linesTammin EGG Tammin top 10
Predicted Organic Matter DigestibilityPredicted Organic Matter Digestibility
54.0
56.0
50.0
52.0
OM
D (%
)
46.0
48.0
Pred
icte
d O
42.0
44.0
P
40.0Condo across all
linesCondo EGG Condo top 10
Predicted Organic Matter DigestibilityPredicted Organic Matter Digestibility
58.0
56 0
57.0%
)
55.0
56.0ed
OM
D (%
53.0
54.0
Pred
icte
51.0
52.0
Monarto across alllines
Monarto EGG Monarto top 10
Soluble Ash (% of DM)Soluble Ash (% of DM)
Tammin top 10
Tammin EGG
Monarto EGG
Condo EGG
Monarto top 10
Condo top 10
Condo EGG
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0
89 elite plants were selected for clonal propagation -(May-June 2009)(May June 2009).
Clonal propagationClonal propagation
% % striking rate of cuttingscuttings
Range Mean
Monarto 8 93 – 70 34 31 28Monarto 8.93 70.34 31.28
Condobolin 7.69 – 82.41 34.17
Tammin 9.59 – 85.80 46.91
EGG control 69.80
A. spathulatha control
8.02
Clonal evaluation trial
Replicated trials of the 89 selected clones and the two controls (EGG + spath) were planted at Monartocontrols (EGG + spath) were planted at Monarto (SA), Dareton (NSW) and Tammin (WA) in spring 2009.
D i l At h it 2184 l t (91 8 3)Design – row column – At each site 2184 plants (91x 8 x 3)
Data on dry matter production, animal preference and nutritive value will be collected. These trials will help to identify the best clone(s) for potential commercial release as cultivar(s) by 2011.( ) y
Clonal trial at Monarto, SA
Clonal trial at Dareton, NSW
Seed Cultivar development
Old man saltbush plant is dioecious (female and male plants).
Hybridisation nurseries are being established in SAHybridisation nurseries are being established in SA.Hybrid lines will be developed for testing with the direct-seeding method (by 2012).
Industry use Plan - Market Potentialy
The market potential for Old man saltbush in Australia and overseas is extensive.
However, two major impediments to the uptake of new saltbush plantings in Australia are: 1) cost of seedlings and
2) the risk of unsuccessful establishment2) the risk of unsuccessful establishment.
Reduced planting incentives from the government may also limit uptake. (Survey by Dr Anna Dutkiewicz, Adoption Manager FFI CRC)(Su ey by a ut e c , dopt o a age C C)
Currently the major plantings of saltbush is by seedlings.
Cost of planting saltbush seedlings can vary between $650 to 850 per ha, in contrast direct seeding can cost between $150 to 185 per hain contrast direct seeding can cost between $150 to 185 per ha.
Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:
Hayley Norman, CSIROAllan Rintoul, CSIROPeter Jessop, NSW DPIp,Eric Bailey, NSW DPIMerv Tucker, DWLBCGlenn Gale, DWLBC
Richard Mazanec, DEC; WAMike Bennell, formerly DWLBCDavid McKenna formerly DWLBC
Glenn Gale, DWLBC
Ed Barrett-Lennard, DAFWAJoe Jacobs DPI Vic David McKenna, formerly DWLBCJoe Jacobs, DPI Vic