A COMPARISON OF ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH OF 2 STYLOSANTHES SPECIES WITH 8 GRASS SPECIES SOWN ON CULTIVATED AND UNCULTIVATED SEEDBEDS AT 3 SITES IN THE SEMIARID TROPICS OF THE NORTHERN-TERRITORY

Two legumes and eight grasses were evaluated in small plots as potenti al pasture species for three distinct areas of the Katherine region. I n the two drier areas there had been little previous quantitative regi onal testing of legume or grass species. Sowings were made on cultivat ed and uncultivated land. Data were recorded as plant numbers in year 1 and dry matter in years 2 and 3 partitioned into legume leaf and ste m, and green and dry fractions of grass. Surface seed reserves were al so recorded each dry season. Over 3 average or better years it was sho wn that none of the grass species would establish on uncultivated seed beds. However, with cultivation, the species Bothriochloa pertusa cv. Bowen and Andropogon gayanus cv. Kent out-performed the standard speci es of Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Gayndah and Urochloa mosambicensis cv. Nix on. Stylosanthes scabra cv. Fitzroy established and outyielded S. hama ta cv. Verano. Both legumes persisted well after being sown on to uncu ltivated seedbeds following a burn in the early wet season. Reducing c ompetition from native grasses, perhaps with grazing, may be necessary in environments similar to the Katherine Experiment Farm site, to imp rove establishment of legumes, especially Verano.