Theme 5-1: Drought Management and Climate Change--Oral Sessions
Description
In the dairy region of northern Victoria, Australia, the performance of temperate perennial dairy pastures is often poor over summer due to a combination of high temperatures and limited water availability that can restrict dry matter production and plant survival. A series of field experiments examined the effects of heat and restricted irrigation (as a consequence of drought) on the growth and nutritive characteristics of selected forage species, and whether survival under experimental conditions was influenced by plant genotype, irrigation and grazing management strategies, as well as endophyte presence. The major focus was on perennial ryegrass.
Detailed sampling of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) pastures on commercial farms during five extreme heat events (> 35 oC) over summer 2018/2019, highlighted the impact of high temperatures on pasture nutritive parameters. In vitro dry matter digestibility and water soluble carbohydrate concentrations decreased by 0.2% units per degree rise in average maximum daily temperature from 23 to 40 ºC and neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre concentrations increased by 0.2% and 0.15% units per degree, respectively.
When a range of perennial ryegrass cultivars, hybrid ryegrasses and tall fescue cultivars were evaluated under full and restricted irrigation and two grazing strategies, few differences in net pasture accumulation over summer or survival were observed. The research highlighted the importance of maintaining plant density during periods of restricted irrigation to ensure plant recovery once irrigation or rainfall becomes available. No endophyte-ryegrass combinations were found to be better adapted to restricted water and high temperature conditions.
The incidences of extreme heat events and low water availability are increasing in northern Victoria and this research will assist farmers to identify strategies to mitigate the negative effect of these conditions on the production and feed quality of perennial ryegrass-based pastures.
Included in
The Response of Selected Temperate Forages to Increasing Summer Drought Conditions and High Summer Temperatures in Northern Victoria, Australia
In the dairy region of northern Victoria, Australia, the performance of temperate perennial dairy pastures is often poor over summer due to a combination of high temperatures and limited water availability that can restrict dry matter production and plant survival. A series of field experiments examined the effects of heat and restricted irrigation (as a consequence of drought) on the growth and nutritive characteristics of selected forage species, and whether survival under experimental conditions was influenced by plant genotype, irrigation and grazing management strategies, as well as endophyte presence. The major focus was on perennial ryegrass.
Detailed sampling of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) pastures on commercial farms during five extreme heat events (> 35 oC) over summer 2018/2019, highlighted the impact of high temperatures on pasture nutritive parameters. In vitro dry matter digestibility and water soluble carbohydrate concentrations decreased by 0.2% units per degree rise in average maximum daily temperature from 23 to 40 ºC and neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre concentrations increased by 0.2% and 0.15% units per degree, respectively.
When a range of perennial ryegrass cultivars, hybrid ryegrasses and tall fescue cultivars were evaluated under full and restricted irrigation and two grazing strategies, few differences in net pasture accumulation over summer or survival were observed. The research highlighted the importance of maintaining plant density during periods of restricted irrigation to ensure plant recovery once irrigation or rainfall becomes available. No endophyte-ryegrass combinations were found to be better adapted to restricted water and high temperature conditions.
The incidences of extreme heat events and low water availability are increasing in northern Victoria and this research will assist farmers to identify strategies to mitigate the negative effect of these conditions on the production and feed quality of perennial ryegrass-based pastures.
