Old man Saltbush Improvementp

Presented by

Ram Nair

BackgroundSouthern Australia’s agricultural regions are

experiencing a growing trend of variable rainfall and increasing risk of crop failure particularly in the moreincreasing risk of crop failure particularly in the more vulnerable marginal areas.

M t t t i t i li tMost common strategic response to managing climate variability in lower rainfall cropping areas is diversification and maintaining a healthy emphasis on livestock enterprises.

Increasing prominence of livestock industries creates g popportunities for shrub forage species.

Old man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) is a keyOld man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) is a key species in productive and resilient grazing systems based on perennials.

Cultivar Development

Development of clonal cultivarOMS is native to Australia and grows naturally in harsh, arid areas. Seed was collected from 600 plants at 27 localities (provenances) aroundwas collected from 600 plants at 27 localities (provenances) around Australia. Comprehensive germplasm collections of OMS were established in SA (Monarto), Condobolin (NSW) and Tammin (WA). - 20,000 plants at each site Sequential selection was conducted for key traits and eliteeach site. Sequential selection was conducted for key traits and elite plants identified for clonal evaluation trials.

Development of seed cultivarSuitable male and female plants identified from the in-situ collections will be utilised for this.be utilised for this.

Over 80 000 plants screened at 4 locationsp2 subspecies

Originating from 27 sites

Methodology

Assessment of variability in:

productivity – edible biomass (Adelaide method)

i l f ( h i )animal preference (sheep grazing)

re-growth after grazing

Nutritive value

Saltbush evaluation site at Monarto, SA

Saltbush evaluation site at Condobolin, NSW

Saltbush evaluation site at Tammin, NSW

Results:

Significant variation was observed for edible biomass.

H it bilit f dibl bi 0 15 t 0 21Heritability for edible biomass: 0.15 to 0.21

What do the animals have to say?What do the animals have to say?

Grazing plan at Monarto SAGrazing plan at Monarto, SA

25 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 45 sheep( Low (rep 1)

( High (rep 1)

25 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 45 sheep

50 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 90 sheep

( Low (rep 2) 25 /ha; 1.8 ha; therefore 45 sheep

( High (rep 2) 50 /ha; 0.9 ha; therefore 45sheep

Pre-conditioning paddocks

Grazing preference scoring

Score 1 Score 2 Score 3Score 1 Score 2 Score 3

Score 4 Score 5

Saltbush evaluation site at Monarto, SA

- grazing preference by sheep

Saltbush evaluation site at Condobolin, NSW - grazing preference by sheep

Saltbush evaluation site at Tammin, NSW grazing preference by sheep- grazing preference by sheep

Results:

A. nummularia ssp nummularia was grazed in preference to A. nummularia ssp spathulata at all sites.

Heritability for grazing preference: 0.26 to 0.62

Results:

Breeding values were calculated for each individual shrub (20,000 plants at each site) for both

edible biomass and grazing preference for use in index selection.

Based on a selection index for edible biomass and grazing preference by sheep, 1000 plants were short-grazing preference by sheep, 1000 plants were shortlisted at each site.

Selections within A. nummularia

selection index1 Edible biomass + 1.5 Grazing preference

4550

30354045

ed g

ain

Edible biomass

152025

% P

redi

cte Edible biomass

Grazing preference

05

10%

Monarto Condobolin Tammin

Saltbush evaluation site at Tammin, NSW –regrowth after grazingregrowth after grazing

Results:

Based on re-growth after grazing 100 plants were selected at each site for nutritive value analysis- (April 2009).

Nutritive value is the key selection factor

(Marta Monjardino, 2008)

Predicting organic matter digestibility of shrubs(NIR method)(NIR method)

Predicted Organic Matter DigestibilityPredicted Organic Matter Digestibility

54.0

55.0

52.0

53.0

OM

D (%

)

50.0

51.0

Pred

icte

d O

47 0

48.0

49.0P

47.0Tammin across all

linesTammin EGG Tammin top 10

Predicted Organic Matter DigestibilityPredicted Organic Matter Digestibility

54.0

56.0

50.0

52.0

OM

D (%

)

46.0

48.0

Pred

icte

d O

42.0

44.0

P

40.0Condo across all

linesCondo EGG Condo top 10

Predicted Organic Matter DigestibilityPredicted Organic Matter Digestibility

58.0

56 0

57.0%

)

55.0

56.0ed

OM

D (%

53.0

54.0

Pred

icte

51.0

52.0

Monarto across alllines

Monarto EGG Monarto top 10

Soluble Ash (% of DM)Soluble Ash (% of DM)

Tammin top 10

Tammin EGG

Monarto EGG

Condo EGG

Monarto top 10

Condo top 10

Condo EGG

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

89 elite plants were selected for clonal propagation -(May-June 2009)(May June 2009).

Clonal propagationClonal propagation

% % striking rate of cuttingscuttings

Range Mean

Monarto 8 93 – 70 34 31 28Monarto 8.93 70.34 31.28

Condobolin 7.69 – 82.41 34.17

Tammin 9.59 – 85.80 46.91

EGG control 69.80

A. spathulatha control

8.02

Clonal evaluation trial

Replicated trials of the 89 selected clones and the two controls (EGG + spath) were planted at Monartocontrols (EGG + spath) were planted at Monarto (SA), Dareton (NSW) and Tammin (WA) in spring 2009.

D i l At h it 2184 l t (91 8 3)Design – row column – At each site 2184 plants (91x 8 x 3)

Data on dry matter production, animal preference and nutritive value will be collected. These trials will help to identify the best clone(s) for potential commercial release as cultivar(s) by 2011.( ) y

Clonal trial at Monarto, SA

Clonal trial at Dareton, NSW

Seed Cultivar development

Old man saltbush plant is dioecious (female and male plants).

Hybridisation nurseries are being established in SAHybridisation nurseries are being established in SA.Hybrid lines will be developed for testing with the direct-seeding method (by 2012).

Industry use Plan - Market Potentialy

The market potential for Old man saltbush in Australia and overseas is extensive.

However, two major impediments to the uptake of new saltbush plantings in Australia are: 1) cost of seedlings and

2) the risk of unsuccessful establishment2) the risk of unsuccessful establishment.

Reduced planting incentives from the government may also limit uptake. (Survey by Dr Anna Dutkiewicz, Adoption Manager FFI CRC)(Su ey by a ut e c , dopt o a age C C)

Currently the major plantings of saltbush is by seedlings.

Cost of planting saltbush seedlings can vary between $650 to 850 per ha, in contrast direct seeding can cost between $150 to 185 per hain contrast direct seeding can cost between $150 to 185 per ha.

Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:

Hayley Norman, CSIROAllan Rintoul, CSIROPeter Jessop, NSW DPIp,Eric Bailey, NSW DPIMerv Tucker, DWLBCGlenn Gale, DWLBC

Richard Mazanec, DEC; WAMike Bennell, formerly DWLBCDavid McKenna formerly DWLBC

Glenn Gale, DWLBC

Ed Barrett-Lennard, DAFWAJoe Jacobs DPI Vic David McKenna, formerly DWLBCJoe Jacobs, DPI Vic