Gardiner, Chris (2001) Intergeneric grafting of Mimosoid forage shrub legumes onto woody weeds for landscape rehabilitation. In: Proceedings of the Fourth International Legume Conference. p. 30. From: Fourth International Legume Conference, 2 - 6 July 2001, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

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Abstract

Australia has enormous areas of its tropical rangelands infested with exotic Mimosoideae woody weeds, particularly Acacia famesiana (Mimosa bush), Acacia nilotica (Pricky acacia) and Prosopis spp (Mesquite). These weeds are detrimental to the ecology, agricultural productivity and sustainability of the landscape. Acacia nilotica alone infests some 7 million ha of Queensland's vast Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp) biogeographic region. The economic impact on the grazing industry is about $5million annually in lost production. In the semiarid environment of NW Queensland livestock endure long annual dry season droughts where both the quantity and quality of grass declines over the year reducing animal productivity. The merits of introducing pasture legumes into such a system are well known however none have been found to be adapted. The shrub legume Leucaena is regarded as the utmost forage shrub legume but it too is not adapted to this semiarid region. A solution to the woody weed problem and the annual protein droughts maybe the intergeneric grafting of Mimosoideae forage shrub legumes on to the root stocks of Mimosoideae species that are adapted to the region such as A famesiana, A nilotica, Prosopis pallida and native acacia species. If successful a whole new valuable forage shrub industry in semiarid areas may develop, enhancing both livestock productivity and sustainability.

Item ID:	8467
Item Type:	Conference Item (Poster)
Additional Information:	Conference theme "Legumes down under"
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2010 01:19
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070399 Crop and Pasture Production not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	83 ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8304 Pasture, Browse and Fodder Crops > 830499 Pasture, Browse and Fodder Crops not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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