Carrying capacity of land

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Sat, 01/04/2014 - 12:13 #1

Member for

10 years 10 months
lucetto
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 06/23/2013 - 12:16

Carrying capacity of land

Hi all


Just wondering if there was anywhere that listed the land carrying capacity of various areas or of individual suburbs?

Or is the best way to figure this out to ask around?

Thanks in advance for any help ;)

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Sat, 01/04/2014 - 18:05 #2
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Lucetto,

Carrying capicity will depend on the following:

* Soil type and fertility levels

* Pasture type and species

* Rainfall and climatic conditions

* Management

In measuring the energy requirements of livestock and stocking rates per hectare, we use a 50 kg wether as the standard. A 50 kg wether maintained at constant weight has a dry sheep equivalent (DSE) rating of 1. Other DSE ratings for different livestock 

- Dry ewes, wethers (Gaining 100 g/day) 1.6DSE

- Pregnant ewes last 6 weeks bearing singles 1.5DSE

- Ewes with twin lamb at foot 3.2DSE

- Cattle dry stock 450kg 6DSE

- 350 kg yearling gaining 1.5 kg/day 13.0DSE

- 450 kg cow early lactation 13.2DSE

Other cattle DSE ratings can be found here http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/farm-business/budgets/livestock/beef/info/dse

Below is a list of different regions within NSW, with different pasture types from unimproved native grasses to improved pasture plus fertiliser. This gives you a good guide to the average stocking rates.

Table 2. Estimated carrying capacities for pasture types in NSW

Pasture types NSWRange DSE/haAverage DSE/ha
(where estimated)
Coastal
Unimproved pasture, carpet grass,
blady grass		3–6 
Top-dressed pasture with some
clover		7–10 
Improved pasture, paspalum, kikuyu and
clover on good fertility soils + fertiliser		14–24 
Southern Tablelands
Low quality native pasture (mainly
summer grass, low legume component)		0.5–1.51
Good quality native pasture,
e.g. wallaby grass		1.5–3.0 
Native pasture + sub clover
+ superphosphate		3–126.5
Sown perennial grass/legume
fertilised pasture		6–149
Southern Slopes
Sub clover/ryegrass + fertiliser5–10 
Sub clover/ryegrass plus lucerne
and superphosphate		9–15.0 
Irrigation
Sub clover6–20 
Southern Plains
Sub clover/ryegrass1.0–2.51.8
Northern Tablelands
Natural pasture
(no seed or fertiliser)		1.8–4.73
Improved natural pasture
(above + seed and fertiliser)		4.2–9.16.1
Perennial grass/clover
+ fertiliser		6.7–16.910
Northern Slopes
Natural pasture
(no seed or fertiliser)		1.2–3.82.1
Improved natural pasture
(above + seed + fertiliser)		3.9–7.45.7
Perennial grass/clover
+ fertiliser		5.6–14.410.3
Extensive lucerne6.7–11.68.7
Intensive lucerne
(rotationally grazed)		9.6–11.612.8
Northern Plains
Extensive lucerne1–3 
Intensive lucerne
(rotationally grazed)		3.5–8.57.0
Natural pasture0.3–2.0 
Improved (sown grass + legume)0.8–2.5 
Degraded pasture (Walgett)0.25 

Source: W. McDonald, previously Program Leader Pastures (North), Tamworth and Dr P. Orchard, previously, Program Leader Pastures (South), Wagga Wagga

I hope this is of assistance.

Regards,

Charlie

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