Matching plants to the environment
Bob Reid
Founded 2002
Directors Robert Dent
Bob Reid
Based in Northern Tasmania
Linked with Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
• Origin of our pasture plants
• Plant Introduction Programs
Megatas Cocksfoot
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•
•
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Summer active
Highly palatable
Good drought tolerance
Good frost tolerance
Non clumping
Endophyte free (no staggers)
Megatas Cocksfoot
Relative seasonal DM production of Megatas
vs Bronsyn perennial ryegrass
(mean of 3 years data, Elliott research station)
Relative DM production (%of Bronsyn)
140
120
100
80
Bronsyn
Megatas
60
40
20
0
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Summer
Exceltas Coloured Brome
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•
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A long lived perennial
Highly palatable even in the seed head stage
Highly productive
Compatible with legumes
Endophyte free (no staggers)
Tolerant to root eating grubs
Figure 1. Seasonal herbage production of Exceltas B. coloratus vs 9 L. perenne cultivars
9000
LSD's (p=0.05)
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Arrow
early summer 436
spring
1814
winter
1346
Autumn
1700
Late summer 1229
Avalon Banquet II
266
685
2115
1995
1344
1258
1470
1905
1069
1282
Bealey
1069
2593
1416
1674
1289
Exceltas
1420
3136
1818
1126
983
Expo
550
2594
1361
1522
1170
Ohau
569
2240
1250
1823
1220
Victoca
535
3585
1323
1302
1202
Wintas
302
1873
1061
1179
1002
Wintas II
313
2340
1300
1456
835
early summer
spring
winter
autumn
late summer
289
777
236
380
ns
total annual
458
Exceltas Coloured Brome
Relative seasonal DM production of Exceltas vs
Bronsyn perennial ryegrass
(mean of 3 years data, Elliott research station)
Relative DM production (% of Bronsyn)
140
120
100
80
Bronsyn
Excletas
60
40
20
0
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Summer
The Future
• Trifolium tumens - Talish clover
• Trifolium ambiguum - Caucasian clover
• Trifolium pratense - Stoloniferous red clover
Matching plants to the environment