Managing long-term fertility of cropping lands with ley pastures in southern Queensland

Ley farming (pastures in rotation with crops) is a traditional management s trategy for sustainable farming, used Tot centuries in temperate and Medite rranean areas of the world. For nearly 50 years, it has been the subject of research, development and extension in the subtropics of southern inland Q ueensland. The apparent slow rate of adoption of ley pastures as a means of maintainin g or restoring soil fertility, particularly amongst those with mixed grain and livestock enterprises, has been a concern to people involved in these s tudies. The reasons are not clearly identified but are most likely to he fa ctors such as short-term profitability of rotations involving livestock, ma nagement complexity of leys, reluctance to change, looking to easier option s, availability of nondegraded lands, and bloat fears with temperate legume s. Growers are, however, aware of fertility decline and that many of their paddocks have reached an age when restorative practices are required if whe at yields and proteins ale to be maintained. Most recent trends show increa sing areas of ley pasture.