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Lucerne and sainfoin production on two alpine soils in East Gippsland, Victoria

L.J. Hamilton

Department of Agriculture, Bairnsdale, Vic. 3875

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is being evaluated as a perennial dryland legume to replace lucerne (Medicago sativa) on two alpine soils in East Gippsland.

This species has been reported to be non-bloating, easily established on suitable soils and resistant to most of the insect pests and diseases that affect lucerne (1). In terms of animal production, the species has excellent feed value and will persist when rotationally grazed (2). Evaluation of sainfoin began in October 1980.

Methods

Two lucerne and sainfoin cultivars were sown in two replicated blocks at Bindi and Cobungra. At both sites all seed was inoculated and sown with superphosphate and molybdenum.

The cultivars of lucerne were WL 318 and WL 219, as previous work (unpublished) has indicated that winter-dormant cultivars were 10% more productive than Hunter River. The two cultivars of sainfoin were Fakir and Remont. The sowing rate used was 10 kg/ha (viable seed) lucerne and 40 kg/ha (viable unhulled seed) sainfoin.

Site details are listed below:

Results and Discussion

Yield measurements (kg dm/ha) taken from these species are as follows:

   

Bindi

Cobungra

Species

Cultivar

15/4/81

21/10/81

29/10/81

Sainfoin

Fakir

983

2454

4321

 

Remont

669

3032

4098

Lucerne

WL 219

435

718

3439

 

WL 318

429

1853

4053

Between species

1.s.d. 1%

135

438

492

These results indicate that at Bindi, sainfoin is a more productive species than lucerne during the year after establishment. At Cobungra, the yield difference between the two species is not significant. However this soil is strongly acidic and the sainfoin and lucerne production is better than expected. The evidence shows that sainfoin may be useful species on some soils in East Gippsland, and further evaluation has begun.

1. Lodge, G.M. 1980. Agric. Gazette of NSW, December, 29-31.

2. Spedding, C.R.W., and Dickmahns, E.C. 1971. Grasses and Legumes in British Agriculture. Bulletin 49. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.

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