Snail medic
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Pasture type and use | Winter/spring growing annual legume. Dryland grazing and crop rotation. |
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Area of adaptation | Mainly in the North West and Central West Slopes and Plains. |
Min. average annual rainfall | 400 mm (southern NSW) to 500 mm (northern NSW) |
Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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Soil requirements | Prefers neutral–alkaline and heavier soils. Better regeneration on self-mulching soils. Will not tolerate exchangeable soil aluminium >10%. |
Varieties | Select varieties on the basis of maturity, yield and persistence.
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Sowing rates: | |
- as only species | 4–7 kg/ha |
- in mixtures | 3 kg/ha |
Sowing time | Autumn for all districts. |
Companion species | Lucerne (winter-active) in appropriate soil types. |
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 | 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. |
Livestock disorders of particular note | Photosensitisation in horses; occasionally red gut in sheep; frequently bloat in cattle. |
Additional tips |
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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: Mary-Anne Lattimore, NSW Agriculture, Yanco.