FarmTalk #9 – Lucerne in the Mallee

Fact Sheet # 9 – Feb 2004

Andrew Schipp – District Agronomist, NSW Agriculture
Peter Field – Farming Systems Officer – Department of Primary Industries, Vic
Sean Murphy – Farming Systems Hydrologist, NSW Agriculture

Summary
Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) has a deep root system and a high demand for stored soil water. This makes it an attractive option to return lost water to the production cycle in the Mallee, which often occurs on these lighter, sandier soils. Lucerne can be incorporated into current farming systems with minimal change to machinery or management. Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.

Focus paddock soil monitoring results indicate that:

• up to 69% of focus paddocks have a high probability of lucerne persistence with greater than 250 mm of plant available stored soil water; and
• at least 40% of focus paddocks offer the opportunity for successful lucerne establishment where sub soil constraints were low.

The issue
Lucerne can offer a wealth of benefits to Mallee farming systems. Plant breeding programs have developed varieties that are better suited for low rainfall cropping regions like the Mallee. However, surveys of farmers in the Mallee, conducted by MSF Inc., have shown that only 2% of farmers grow lucerne.

Why is the planting of lucerne not being adopted? Consistent feedback from the farming community suggests that concerns about establishment, management and removal from the farming system all contribute to the low rate of adoption of this legume based pasture.