Pasture optimisation for drought solutions

Project Summary

The PODS (Pasture Optimisation for Drought Solutions) project focused on evaluating mixed legume pasture cultivars to improve drought resilience in South Australia's low to medium rainfall zones, with the Low Rainfall zones featured on Eyre Peninsula. Across 11 sites—including three large-scale (10 ha) serradella trials and one small plot trial at Darke Peak—researchers assessed plant emergence, nodulation, ground cover, and biomass. French serradella cv. Frano was sown in March–April 2023, with emergence counts ranging from 57 to 294 plants/m². Nodulation success was linked to lupin history, and biomass yields varied from 0.2 to 2.6 t/ha. On the Eyre Peninsula, Frano serradella showed strong performance, maintaining greenness into late November and outperforming traditional medics in both biomass and seasonal longevity.

Key outcomes included improved pasture persistence, reduced powdery mildew impact, and lower phytoestrogen levels in cultivars like Seraph and Emperor—important for livestock fertility. Biomass sampling showed up to 1.6 t/ha at Solomon and 0.9 t/ha at Wudinna, with effective ground cover reaching 44%. These findings support the use of drought-resilient legumes to enhance pasture productivity and sustainability in semi-arid farming systems.

One of the key findings from the project was that each of the species trialled across the dune swale landscape was that each species was best adapted to a particular soil type – the serradella performed best on the tops of sandhills, medics performed better on the heavier red flats.

Extension activities were a major component of the project, aimed at sharing findings and engaging stakeholders. These included six field days across trial sites, three project meetings, and a high-level visit from DAFF officials. Information was disseminated through four project update reports, three newsletter articles reaching up to 90 recipients, and regular social media updates. There were 5 case studies produced and 2 Eyre Peninsula Farming System Summary articles which all are available for download below. These efforts facilitated direct engagement with farmers, farming system groups, and industry representatives, promoting awareness and adoption of drought-resilient pasture systems.