Environment
Greener pastures
Western Cape shrub to assist
Western Australia’s and
South Africa’s sheep farmers
M
illions of hectares of sandy, infertile
Australian farmland could benefit from the
commercialisation of a South African shrub,
allowing farmers to better carry sheep over the
summer-autumn period. plant had the potential to create
substantial savings for farmers,
reducing the need to purchase
supplementary feed, and support
higher animal stocking rates.
Researchers
at
Murdoch
University’s Centre for Rhizobium
Studies say they have under-
taken a decade-long global
search for legume plants
capable of surviving Western
Australia’s harsh, dry summers
and sandy soils. both Australia and Africa will
have access to the benefits
of this research. “Economic analysis has shown
that using lebeckia on sandy soils
could be worth up to $400/ha
per year to the farmer,” he said.
Lead researcher Professor John
Howieson said lebeckia was
designed to be used by farmers
on soils that may otherwise be
completely unproductive. “We think it will be incredibly
valuable for farmers who can
lamb or wean into it, and provide
high-quality feed and shelter.”
They discovered lebeckia, a
perennial legume, in the Western
Cape of South Africa and
commenced trials on the poorest
sandplain soils of the Western
Australian Wheatbelt.
New cultivar
“Lebeckia has real potential to
turn as much as three million
hectares of Australia’s marginal
farming lands into much more
productive country, where its
presence in pasture over summer
could allow farmers to carry more
sheep, grow more wool and
provide better animal husbandry,”
said Professor Howieson.
WA Agriculture Minister Alannah
MacTiernan
witnessed
the
signing of a commercialisation
agreement for the new cultivar
of lebeckia called Isanti (Xhosa
for sand) by Murdoch University
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research
and Innovation, Professor David
Morrison and Dr Moephuli. “We have recorded very prom-
ising results in agronomy, soil
fertility and feed quality trials.
Under the agreement, a royalty
on seed sales will be paid to the
Agricultural Research Council
(ARC). The new crop will be also
made available to South African
farmers, meaning farmers in Worth up to
$400/ha per year
42
“It is a long sought-after outcome
of legume science in this State
given its ability to grow during
summer on infertile sandy soils.”
Professor
SABI | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
Howieson
said
the
Murdoch has been working with
the South African Government
to
secure
full
commer-
cialisation rights.
South
African
Agricultural
Research Council President and
CEO Dr Shadrack Moephuli
said the growing of lebeckia had
economic benefits to farmers,
especially those with sandy
and acid soils.
“Lebeckia is an acid tolerant
legume that has been developed
by the Agricultural Research
Council and Murdoch University
from genetic material collected
on the acidic soils derived from
sandstone in the Western Cape,”
Dr Moephuli said.
“As cultivation and alien invasion
reduces the soil pH, this species
can be grown in soils affected
by acidification.
“This is another milestone and
innovation by the two institutions
to assist the farmers to produce
food for the growing population.”
Africa Down Under
Professor Howieson thanked
David Quartermaine and Ted
Astbury for their strong support for
the lebeckia program by allowing
intensive field research on their
farms for the past six years.
The research project was funded
by Murdoch University, with
support from the Australian
Centre
for
International
Agricultural
Research.
The
first seed will be available for
sale next year.
The South African scientists and
administrators are visiting WA
to attend the 9th Annual Africa
Australia Research Forum Annual
Africa-Australia Research Forum
which forms part of the Africa
Down Under conference.
The forum is part of the Third
Murdoch Commission, a research
investigation bringing together
international experts and thought
leaders to work on pressing
problems and issues of public
concern to Africa.