Salinity Solution
- Tolerant of saline and waterlogged soils
- Will lower water table in discharge areas
- Improved palatability
Palatable tall wheat grass approved for salinity restoration
funding.
DUNDAS tall wheat grass has been developed as a source of
spring or summer forage which tolerates saline or waterlogged
soils and is able to lower the water table in discharge areas.
DUNDAS is a replacement for Tyrell tall wheat grass and has
greater tillering and leafiness, stem digestibility and seedling
establishment. In trials undertaken by the Pastoral and Veterinary
Institute (Hamilton, Victoria), DUNDAS has consistently had
greater seedling densities and more digestible dry matter than
Tyrell. Under saline conditions DUNDAS outperforms phalaris
and tall fescue in total production.
DUNDAS is a summer active perennial grass, which produces
most growth in the late spring and summer periods, when water
is available. It has an upright growth habit and may grow 1 - 2
metres if ungrazed.
Productive green leafy Dundas being grazed by sheep compared
to scalded saline affected foreground
What the producers say...
Michael Blake, wool and beef producer, Hamilton VIC
Having sown about 30ha of (salt) affected land to a mix of Dundas,
balansa and strawberry clovers in autumn 2000, Michael was able to
graze sheep on the area by November at a rate of 22 dse/ha for five
months.
This is a significant improvement on the area’s previous capacity of 2.5
dse/ha over 12 months. “All the indications are that this Dundas tall wheat grass is very productive
on saline country where nothing else will prevail. It is turning very
unproductive pasture into highly productive pasture. In fact, it is doing
better than some of the pastures in the surrounding paddocks.”
Malcolm Schaefer, Kangaroo Island SA
Malcolm first sowed Dundas in 1999 and was most impressed with its
ability to tolerate waterlogging in winter, as well as its palatability
compared with the previous tall wheat grass cultivar, Tyre ll. “Dundas has a much finer leaf which makes it easier for the sheep to eat, and
the other benefit is that it grows on bare ground.”
MANAGEMENT TIPS
- Dundas should be sown at 10 to 15 kg per ha as the sole grass
in highly saline areas with appropriate companion legumes, such
as Bolta balansa clover or Upward strawberry clover.
- In mildly saline areas, it can be sown at 5kg per ha in a mix with
Maru Phalaris, Quantum Tall Fescue plus Bolta balansa clover
and Upward strawberry clover.
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