EAST Gippsland farmers are trialling subtropical grasses to measure how they could fill feed gaps and increase overall farm profitability.
The subtropical grasses were sown in November last year and have been grazed twice for 24 hours.
Winter planting of companion legumes this month at Bairnsdale, Bengworden and Seaspray was also aimed at determining and measuring their suitability for livestock.
Despite frosts, rainfall has helped rapid germination of the winter-sown seeds although the cold weather has slowed growth of the subtropical grasses across all sites.
The winter legume planting followed measurement of pasture establishment, persistence, productivity and palatability, according to trial supervisor, Janice Dowe.
"The project is looking at establishment and management of subtropical grasses in Gippsland," Ms Dowe said.
Bambasti, panic, premier digit, kikuyu, rhodes and tall fescue were the subtropical species sown on November 19 and 20 last year.
The sowing rates used were higher than commercial sowing rates – panic grass cultivar (cv) gatton was sown at 15kg/ha; premier digit at 12kg/ha; bambasti at 13kg/ha; rhodes grass cv katambora at 11kg/ha; kikuyu cv whittet at 12kg/ha; and tall fescue cv barnaby at 17kg/ha.
"The panic, kikuyu and rhodes grasses were the most successful for germination, growth and palatability," Ms Dowe said.
"The panic grass has been a good producer on all three trial sites.
"Both premier digit and bambasti are known to be slow to grow and they have not coped well with any competition.
"Some of the plots had poor plant establishment numbers and consequently we've measured low dry matter production," she said.
The summer pasture trials were grazed twice.
Panic produced 0.7-3 tonnes/ha dry matter (t/haDM); premier digit, 0.2-1.5 t/haDM; bambasti, 0.2-0.8 t/haDM; tall fescue, 0.2-0.8 t/haDM; kikuyu, 0.7-4 t/haDM; rhodes, 0.7-6.2 t/haDM.
This month, variances between the three sites, including soil test results, meant different companion legume species were planted.
"The Bairnsdale site is clay and a soil test indicated only a maintenance application of superphosphate of 50kg/ha was required," Ms Dowe said.
"It is also a site that gets waterlogged in winter and it was certainly wet there last week. But germination has been strong," she said.
The legume species planted at Bairnsdale were late maturing leura subclover, balansa clover cv cobra, yellow serradella cv avila, gland clover cv prima, cavalier medic and persian clover.
"Seaspray has a sandy soil and the soil test indicated 140kg/ha of superphosphate was required for 95 per cent potential production and liming the site," Ms Dowe said.
The legume species planted at Seaspray were a sub clover cv early maturing black seeded urana, yellow serradella cv avila, balansa clover cv cobra, gland clover cv prima, bladder clover cv bartolo and arrowleaf clover cv arrowtas.
"Bengworden has a sandy loam soil and the soil test indicated 500kg/ha of superphosphate was required for 95pc potential production and liming the site," Ms Dowe said.
"The high rate of superphosphate is because it has a high phosphorous buffering index value," she said.
The legume species planted at Bengworden were sub clover cv hatrix, yellow serradella cv avila, balansa clover cv cobra, gland clover cv prima, bladder clover cv bartolo and arrowleaf clover cv arrowtas.
Fertiliser and lime were broadcast on June 13.
The trial is funded for three years by Meat & Livestock Australia and administered by Southern Farming Systems.
