IN A groundbreaking initiative aimed at maximising pasture productivity, the 'Healthy Subsoils Produce More Red Meat' PDS project, spearheaded by Matt Mahoney of Agridome Consultancy and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), has released the first comprehensive round of results.
This Producer Demonstration Site project is the first of its kind in high rainfall pastures, striving to enhance grassland productivity through innovative subsoil amelioration treatments.
Initiated with support from collaborating partners including Melbourne Polytechnic, LaTrobe University, the Grasslands Society of Southern Australia, and Agridome Consultancy, the project focuses on demonstrating best practices in soil science to improve yields, drawing parallels with successful techniques employed in the grains industry.
The project is being conducted at three distinct locations: Boorolite, Coldstream, and Delatite.
Each site employs different combinations of subsoil amelioration treatments, specifically tailored based on extensive soil testing carried out in the year prior.
The aim is to showcase site-specific prescription treatments and their impact on ryegrass plus companion species grasslands pasture and forage yields.
The treatments were applied in the summer of 2022 at the Delatite site and during the summer to early autumn period of 2023 at the other sites.
Plots, ranging from one to two hectares in size, were subjected to various treatments, and three quadrants from each plot were harvested and dried to determine the total weight of dry matter (kg DM/ha).
At Boorolite, the treatment with 4t/ha lime + 15–20t/ha poultry litter + deep rip emerged as the most effective, producing a remarkable forage yield of 6,813.3kg DM/ha. Other treatments also showed promise, but the combination of deep rip, poultry litter, and lime stood out in enhancing forage production.
In Coldstream, the treatment involving deep placement of poultry manure outperformed other options, resulting in a substantial forage yield of 2,406.7kg DM/ha.
The absence of lime had a noticeable negative impact on forage production however, underscoring the importance of this element in the subsoil.
The Delatite site revealed that treatments involving lime, combined with deep ripping or manure application (or both), led to higher forage yields compared to control and manure-only treatments.
The treatment with 3t lime + deep ripping yielded the highest forage production at 3,125.5kg DM/ha.
The results underscore the significance of site-specific management practices, with outcomes varying across different locations.
The combination of deep ripping, lime, and poultry litter appears to be a promising approach for improving forage production.
The initial results from the 'Healthy Subsoils Produce More Red Meat' project provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of various subsoil treatments in enhancing forage yields in grasslands.
These findings, obtained through meticulous testing and experimentation, emphasise the need for tailored strategies in grassland management.
The ongoing project, scheduled until 2028, promises regular updates through seminars and field walks.
If you are interested in learning more about this project or investigating subsoil management for your own pasture, reach out to Matt at Agridome Consultancy (M: 0438209707 or E: matt@agridome.com.au).
The success of this Producer Demonstration Site is attributed to the support of Meat & Livestock Australia, host site producers, Melbourne Polytechnic, LaTrobe University, and other contributing organizations.
Special thanks go to Peter Sale, Gary Clark, Terranova Ag, Agriprove, Agridome Consultancy, and the Grasslands Society of Southern Australia for their unwavering support.
As the project continues to unfold, these findings pave the way for advancements in sustainable grassland management, ultimately benefiting livestock producers and the wider agricultural community.