Fran₂o is a new improved variety of Margurita Serradella offering an all year round pasture seeding option if seeded as a podded seed (sowing rate 15-20kg/ha) in summer. Hard seeded, pink flower with a shorter time to maturity than Margurita. Suited to acid sandy or loamy soils. Highly palatable and very productive in spring with a high nutritive value.
Key attributes
- New improved variety of Margurita
- Early maturing, hard seeded French serradella
- Sown in pod in summer or de-hulled at the season break
- Suited to acid sandy loam and loamy sand soils
- Highly palatable and low bloat risk
- Very productive in spring with high nutritive value
About this variety
Fran₂o Serradella is an early maturing pasture legume, proving extremely vigorous and productive. It normally grows erect, ending up prostrate under grazing. It has a deep root system and produces white to dark pink flowers. It is suited to sandy loam/loamy sand soils with a deep profile of more than 20 cm of topsoil and an acidic pH. It has 25% larger seed than Margurita, which gives it better early vigour. This helps it compete strongly against weeds, and it also provides early feed of very high nutritive value for stock.
It is hard seeded, with a hard seed breakdown pattern suited for summer sowing. This means that seed can be sown in February in pod, without dehulling. If preferred, pod can be dehulled and the seed then scarified for sowing at the season break.
Its high-density levels and dry matter yields during spring make Fran₂o 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, French serradella and yellow serradella. It can tolerate infrequent mild frosts but not extended periods below zero degrees. 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
Summer sowing of pod is in late February/early March at a depth of 5-10mm, using inoculant group G/S; winter sowing of dehulled and scarified seed is from April to early June, 5-10mm into moist soil, using peat slurry inoculated seed or granular group G/S inoculant at recommended rates. Plant into a relatively weed-free paddock with no history of SU or clopyralid herbicides. Fertilise according to soil test, ensuring adequate K and S; banding a wetter is an advantage for establishment in non-wetting soils. Spray post sowing/pre-emergent for RLEM control and monitor for native budworm in spring during seed set. Seed production will benefit from potassium (50 kg/ha potash) applied at flowering. Fran₂o can be cut for silage at pre-flowering to early flowering and for hay at early to mid-flowering. Sheep may avoid grazing young plants when they have no prior experience of grazing serradella.
Stand life
Hard seeded, with a hard seed breakdown pattern suited for summer sowing. It is advised to obtain a good seed set in year 1, crop over it with a cereal in year 2, then regenerate in year 3 to set up a reliable seed bank.
How it's sold
| Form | Pack | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Scarified | 25 kg | In stock |
| Podded | 25 kg | In stock |