A group for members interested in pasture species applicable to a high winter rainfall... View more
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A group for members interested in pasture species applicable to a high winter rainfall Mediterranean environment, and seeding methods & cultural practices that lead to successful germination and establishment of perennial & biodiverse pastures.
We were keen to experiment with dry seeding this year so decided to go early. Late March we seeded (using a disc drill) 10ha of the farm with a multispecies mix of mostly annual soil builders – Oats, Peas, Vetch, Serradella, Tillage Radish,
Linseed, clover plus some warm season starters Sunflowers & Buckwheat, and a small amount of…
They don’t talk about it in the article but what about the impact on soil biology or the potential disincentive for seedlings to develop healthy relationships with soil biology for future nutritional benefits…
I’m looking to order this years seed for planting in April and thought I ‘d ask the group what people are looking to put in this year, and what has been successful or not worked?
I was looking at doing a custom mix again but the Bells Pollinator Mix in combination with the Premium Mix at a ratio of 1:2 looks like it might be a cheaper option.…
Hello Brett. What is the aim of the planting? There would be different recommendations based on purpose. Are you doing a cover, improved annual based pasture or looking to establish permanent perennial based pasture?
It looks like you have a fairly good handle on what to use in covers. I would probably not add a perennial species to a cover…
Next update on irrigation paddocks that were seeded on 8 October with the Soilkee.
Best laid plans was to have the seed in at the start of October which should then have seen about 4 weeks of rain plus top up irrigation to get them established. Well last real rain was 3 October so has been irrigation only.
Yes, pulling off a summer cover crop in this environment is proving to be very challenging, plus the soil disturbance one needs to carry out to deal with the existing stand of growth from the rainy season in order to successfully seed in spring.
No one is summer cropping the same species we use in summer cover crops in this area, for good…
No real rain post seeding 4 weeks ago so it has all been irrigation.
Competition is causing the expected challenges with some areas being hard to see any seed coming up at all. But other areas are relatively easy to see.
Jury’s still out on the benefit of the Soilkee. Spacing looks too wide to me,…
Thanks Eric, exactly what I wanted to know & pretty much our experience as well. Interesting about the perennial rye – good point. Fine for irrigated pastures I guess.
Dormancy of our temperate grasses is important in our dry summers. Chicory and plantain no problem but the grasses will lose persistence if they are summer active. I have seen failed paddocks of summer active tall fescue and seen perennial rye act as a biannual ( persisted one summer) of course there will be exceptions – valley floors that…
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