TROPICAL PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT .13. PRODUCER ESTABLISHMENT PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES IN NEAR-COASTAL SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Factors considered by producers in establishing pastures are: overall cost, effectiveness and persistence. A range of establishment practice s are used in southern Queensland and, although establishment is not u sually a problem, factors that can contribute to poor establishment ar e: species selection, seed quality, land preparation, covering/inocula tion, weather conditions and first-year management. Most producers sow into a fully prepared seedbed but some innovators are using new techn iques which include: lotononis ''Tupperware'' seeder, hammermilling Se ca stylo seed, brush harrows, mixing trace elements, rhodes with winte r cereals, pasture undersown with lupins, pangola with seeded pastures and bluegrass mixtures with rhodes grass. Four case studies of produc er experiences with sown pastures are documented: (a) Coastal - low-ke y pastures for breeders; (b) Coastal - pastures for finishing; (c) Inl and - old cultivation returning to pasture; and (d) Inland - native pa sture to fully improved.