The yield,quality and profitability of annual forage,perennial pasture and perennial forage systems under irrigation

Intensive fodder production systems were compared under irrigation in western New South Wales. The three basic systems studied were:

• 1.(1) Annual forages (Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense plus Avena sativa).
• 2.(2) Perennial pasture (Paspalum dilatatum).
• 3.(3) Perennial forage (Medicago sativa).

The first two systems included nitrogen fertilizer or legume options, while the last had the option of including a perennial sorghum.Dry matter production was highest in the annual forage system (maximum of 30·5 tonnes ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), although annual establishment costs were higher than for perennial systems. The perennial pasture yielded 21·5 tonnes ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ but, like the annual forage system, 250 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ was required to obtain this yield. The perennial forage yielded 19·8 tonnes ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ without nitrogen fertilizer. Furthermore, it yielded more digestible dry matter and nitrogen than any other system.Although the annual forage system was the most profitable when based upon a set price for hay, the best system for grazing was difficult to determine; factors relating to grazing management are discussed.