Western Australian producers can look forward to two new subterranean clovers, expected to boost cropping and livestock industries through greater productivity and nitrogen inputs.

The Department of Agriculture today unveiled its new clovers Izmir and Coolamon at the Medina Research Station Field Day.

Director General Graeme Robertson said seed of both varieties was currently being increased by licencees and commercial seed would be available to growers in 2005.

Dr Robertson said the new pastures were selected as part of the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Program with funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation and Australian Wool Innovation Ltd.

“Izmir and Coolamon were evaluated at more than 20 trial sites across southern Australia over a seven year period,” Dr Robertson said.

“Izmir is suited to low rainfall areas and is estimated to increase livestock production by $7-$15/ha and increase the value of nitrogen inputs by $6-$10/ha over existing cultivars.

“In medium to high rainfall areas, the estimates for Coolamon show an increase in livestock production of $10-$18/ha and increase in the value of nitrogen input of $8-$12/ha over existing cultivars.”

Research officer Phil Nichols said Izmir was originally collected as a pasture sample from Izmir province in Turkey.

He said it would be a direct replacement for the variety Nungarin for sowing in areas of the wheatbelt with less than 375mm of annual rainfall.

“Izmir is very early flowering (similar to Nungarin) but its higher hardseededness, coupled with good seed production, results in greater persistence in cropping rotations and fewer seed losses following false breaks to the season,” Mr Nichols said.

“Over all measurements, Izmir produced 10 per cent more winter herbage and 7 per cent more spring herbage than Nungarin.”

Mr Nichols said the release of Izmir would help satisfy the demand for a more persistent subterranean clover for low rainfall areas where cropping frequency was high. 

He said it would enable farmers to improve their pastures to take advantage of stronger wool prices.

Marketing licenses for Izmir have been awarded to Ballard Seeds and to a consortium of Premier Seeds, Irwin Hunter Seeds, AusWest Seeds and Stephen Pasture Seeds.

Mr Nichols said Coolamon was a mid-season replacement for Junee with improved disease resistance, herbage production and persistence.

“Coolamon has resistance to both known races of clover scorch. Its resistance to Race 2 gives it a distinct advantage over Junee, which is currently failing on the Esperance sandplain due to its susceptibility to the disease,” Mr Nichols said. 

“Coolamon and Izmir both have low oestrogen levels and will not lead to sheep infertility.”

Mr Nichols said Coolamon had performed well in all States. When averaged across all sites, it produced 10 per cent more herbage in winter, 14 per cent more herbage in spring, four per cent more seed and had 11 per cent higher seedling densities than Junee.

“Coolamon is suited for use on well-drained soils in areas with more than 500 mm annual rainfall and has a potential area of use across Australia of 4.5 million hectares,” he said.

“It is moderately hardseeded and well suited to permanent pasture and phase farming systems, and also to ley farming systems with infrequent cropping.”

The marketing license for Coolamon has been awarded to a consortium of Premier Seeds, Irwin Hunter Seeds, AusWest Seeds and Stephen Pasture Seeds.