Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Annual grasses
Annual and Italian
ryegrasses
Winter-spring growth; very competitive;
fibrous root system, green manuring,
and mowing; combine well with
legumes
Tolerant of a range of soil
conditions, except low
fertility for Italian ryegrass
Annual ryegrass produces
large quantities of
allergenic pollen
Brassicas
Fodder radish, rape,
and mustard
Winter growing; fodder radish has large
tap root that breaks up hardpans;
green manuring
Glucosinolates released from
the roots inhibit parasitic
nematodes
Large N requirement;
need to be sprayed out
or incorporated before
seed set
Perennials
Perennial ryegrass,
fescue, and
cocksfoot
Suitable for cool, high-rainfall areas;
mainly winter-spring growth; fibrous
root system; green manuring; combine
well with legumes
Prefer loams and clays; cocksfoot
the most tolerant of acid soils
May compete too strongly
with vines
Strawberry clover and
white clover
Winter-spring and summer (provided
irrigation is supplied); N fixing; green
manuring and mowing; combine well
with perennial grasses
Strawberry clover tolerates
adverse soil conditions better
than white clover
Australian native
species
Wallaby grass and
kangaroo grass
All year round growth; kangaroo grass
seeds extensively in spring-early
summer; possible allelopathic effect of
wallaby grass on weeds
Tolerant of low fertility and acid
soils
Slow to establish; high cost
of seed; compete with
vines for water in dry
climates
Saltbush (
Atriplex
species)
Summer growing perennials, compete
with summer weeds; encourage
beneficial invertebrates that control
pest insects
Tolerant of salinity and low
fertility
Compete with vines for
water; concentrate salts
in surface soil; high seed
cost
Note
. N = nitrogen.
From Nicholas (2004), McGourty and Reganold (2005), and Penfold (2010a, 2010b).
