Variety selection
All lucerne varieties are summer active but they vary in their winter activity.
Each variety is given a winter activity rating between 1 and 10, with 1 being winter dormant and 10 highly winter active.
In general, winter active varieties (>6) are better adapted to Mediterranean climatic conditions as found in southern Western Australia. This is because the more reliable rainfall occurs in the cooler months. There is a small trade-off between winter production and out-of-season production. Match a variety with your regional or paddock scale environmental conditions and the intended use pattern (Table 1).
| Characteristic | Semi-winter dormant | Winter active | Highly winter active |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter activity rating | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8-10 |
| Rainfall zone | Medium-high | Low-high | Low-high |
| Crown type | Prostrate | Medium | Erect |
| % total growth through winter | 5-10 % | 10-15 % | 15-25 % |
| Seedling vigour | Moderate | Good | High |
| Cutting interval (days) | 30-35 | 28-32 | 25-28 |
| Relative persistance (years) | Medium | Medium-low | Low |
| Relative grazing tolerance | High | Medium-high | Medium |
| Relative hay quality | High | Medium-high | Medium |
Varieties with lower winter activity ratings have crowns lower to the ground, therefore they are more tolerant of grazing than highly winter active varieties and are likely to persist for longer. However, there are some winter active varieties available that have improved grazing tolerance. The winter activity rating also influences the feed and hay quality because the lower the winter activity the greater the ratio of leaf to stem. The leaf is more digestible than stem.
Selection based on pest and disease resistance is less important compared to intended use because improved breeding has resulted in most varieties with similar tolerances.