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Matthew Gardner
PhD Student
School School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences
Location Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
Phone 02 6933 2749
Fax 02 6933 2812
Email mgardner@csu.edu.au
Project
How does Chicory effect the nitrogen cycling of pasture systems?
Summary
Growers in the medium and high rainfall zones of southern Australia have few alternatives when it comes to high quality summer forages apart from lucerne. Recently, chicory ( Cichorium intybus ) has been identified as a new perennial forage species that is more tolerant to acidic and waterlogged soils than lucerne.
Chicory is a short term perennial herb which has a high nitrogen (N) requirement. Its responsiveness and recovery of applied N is extremely efficient in comparison to other pasture and crop species currently used in mixed farming systems. In addition to high N recoveries chicory also has high mineral contents, low levels of structural carbohydrates, large taproot systems and active summer growth habits. These properties are hypothesised to significantly affect the processes within the N cycle. In particular, it is expected that mineralisation, immobilisation, plant uptake of inorganic N and biological N fixation would be effected under a chicory-legume pasture mix. These key processes of the N cycle can either reduce or promote the supply of N to pastures and subsequent cropping phases.
Therefore, there are two key objectives of the research. Firstly, to quantify the effect that chicory has on N turnover under a chicory-legume pasture mix. Secondly, is to determine the mechanisms that are responsible for any changes within the N cycle under this pasture mix. Based on the findings best practice N management can be determined for chicory pasture mixes to improve their productivity in mixed farming systems.
Supervisors
Dr Jason Condon, Dr Mark Conyers, Dr Brian Dear and Dr Guangdi Li
Funding source
CRC Future Farm Industries