Recommended for most soil types. Hard seeded and therefore tolerant of false breaks. Tolerant of low fertility, with a low bloat risk, but it has no waterlogging tolerance. Casbah can cause photosensitisation in livestock during the spring period if sown as a monoculture. Can tolerate heavy grazing.
Key attributes
- Very high hard seed content (95–99%)
- Hard seed protects against false breaks
- Deep rooted and drought tolerant
- Stays green around 4 weeks longer than sub clover
- Tolerates heavy grazing
- Tolerates acidity, aluminium and low fertility
About this variety
Casbah Biserrula is a deep-rooted, hard-seeded, drought tolerant annual temperate legume growing in autumn, winter and spring. It is an aerial seeding legume of early-to-mid maturity, with a very high hard seed content of 95–99%. It is similar in appearance to serradella but is distinguished by its heart shaped leaves and blue to mauve flowers.
Casbah performs well on lighter textured soils and will tolerate soil acidity, with good tolerance of moderate to high exchangeable aluminium, but it is sensitive to high levels of manganese. It is very productive with the capacity for high seed yields, and thanks to its 2m root depth it stays green for around 4 weeks longer than sub clover.
Casbah produces high quality grazing for sheep and cattle, in both green and dry form. Its indeterminate nature means it will continue to grow, flower and set seed as long as it has access to moisture. It has a prostrate habit when grazed heavily, but semi erect if ungrazed.
Planting & grazing notes
Sow in autumn, usually in mixtures with serradella and subterranean clover; it can also be sown as a pure sward using twin sowing (sowing under a crop the year before the pasture). Sow no deeper than 1cm. Biserrula seed needs scarification before sowing to increase the germination percentage. Seed must be inoculated and lime pelleted using “Biserrula Special” inoculum. Lightly graze in the first year to maximise seed set. Once established it tolerates heavy grazing, and roughly 50% of the seed survives ingestion by sheep, so it does not need careful grazing management. Casbah can cause photosensitisation in livestock during spring if sown as a monoculture. Biserrula can be sown in mixtures, however this reduces herbicide management options. Grass selective herbicides are safe to use on Biserrula. Biserrula appears to have some levels of unpalatability during flowering and seed set. Therefore stock selectively graze weeds and other components of the pasture. This provides an opportunity to control weed seed set without herbicides.
Disease & pest resistance
Biserrula has good tolerance of redlegged earth mite and lucerne flea once past the cotyledon stage, but it is best to apply a suitable insecticide (PSPE) in the year of establishment. It is susceptible to aphids and can occasionally be damaged by Heliothis; insecticide should be applied if present. It is sensitive to some herbicides.
Stand life
High seed production and very high hard seed make it persistent once seed is set. Casbah is ideally suited to a year in, year out cropping system and should be cropped the year after establishment. After two seed sets in the first 3 years, it will persist after 3-5 years in continuous cropping cycles. In regenerating stands, where seed reserves are high, green and brown manuring can be used prior to a crop, knowing that seed levels are sufficient to regenerate after crop.
How it's sold
| Form | Pack | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bare | 25 kg | In stock |