PASTURE AND LUCERNE RESEARCH ON SAND COUNTRY

Abstract

Some of the results of ten years' experimental work on the major soils of the Flock House Field Research Area are presented and briefly discussed. High-producing pastures are readily maintained on the wetter sand plain soils with adequate surface drainage and annual additions of 350 to 450 kg/ha of 30% potassic superphosphate. A range of herbage species is being evaluated on the drier sand plains. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in particular can markedly increase the productivity of these soils. Factors which affect soil moisture status at and after sowing have the greatest influence on lucerne establishment. Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood) can inhibit lucerne tap-root development, though several chemicals give effective but expensive control of the nematode. To maintain high production, up to 1000 kg/ha of 50% potassic superphosphate is required annually if lucerne is hayed, though requirements may be less when the crop is mainly grazed.