Gardiner, Chris, O'Reagain, Joe, and Poole, Chris (2025) Evaluating and demonstrating the suitability of sown pasture and forage species for the basaltic clay soil region of Northeast Queensland. In: [Presented at TropAg 2025]. 151. p. 47. From: TropAg 2025: Addressing Global Challenges, 11-13 November 2026, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

As part of a Queensland Department of Primary Industry’s Integrated Engagement and Capacity Building Program, a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) project has been established via collaboration between NQ Dry Tropics, James Cook University and a group of local graziers. Centred on Maryvale Station in the Basalt region of North Queensland, the project is evaluating and demonstrating a range of pasture and forage genotypes for their adaptability to the edaphoclimatic and biotic characteristics of the region.

Seventeen genera and 31 species represented by 62 accessions of mostly legumes and some grasses were sown in January 2025. The Maryvale site is situated within the Burdekin River catchment and features a seasonally dry tropical climate, basaltic clay soils and a 626 mm AAR. The legumes are of particular interest to the group as the basaltic clays tend to be lacking in well-adapted and productive sown legumes. Such plants hold great potential, via nitrogen fixation to simultaneously improve animal diet quality and pasture biomass.

Genera sown (number of accessions in brackets) include: Arachis (6), Cajanus (1), Cenchrus (1), Centrosema (2), Clitoria (3), Desmanthus (27), Digitaria (2), Lablab (1), Gliricidia (1), Leucaena (1), Macroptilium (3), Rhynchosia (1), Sesbania (1), Sorghum (5), Stylosanthes (3), Urochloa (3) and Vigna (1).

In February 2025 plots were ranked for emergence on a 0-10 basis (0 = no emergence, 10 = excellent) . Highest ranked genera for emergence were: Centrosema & Gliricidia >Desmanthus > Arachis > Clitoria > Stylosanthes > Leucaena > others.

Several new and little-known genotypes have demonstrated good emergence. No doubt the survival, persistence and productivity of these genera will change over the course of the project. The site will provide valuable information to the community on the merits of various genera for this region. Further evaluation and field days will be undertaken over the coming year(s).

Item ID:	85933
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Related URLs:	https://tropag.com.au/
Date Deposited:	24 Feb 2026 00:28
FoR Codes:	30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3004 Crop and pasture production > 300406 Crop and pasture improvement (incl. selection and breeding) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	10 ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 1005 Pasture, browse and fodder crops > 100505 Sown pastures (excl. lucerne) @ 100%
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