Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter and Manning Valleys

High Performance Temperate Pasture

High quality, permanent, temperate pasture with year-round production, suitable for high fertility soils with full irrigation

What to sow

Seed rate kg/ha

Comments

Perennial ryegrass
e.g. Impact, Bronsyn, Aries, Samson, Avalon, Fitzroy, Meridian & others
Plus

 

12–20

 

Kangaroo Valley and earlier seeding varieties may persist without irrigation

White clover
e.g. Haifa, Nusiral, Osceola


2


A large to medium-leaved variety

Useful additions:
Forage chicory e.g. Puna or Grouse
Red Clover e.g. Redquin, Hamua
Plantain e.g. Tonic, Lancelot
Lucerne e.g. Genesis, Aurora



½–1
and/or
2–3





Red clover grows at higher temperatures than white clover

Winter active varieties

See page 5 of Pasture and Winter Forage Crop Sowing Guide - Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter & Manning Valleys (Primefact 160), for more complete information about this pasture.

Hardy Permanent Temperate Pasture

A hardy permanent, high quality, winter pasture in medium fertility soils

What to sow

Seed rate (kg/ha)

Comments

Phalaris
e.g. Holdfast, Sirosa
and/or

3–4


pH > 5, sensitive to acid soils

Tall fescue
Summer active types e.g. Dovey, Au Triumph,Advance,
Quantum

5–8

Requires heavy grazing to maintain feed quality.
Consider Max P option if available.

plus
White clover
e.g. Haifa, Nusiral

1–2

May already be present

Lotus Maku
or

½–1

Performs well in damp areas

Sub clover e.g. Goulburn, Seaton Park LF, Clare

5–7

For areas with dry summer e.g. upper Hunter

Alternate temperate grass species

Cocksfoot


Prairie Grass

Perennial ryegrass (Kangaroo Valley types)

2–3


10–20
-

Only in cooler areas, tolerates lower fertility and lower pH than phalaris
Don’t overgraze. Management critical for persistence. Sensitive to acid soils, requires pH(CaCl2) > 5
May be semi-permanent.

See page 6 of Pasture and Winter Forage Crop Sowing Guide - Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter & Manning Valleys (Primefact 160), for more complete information about this pasture.

High Performance Tropical Pasture

Medium quality, permanent, summer growing pasture on medium to high fertility soil

What to sow

Seed rate (kg/ha)

Comments

Kikuyu
e.g. Whittet
Plus

2–5

Slow to establish

White clover
e.g. Haifa, Nusiral, Osceola

1–2

A large to medium-leaved variety

Lotus e.g. Maku

½ - 1

High rainfall or damp areas only

See page 7 of Pasture and Winter Forage Crop Sowing Guide - Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter & Manning Valleys (Primefact 160), for more complete information about this pasture.

Hardy Tropical Pasture

Hardy, medium quality, summer growing, permanent pasture able to persist on medium to low fertility soil

What to sow

Seed rate kg/ha

Comments

Setaria
e.g. Narok, Solander
Plus

2

Northern areas. Very tolerant of acid soils

White clover
e.g. Haifa, Nusiral

1–2

Use a large to medium-leaved variety

Lotus
e.g. Maku

½–1

High rainfall or damp areas only

Alternative tropical grass species that can be sown in southern areas

Common paspalum

2–6

Suits poorly drained soils

Rhodes grass
e.g. Callide

2–3

 

See page 8 of Pasture and Winter Forage Crop Sowing Guide - Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter & Manning Valleys (Primefact 160), for more complete information about this pasture.

Legumes for Improving Grass Pastures

Oversowing pasture legumes into an established perennial grass pasture (such as carpet grass, couch, kikuyu or some native pastures).

What to sow

Seed rate kg/ha

Comments

White clover
Dairy: e.g. Haifa, Kopu, Nusiral, Challenge, Waverley, Will, Osceola
Beef: e.g. Mink, Sustain, Huia, Haifa, Nusiral

1–2

Dairy types are more erect. Use large to medium-leaved varieties

Lotus
e.g. Maku

½–1

Does not cause bloat
Only in high rainfall or damp areas

Red clover e.g. Redquin, Astred, Colenso, Renegade, Sensation

2–3

Tend to be more summer active and less persistent than white clover

Sub clover
e.g. Seaton Park LF, Clare, Goulburn, Riverina

5–8

Annual clover, must set seed in spring.
For areas with dry summer e.g. upper Hunter Valley

See page 8 and 9 of Pasture and Winter Forage Crop Sowing Guide - Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter & Manning Valleys (Primefact 160), for more complete information about this pasture.

Lucerne

High quality, semi-permanent pasture suitable for rotational grazing or fodder conservation.

What to sow

Seed rate kg/ha

Comments

Grazing
e.g. Aurora, Genesis, Super 10, and Pioneer L90 or Aquarius

10–15

Winter active varieties for winter grazing

Hay
e.g. Pioneer Brand 54Q53, Venus, Pioneer L55

 

Semi to winter dormant varieties

See page 9 and 10 of Pasture and Winter Forage Crop Sowing Guide - Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter & Manning Valleys (Primefact 160), for more complete information about this pasture.