Publication Date
1993
Description
There Is a perception in the farming and research communities of a general decline in the productivity of annual pastures in the mediterranean climatic zone of Australia. Plant growth and water use often are linearly related in water-limited environments. Consequently, pastures are seen as having low water use and contributing to problems of land degradation. Our aim was to determine potential pasture production in relation to rainfall and the influence of management factors on growth and water use. Experiments were initiated at S locations along a gradient of 300-Ll00 mm annual rainfall. At each site a maximum production treatment was compared with a low input control. There was a linear relationship between water use and dry matter (OM) yield up to 440 mm of growing season (April-October) rainfall. After 50 mm of water use the potential DM yield was 28.S kg/ha/mm. An upper limit to pasture production may be reached at about 12 000 kg/ha in this environment as a result_ of ra_infall distribution patterns. Seasonal water use was similar for treatment and controls at all sites. Management practices aimed at promoting early growth and maintaining an optimal leaf area should maximise water use, water-use efficiency and yield.
Citation
Bolger, T P.; Turner, N C.; and Leach, B J., "Water Use and Productivity of Annual Legume-Based Pasture Systems in the South-West of Western Australia" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session10/4
Included in
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Water Use and Productivity of Annual Legume-Based Pasture Systems in the South-West of Western Australia
There Is a perception in the farming and research communities of a general decline in the productivity of annual pastures in the mediterranean climatic zone of Australia. Plant growth and water use often are linearly related in water-limited environments. Consequently, pastures are seen as having low water use and contributing to problems of land degradation. Our aim was to determine potential pasture production in relation to rainfall and the influence of management factors on growth and water use. Experiments were initiated at S locations along a gradient of 300-Ll00 mm annual rainfall. At each site a maximum production treatment was compared with a low input control. There was a linear relationship between water use and dry matter (OM) yield up to 440 mm of growing season (April-October) rainfall. After 50 mm of water use the potential DM yield was 28.S kg/ha/mm. An upper limit to pasture production may be reached at about 12 000 kg/ha in this environment as a result_ of ra_infall distribution patterns. Seasonal water use was similar for treatment and controls at all sites. Management practices aimed at promoting early growth and maintaining an optimal leaf area should maximise water use, water-use efficiency and yield.
