Overview

Moonbi is more prostrate than Wilpena and ideal for grazing, particularly for finishing lambs and cattle.

• Early maturing, semi-erect
• Dual purpose - fodder conservation & grazing systems

Sowing Requirements

Establishment is similar to that of other small seeded legumes. Sulla seedlings are large upon germination and are slow to establish. It is imperative to have a clean paddock; otherwise weed control is difficult, expensive and potentially unsuccessful.

Sulla is only available Superstrike® coated and inoculated as it has a unique strain of rhizobia that is required to optimize production.

The paddock should be well drained with moderate fertility and a neutral to alkaline pH. Prepare a fine, firm, weed free seed-bed prior to sowing. Sulla can be sown in early autumn, late winter or early spring. Sulla may be sown at 10 kg/ha of coated seed drilled no deeper than 10mm. The seed bed should be fine and firm to ensure good seed-soil contact and moisture retention. A target establishment rate is 25 plants per m2.

Sulla is best sown as a pure legume stand as early trial work has shown that Sulla doesn't compete very well against most other species. The key to success for sowing Sulla with companion species is to establish it in the first season and then look at a  companion species for the second year.

Grazing Management

Sulla is best managed with rotational grazing. Grazing intervals will vary from 35 to 85 days depending on moisture, day length and soil temperature. Sulla should not be 'crash' grazed as happens with lucerne and according to New Zealand studies, Sulla will not tolerate set stocking either.

It is advisable that in the establishment year, Sulla should be lightly grazed to ensure good root establishment and second year plant density. It is not recommended to cut Sulla for silage or hay in the first year.

Avoid grazing when soil is wet especially with cattle so as to minimize hoof damage and pugging. Allow regrowth of at least 30-40cm (12-16 inches) before grazing again with both cattle and sheep. Do not graze below 10cm as this will slow regrowth potential.

For more information download the Sulla Forage Focus