Green panic-lucerne sward response to nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur on the Darling Downs

Abstract

A rain-grown green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume)-lucerne (Medicago sativa) pasture was established in 1962 on a dark brown clay soil on the eastern Darling Downs. This received annual spring applications of N, P and S from 1966 to 1970. S increased DM yield of green panic and naturally occurring burr medic (Medicago polymorpha). DM yield response of green panic to N was dependent on the presence of S. Lucerne yields were little affected by fertilization. Following five annual applications of S, basal cover of the pasture was higher and that of native grasses lower compared with treatments receiving no S. The only effect of P was a minor increase in the basal cover of green panic.