The first variety of French serradella to be developed in Australia, released for the 1996 season and bred for low fertility, acid soils where subterranean clover has failed. Cadiz is soft seeded, so it germinates readily without de-hulling and regenerates strongly in its second season at much higher densities than the hard seeded yellow serradellas. On poor acid sands it can lift carrying capacity from around 1 to 5 DSE/ha.
Key attributes
- Soft seeded, germinates without de-hulling
- Strong regeneration in the second season
- Deep rooted so needs less phosphorus
- Lifts carrying capacity on poor acid sands
- Fixes nitrogen and adds organic matter
- Does not regenerate after a cropping phase
About this variety
Cadiz was the first French serradella developed in Australia, released for the 1996 growing season out of work by CLIMA and the Pasture Improvement Group at Agriculture Western Australia. The problem it was bred to solve was a specific one: large areas of the West Midlands carry deep, infertile acid sands where subterranean clover simply will not persist, leaving country running at little more than one dry sheep equivalent per hectare.
What made Cadiz different was its soft seed. Where the hard-seeded yellow serradellas need de-hulling and take several seasons to build a stand, Cadiz germinates readily from pod and comes back in its second season at far higher densities. Growers can lift stock numbers from year two rather than waiting, and on the poorest acid sands the gain in carrying capacity has been measured at around fivefold.
Being deep rooted, it also asks less of the paddock than shallower rooted legumes, needing less phosphorus and potassium for good growth while returning nitrogen and organic matter to soils usually short of both. It suits the sheep and mixed farming country of the northern and central wheatbelt.
The soft seed is also the catch. Cadiz will not regenerate after a cropping phase, so it belongs in a pasture phase rather than a tight crop rotation unless it is sown alongside a hard seeded variety.
Planting & grazing notes
Seed production benefits from potassium (50 kg/ha potash) applied at flowering. Can be cut for silage at pre-flowering to early flowering, and for hay at early to mid flowering. Less than 10% of seed eaten by grazing animals passes through the digestive tract, with more passing through cattle than sheep. Sowing time April to early June; soft seeded so no dehulling required, can be sown in pod form. Graze lightly in the first year and remove stock in early spring to allow seed set. From the second year the pasture can be grazed heavily through winter, with grazing pressure reduced in spring to encourage seed production.
Disease & pest resistance
Tolerant of aphids. Monitor for redlegged earth mite and pasture loopers at germination, and for native budworm during pod formation.
Stand life
Persistence can be poor after 2-3 years due to very few to no hard seeds present; soft-seededness does not allow regeneration after cropping. Cadiz is soft seeded, so it germinates readily without the need for de-hulling, unlike the hard seeded yellow serradellas. This gives dramatic improvements in establishment, and the pasture regenerates well in the second season at much higher densities than the hard seeded types, so stock numbers can be lifted from the second year onwards. In seasons with a serious false break, survival of Cadiz seedlings can be poor and reseeding may be needed.
How it's sold
| Form | Pack | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Podded | 25 kg | In stock |
