Murex medic
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Pasture type and use | Winter-growing annual legume. Dryland grazing, hay production, legume break crop and crop rotation. |
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Area of adaptation | Mainly in the Central West and South West Slopes, and Southern Tablelands. |
Min. average annual rainfall | 500 mm (southern NSW) |
Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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Soil requirements | Grows on a range of soil types from red-brown earths to cracking clays. Will grow on acid soils if correct inoculum used. Not for pH < 4.5(Ca) and >15% soil aluminium. |
Varieties | Zodiac |
Sowing rates: | |
- as only species | 3–6 kg/ha |
- in mixtures | 2 kg/ha |
Sowing time | Autumn for all districts. |
Companion species | Sub clover, lucerne (winter-active). Also suitable for sowing with a low rate of oats (e.g. 10 kg/ha) as a high-yielding forage legume break crop. |
Inoculation | Medic (or group AM). |
Major nutrient deficiencies | Usually phosphorus, sulfur in some areas, occasionally zinc and molybdenum. |
Main insect pests | Redlegged earth mite, blue oat mite, lucerne flea, spotted alfalfa aphid, bluegreen aphid, pea aphid. |
Main diseases | Crown rot, root rot, alfalfa mosaic virus, phoma. |
Management | Once established can be continuously grazed. Avoid overgrazing at seed-set in initial year to build seed reserves. Incorporation of pods with light discing after seed-set protects pods from being eaten by sheep and improves regeneration. Cropping after the first year is an alternative method to burying pods, and ensures good regeneration. |
Livestock disorders of particular note | Photosensitisation in horses; occasionally red gut in sheep; frequently bloat in cattle. |
Additional tips | Sowing without a cover crop greatly improves establishment. |
Further information |
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Advice on livestock health disorders was provided by Dr Chris Bourke, Principal Research Scientist, NSW Agriculture, Orange. His contribution is gratefully acknowledged.
Photo: Warren McDonald, Former Technical Specialist (Pastures), NSW Agriculture, Tamworth.