NyPa Distichlis Cultivars: Rehabilitation of Highly Saline Areas for Forage Turf and Grain Collaboration between NyPa Australia, Department of Agriculture of Western Australia, South Australian Agricultural Research and Development Institude & the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Victoria A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation By: John Leake Ed Barrett-Lennard Mark Sargeant Nicholas Yensen & Johnny Prefumo December 2002 RIRDC Publication No 02/154 RIRDC Project No NYP-1A © 2002 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0642 58553 9 ISSN 1440-6845 NyPa Distichlis Cultivars: Rehabilitation of highly saline areas for Forage Turf and Grain Publication No. 02/154 Project No. NYP-1A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details John Leake 14d Birdwood St Netherby SA 5062 Phone: 08 82728088 Fax: 08 82728588 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in December 2002 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword Australia is facing significant problems with dryland salinity. There have been plant collection activities in Australia seeking plant based solutions to this problem but they have met with little success. NyPa Australia formed a partnership with the Department of Agriculture of Western Australia and South Australia Agricultural Research and Development Institute to investigate the suitability of four patented cultivars of Distichlis imported from the United States. Elders Limited became a commercialisation partner. Trials of the cultivars were completed in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. Environmental benefits, nutritive value for grazing, amenity value for turf and milling characteristics of the grain were assessed. Recommendations on the ecological range of the cultivars and the requirements for establishment are made. The project was funded from RIRDC Core Funds provided by the Federal Government. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 800 research publications. It forms part of our Resilient Agricultural Systems R&D program that supports the development of agricultural systems with diversity, flexibility, robustness and resilience that can respond to both challenge and opportunity. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/cat/contents.html Simon Hearn Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments NyPa Australia Pty Limited thanks the following people for the advice and assistance they gave during this project. Dr George Wilson, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Dr Ken Poulsen and Dr R Ferdowsian, Department of Agriculture of Western Australia. Dr Don Ploughman, and Ms Andrea Hensing. South Australian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. Mr Phil Cole, Mr Jock Mc Farlane, Mr Tim Hermann and Ms Kate Morris. South Australian Primary Industry and Resources. Dr Mary Jane Rogers. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria. Mr Leon Bailey. Regency Park Institute of TAFE, Baking Faculty. Mr Maurice Crotti and Mr Joe Alvino. San Remo Macaroni, Windsor, South Australia. Prof J Lindsay Falvey and Prof R White. University of Melbourne. Mr Norm Robinson. Elders Limited: Mr Tom Hatton. CSIRO. The following landowners helped make the field trials a success - Mr Raymond Matthews and Mr Greg Matthews, East Wickepin, Western Australia; Mr Peter Fisher, Clover Ridge, South Australia; Mr Perry Gunner and Mr Richard Gunner, Lake Alexandrina and Wanderribby Station, South Australia; Mr Keith den Houting, Kerang, Victoria. iv Abbreviations ATP Adenosine tri-phosphate DAWA Department of Agriculture of Western Australia DM Dry matter IVDMD The invitro dry matter digestibility MDB Murray Darling Basin NPK Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium NRE Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Victoria NyPa Is the North American Cocopa Indian name for the Distichlis grain and a registered trademark of NyPa Inc of the US and NyPa Australia Pty Limited PIRSA South Australian Primary Industries and Resources ppm Parts per million SARDI South Australian Agricultural Research and Development Institute v Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................................. iv Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... v Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. vii 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Project .......................................................................................................1 1.2 Plant Introduction to Australia ................................................................................................ 1 2 Research Methodology................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Objective ................................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Summary of Methodology....................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Specific Methodologies........................................................................................................... 3 2.3.1 Agronomic Investigations in the Field ............................................................................ 3 2.3.2 Feeding to Ruminants...................................................................................................... 5 2.3.3 Glasshouse Investigations ............................................................................................... 5 2.3.4 Preliminary Milling Characteristics ................................................................................ 6 2.3.5 Collation of Reports ........................................................................................................ 6 2.4 Commercialisation................................................................................................................... 6 3 Results and Discussion................................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Investigations on Established Plant-outs................................................................................. 7 3.1.1 Lake Alexandrina ............................................................................................................ 7 3.1.2 Clover Ridge....................................................................................................................8 3.1.3 East Wickepin.................................................................................................................. 9 3.1.4 Underra.......................................................................................................................... 13 3.1.5 Kerang ........................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Feeding to Ruminants............................................................................................................13 3.3 Glasshouse Investigations ..................................................................................................... 14 3.4 Preliminary Milling Characteristics ...................................................................................... 15 3.4.1 The Milling Test Results ............................................................................................... 15 3.4.2 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 17 3.5 Environmental Services......................................................................................................... 18 3.5.1 Halophytes and Productivity ......................................................................................... 18 3.5.2