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Publication Date

1993

Location

New Zealand

Description

A large part of the Australian continent is semi-arid and tropical. While extensive beef cattle grazing is the most significant agricultural industry in this region, there Is some potential for dryland cropping. There are strong economic and- ecological reasons for exploring the possibility of a no-till tropical ley system. Work at Katherine, Northern Territory, found that a ley system based on Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano showed considerable promise based on both contributions to dry-season animal performance and nitrogen contribution to succeeding coarse grain crops. Subsequent research and development in the wetter Douglas-Daly district of the Northern Territory has demonstrated even greater benefits using the legume Cemrosema pascuorum. A number of. farmers have adopted this system, and commercial performance over 2 years has been promising.

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A Legume Ley System in Australia's Semi-Arid Tropics

New Zealand

A large part of the Australian continent is semi-arid and tropical. While extensive beef cattle grazing is the most significant agricultural industry in this region, there Is some potential for dryland cropping. There are strong economic and- ecological reasons for exploring the possibility of a no-till tropical ley system. Work at Katherine, Northern Territory, found that a ley system based on Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano showed considerable promise based on both contributions to dry-season animal performance and nitrogen contribution to succeeding coarse grain crops. Subsequent research and development in the wetter Douglas-Daly district of the Northern Territory has demonstrated even greater benefits using the legume Cemrosema pascuorum. A number of. farmers have adopted this system, and commercial performance over 2 years has been promising.