Response of lucerne and chicory mixes to a rare high summer rainfall event in western Victoria

Two experiments were conducted at Hamilton, Victoria, Australia to test the hypothesis that sowing pastures with lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) or chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) increases dry matter (DM) production and nutritive characteristics during summer and autumn, relative to equivalent mixes with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Both experiments were randomised complete block designs with four replications. Rainfall over January-March 2011 was 339 mm, which is more than three times the long-term average (LTA) of 102 mm for this period. In Exp. 1, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)/subterranean clover had higher (P < 0.05) DM production over January-March 2011 than tall fescue/chicory. In Exp. 2, chicory/lucerne had higher (P < 0.05) DM production than chicory/subterranean clover, but not lucerne sown alone (P > 0.05). Tall fescue/lucerne and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.)/lucerne did not differ (P > 0.05) from lucerne sown alone or from tall fescue or cocksfoot with subterranean clover. In January 2011, average estimated metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) for the chicory, lucerne and grasses were 11.6, 10.2 and 9.6 MJ/kg DM and 22.0, 22.6 and 13.1% DM, respectively. In March 2011, average estimated ME and CP for the chicory, lucerne and grasses were 11.2, 10.8 and 10.2 MJ/kg DM and 20.9, 26.0 and 14.9% DM, respectively.