Lucerne's dry-land stamina tested

摘要

Preliminary results from a Tamworth dry-land field trial evaluating 21 lucerne cultivars during two years indicates that dormancy class 5 (semi-winter dormant) cultivars have the highest herbage yield and best economic performance. However, additionalmeasurements for herbage yield and final statistical analysis in the coming years may change this result, dependent on climatic conditions. Lucerne is an important part of farming systems on the northern slopes of New South Wales (NSW) in that it provides a 'disease-break1 and improvement of soil fertility after a cropping phase, and provides quality grazing for livestock in the mixed farming systems typical of the region. Highly winter-active lines (dormancy classes 8 or above) have been previously shown to perform well under dry-land short-term rotation conditions in southern Queensland.