Cadiz is a medium maturing pink pasture legume with a variable flowering date, developed particularly for low fertility, acid soils. Proving extremely vigorous and productive, it is soft-seeded, meaning it will germinate readily without the limiting need for de-hulling. Because of this it can be used as a permanent pasture on poor acid soils; however, its soft-seededness does not allow it to regenerate after cropping.
Key attributes
- Soft seeded, germinates readily without de-hulling
- Extremely vigorous and productive
- Very productive in spring with high nutritive value
- Highly palatable and low bloat risk
- Can be used as a permanent pasture on poor acid soils
- Does not regenerate after cropping
About this variety
Cadiz has many finely hairy branches with stems up to 70cm. It normally grows erect, ending up prostrate under grazing. It has a deep root system but not as deep as the yellow serradella. Its leaves are bluish green in colour, with white to dark pink flowers.
Its growth pattern is similar to that of sub-clover but it generally performs better on sandy acidic soils. It is best in deep (more than 60-80 cm), well-drained sands and sandy loam soils, but hard-setting soils (e.g. sodic) are unsuitable. It can tolerate infrequent mild frosts but not extended periods below zero degrees.
Its high-density levels and dry matter yields during spring make Cadiz well suited to grazing purposes. It can be used in pasture crop rotations for boosting productivity and nitrogen fixation. Its best companion species are grasses like Italian ryegrass and fescue, and summer-growing perennial species where appropriate such as panic grass and Rhodes grass; other mixes are legumes such as biserrula, gland clover, subterranean clover and yellow serradella. Its main use is for cattle and sheep feed. Annual dry matter production is commonly in the range of 3-7 t/ha but yields up to 10 t/ha are possible. At flowering it has 15-25% crude protein, 65-75% dry matter digestibility and 9.5-10.5 MJ/kg DM metabolisable energy.
Planting & grazing notes
Sowing time is April to early June. Because it is a soft seeded cultivar it does not require dehulling and can be sown in the pod form. Inoculate seed with Group G (serradella) peat inoculant as close to sowing as possible. 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. Seed production will benefit from potassium (50 kg/ha potash) applied at flowering. Cadiz can be cut for silage at pre-flowering to early flowering stage 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. Highly palatable, although sheep may avoid grazing young plants when they have no prior experience of grazing serradella.
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
With very few to no hard seeds present, persistence can be poor after 2-3 years. Its soft-seededness does not allow it to regenerate after cropping.
How it's sold
| Form | Pack | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Podded | 25 kg | In stock |