Enteric methane (CH₄) emission from livestock accounts for 71% of greenhouse gas emissions from Australian agriculture. A range of pasture mixes was evaluated for their compatibility, productivity, feed quality and CH₄ emission reduction potential. Pasture species higher in saponins and condensed tannins have great potential to reduce enteric CH₄ emissions. Pasture mixes containing plantain and/or biserrula exhibited potential to reduce CH₄ emissions, but poor persistence may limit their adoption. Suitable pasture mixes can be deployed to reduce CH₄ emission intensity, allowing producers opportunity to decrease their greenhouse gas liability in emission reduction schemes.

This article belongs to the collection: Australian Grasslands Symposium 2025 “Seeds of Change”.

Pasture responses to lime vary with soil properties and composition, clouding assessments of the duration of benefit. This study presents a detailed and long-running evaluation of responses to lime and superphosphate in multiple permanent pasture environments. Effects on soil chemistry were still evident 12 years following lime application and generally proportional to the quantum of lime applied but this did not always lead to increased pasture biomass, highlighting the importance of pasture renovation for increasing the response to lime.

This article belongs to the collection: Australian Grasslands Symposium 2025 “Seeds of Change”.

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is a key pasture legume in southern Australia, but outdated, inefficient and environmentally destructive harvesting methods threaten its commercial seed production. This study explores a novel swathing technique that cuts plants below ground, forming windrows for later seed collection. The findings show that well-timed swathing achieves comparable efficiency to traditional methods, with minimal impact on seed viability and vigour, offering a sustainable solution for the future of subterranean clover seed production.

This article belongs to the collection: Australian Grasslands Symposium 2025 “Seeds of Change”.