Benefits of lucerne/perennial grass mixtures in cropping rotations

Abstract

Key findings •• The most productive pasture swards over five years were sown to a mixture of phalaris, lucerne and sub clover. •• Only swards that included phalaris maintained groundcover >70% in all years, including periods of drought. •• Phalaris swards reduced annual grass weed incursion through competition by up to 7-fold compared with pure legume swards. •• Lucerne/perennial grass mixtures produced ~35% more legume biomass than swards sown only to sub clover. •• Lucerne’s winter activity had little effect on its productivity and persistence.