Yield comparisons of thirty-eight introductions of Glycine javanica in swards in three environments

Abstract

Thirty-eight introductions of Glycine javanica were established in swards with an associate grass at Lawes and Kumbia in south-eastern Queensland and at 'Lansdown' near Woodstock in northern Queensland. The introductions showed highly significant differences in annual yield and total yield of dry matter. At Lawes there were also significant differences in ease and vigour of establishment, in nitrogen content, and in seasonal yield distribution. Late maturing introductions grew better late in the season when early and mid-season maturity types were either flowering or had flowered. At 'Lansdown' all the introductions tolerated a dry season of 27 weeks in 1965, but failed to survive a dry season of 36 weeks in 1966. At Lawes, the most promising introductions in terms of high yield and strong stolon development in each maturity type were, Tinaroo (late), C.P.I. 26433 (mid-season), Cooper (early), and C.P.I. 27835 (early). At 'Lansdown' C.P.I. 25423 (early) and C.P.I. 25918 (very early) appeared most tolerant of extended dry periods. At Lawes, swards of Cooper (C.P.I. 25702) and green panic grass (Panicum maximum var trichoglume) yielded 7,000 to 8,000 lb of dry matter an acre with a legume content of 50 to 56 per cent in their third, fourth, and fifth seasons. In these swards the dry matter production and legume content showed no signs of declining after the third season.