Abstract
Grasses, legumes, saltbushes and herbs were evaluated at 6 sites in southern inland Queensland to identify potential pasture and forage plants for use on marginal cropping soils. The region experiences summer heat waves and severe winter frosts. Emphasis was on perennial plants, and native species were included. Seedlings were transplanted into the unfertilized fields in either summer or autumn to suit the growing season of plants, and watered to ensure estab-lishment. Summer-growing grasses were the most successful group, while cool season-growing perennials mostly failed. Summer legumes were disappointing, with Stylosanthes scabra and Indigofera schimperi performing best. Some lines such as I. schimperi and the Eragrostis hybrid cv. Cochise were assessed as potential weeds owing to low animal acceptance. Native Rhynchosia minima grew well at some sites and deserves more study. Cenchrus ciliaris was always easy to establish and produced the highest yields. Persistence of some Digitaria and Bothriochloa species, Eragrostis curvula and Fingerhuthia africana at specific sites was encouraging, but potential weediness needs careful assessment. Standard species were identified to represent the main forage types, such as Austrostipa scabra for cool season-growing grasses, for incorporation into future trials with new genetic materials. The early field testing protocol used should be considered for use elsewhere, if unreliable rainfall poses a high risk of establishment failure from scarce seed.
Highlights
In the Condamine-Maranoa region of southern inland Queensland, Australia (25–29° S), sclerophyllous woodlands and dense tall shrublands dominate the natural vegetation
Native pastures dominated by summeractive grasses are a common forage base for livestock
Their replacement by sown pastures after tree clearing or the infusion of forage legumes seems a good option in some cases (Miller et al 1988)
Summary
In the Condamine-Maranoa region of southern inland Queensland, Australia (25–29° S), sclerophyllous woodlands and dense tall shrublands dominate the natural vegetation. Native pastures dominated by summeractive grasses are a common forage base for livestock. Their replacement by sown pastures after tree clearing or the infusion of forage legumes seems a good option in some cases (Miller et al 1988). After such disturbance, woody regrowth can thrive and the poisonous pimelea (Pimelea trichostachya) (MLA Australia 2010) can proliferate, especially on abandoned cultivation land. The better structured soils of the region are almost fully utilized for crops, so some less fertile, poorly structured soils are cropped intermittently in response to market forces. Some plants native to the region were included to ensure that our assessment was not biased by perceived virtues of exotic species (Davis et al 2011)
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