CASE STUDY 1

This paddock was sown

to phalaris in 2005.

Why did it fail?

Have a look at the paddock history

below and see what you think.

You can click on the questions in the

right hand column and they will give
you some more information.

Details of the paddock and history

Paddock history Questions to think about?
Soil test prior to Not done Would a soil test have helped?
sowing
Weed control Spayed Glyphosate with good results
prior to sowing apart from onion weed

Sowing time June 2005

Species and Landmaster 5-6 kg/ha Was this the best phalaris
Sowing Rate Arrow leaf clover and Riverina sub variety to sow?
clover 5kg/ha

Fertiliser 2005 Lime 1.25 tonne /ha

Fertiliser 2006 Lime 1.25 tonne /ha

Sowing fertiliser Single super 150kg/ha

Farmer Good strike and good density in Jan Why were plants being pulled
comments 2006 out?
Grazed in Feb 2006
Noticed plants being pulled out
Noticed fewer plants in autumn 2006
(drought year) see rainfall details

Grazing Rotational Will this help Landmaster

management phalaris persist?

For further information contact Tim Ekberg Co-ordinator Ph 0357273931

tim@farminganswers.com
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
under its FarmReady program.
Page 1
Assessment
2009
Plant density Phalaris basal density = less than 5% What is the ideal basal density of
(Basal density is a measure of how a phalaris pasture to aim for?
much of the soil surface is covered by
the plant)
Soil fertility Phosphorus (Olsen) = 8.5ppm What nutrients are limiting?
Potassium (Colwell)= 203ppm
Sulphur (KCl40) = 7.4 What levels of nutrients will
pH (CaCl2) = 4.4 enable a perennial pasture to
Al ( % of CEC ) 0 to 10 cm = 11.7% grow to 95% of potential
Al ( % of CEC ) at 50 cm = 20.2% production and persist?

Weeds Toad Rush Erodium (Storks bill), Silver See photos

grass, Onion Grass
There are only a few good patches of
Phalaris in high fertility areas and
depressions

Rainfall Eldorado
Ma Au Se No De Annu
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr y Jun Jul g p Oct v c al
185. 122. 80. 74. 49. 868.
2005 40.2 8 13 11.6 6 4 54.2 101 6 130 6 4 8
24. 28. 278.
2006 18 12 28.4 32 18.2 33.6 48 4 8 0.6 31 3.4 4
113. 14. 18. 17. 40. 50. 495.
2007 15.6 31 48.2 29.2 2 47 69.8 6 6 2 6 4 4

Photos
The odd phalaris plant among weeds. The square is one tenth of a square
metre. It is used to do species counts and to calculate the basal density of the
pasture.

For further information contact Tim Ekberg Co-ordinator Ph 0357273931

tim@farminganswers.com
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
under its FarmReady program.
Page 2
 Would a soil test have helped?
Yes a soil test would have helped. It would have indicated what nutrients were
limiting. The current soil test shows that phosphorus levels are low and
aluminium is too high. Phalaris roots don’t like high aluminium levels and all
plant roots grow longer where phosphorus levels are high(see photos below).

Low Phosphorus High

Phosphorus

Photos courtesy of Jason Trompf

For further information contact Tim Ekberg Co-ordinator Ph 0357273931

tim@farminganswers.com
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
under its FarmReady program.
Page 3
Was this the best phalaris variety to sow?
Landmaster is the more tolerant of acid soils and aluminium than other
phalaris cultivars. Although once established, Australian phalaris is able
tolerate high aluminium levels.

Land master has been bred for shallow fairly acid and infertile soils.

The CSIRO are currently working on a new phalaris cultivar for strongly acid
soils.

Why were plants being pulled out?

The plants may have had weak root systems due to the low phosphorus level
and high aluminium level.
If soil fertility had been higher a winter sown phalaris pasture would be
expected to have a root system that could handle grazing.
Often a spring sown phalaris pasture has a poor root system and is best left
ungrazed until after the autumn break.

Will this help Landmaster phalaris persist?

Landmaster phalaris is a semi-erect variety. It will not persist as well under set
stocking as Australian phalaris which is a more prostrate variety.

What is the ideal basal density of a phalaris pasture to aim for?

Basal density is a measure of how much of the soil surface is covered by the
plant. An ideal phalaris pasture would have a basal density of 60% or more.
Under good conditions and good management a phalaris pasture should have
a basal density of 50% to 60% 2 years after sowing.

The greater the density of the pasture: the more productive the pasture. The
sooner a paddock reaches full production: the sooner the break-even cost of
sowing is reached, ie the sooner you get your money back on the cost of
sowing.

For further information contact Tim Ekberg Co-ordinator Ph 0357273931

tim@farminganswers.com
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
under its FarmReady program.
Page 4
 This paddock was
sown to phalaris (3
kg/ha Sirosa
phalaris) and
subclover (6 kg /ha)
in June 2009.

It was sprayed to
control toad rush
immediately after
sowing.

This photo was

taken late October
2009.

This is what a winter

sown phalaris
pasture should look
like in spring.

With good grazing

management it is
expected this
paddock will reach
50% pasture basal
density in spring
2010.

What nutrients are limiting?

Phosphorus is very low and sulphur is marginal. Aluminium levels are high.
This is due to the low pH.

What levels of nutrients will enable a perennial pasture to grow

to 95% of potential production and persist?
Target levels of nutrients for a perennial pasture to grow to 95% of its
potential growth are:
Phosphorus (Olsen) = 15ppm*
Potassium (Colwell) = 130ppm for sand up to 160ppm for clay loam*
Sulphur (KCl40) = 8ppm*
pH (CaCl2) = 4.8
For further information contact Tim Ekberg Co-ordinator Ph 0357273931
tim@farminganswers.com
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
under its FarmReady program.
Page 5
Al (% of CEC) 0 to 10 cm soil depth = less than 5% but preferably lower.
Al (% of CEC) at 50cm soil depth= less than 5% but preferably lower

*Source Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Grazed Pastures in Australia Gourley et
al

Disclaimer: The contents of this article do not constitute management, business or financial advice. Before taking any
action in relation to information described in this publication, you should seek advice from a qualified professional.
The authors accept no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on the contents or information
contained in this publication.

For further information contact Tim Ekberg Co-ordinator Ph 0357273931

tim@farminganswers.com
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
under its FarmReady program.
Page 6