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The CCRSPI Conference 2011
Novel perennial based farming systems are a key tool in adaptation to climate change
Mike Ewing, John McGrath & Kevin Goss
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Why perennials?
Selected forms can:
Use water efficiently
Fully utilize the variably available water
Convert water into products of high value
Persist under drought conditions (drought avoidance and or drought tolerance)
Use resources unfavourable for traditional annual crop and pasture systems
Wide scope of new perennial plants and systems
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Trees – short cycle systems for wood, energy and carbon (also Richard Bennett, Transformational adaptation for the wheatbelt)
New woody crops
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Shrubs
Australian native species for fodder (also Zoey Durmic, ‘Antimethanogenic plants for grazing systems’)
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EverGraze
Perennial pastures – plants and systems for enhanced livestock production
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EverCrop
Crops – Perennials for crop dominant mixed farming
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Match opportunities to farm resources
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Common steps – not always neat
Gap/opportunity exploration & analysis (understand drivers)
Germplasm acquisition and evaluation
Plant improvement (breeding) and cultivar development
Field testing and proof of concept
System development and integration
10to
20years
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Lotus corniculatus – Birdsfoot trefoil
Gap identified
White clover drought sensitivity
Lucerne – acidity and waterlogging sensitive
Sub-clover poor summer quality
Target 12m ha? - 600-850 mm rainfall zone
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303 wild populations evaluated for reproductive characteristics
63 elite breeding lines from INIA, Uruguay
Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot trefoil)
Populations sown on-farm in acid soils
Best individuals from the bestpopulations are crossed
Progeny sown on-farm
Best individuals from the bestpopulations are crossed
Progeny sown on-farm
Cultivars
TIME
Genetic Improvement
5years
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Current activity
Field impact of elite cultivars
Prolific flowering & seed production
Field persistence under drought
Bloat prevention – methane reduction (tannins)
Systems for introduction, stand management and livestock exploitation
How much of the 12m ha target will
look like this?
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Sub-tropical grasses
Northern NSW Coastal WA
Before & after grazingSummer active grass (above) and winter active legume (below)
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Sub-tropical grasses N/NSW and coastal WA
Novel system being developed and adopted. Emerging issues under investigation include:
Optimising establishment
Improved cultivars (persistence, quality…)
Grazing strategies
Winter active companions (legumes)
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Bituminaria bituminosa (Tedera)
Selected for development from >100 species based on:
drought tolerance
infertility tolerance
productivity
persistence and summer grazing tolerance and
nutritional value
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Tedera - responding to available moisture
Early summer
Early summer after grazing
Regrowth after 6 weeks
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Tedera comparisons
Tedera vs. sub-clover Tedera vs. lucerne
Tedera is now entering the breeding phase in parallel with development of appropriate systems.
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General findings
Perennials an important opportunity
Current perennials – readily ‘improved’ (genetically diverse)
Success with novel plants/systems needs:
Ruthless targeting (bio-physical and economic)
Adequate resourcing and continuity (15 years)
Right team (producers, breeders, agronomists, seed companies......)
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