"China" wrote in message
G'day Farm 1,

The innoculant is only to maximise lucerns nitrogen fixing
properties, the
seed, often sold as alfalfa, sprouts readily and quickly. Try some
on the
window sill.

Alfalfa does sprout quickly and readily but that is in a controlled
situation where lots of water is available and where the growing media
is favourable.

If the dam that the OP mentioned is anything like most that I have
seen where a similar description would apply then I'd expect the
lucerne to have a tough time. Fine silt, no soil structure and at
this time of year probably getting on to being very dry. Lucerne has
the advantage of being deep rooted (in one case I've ehard of the
roots goign down 26 ft!) but it grows best with irrigation and in
goodish soil.

As a bush regenerator, I see the pasture issue differently I
suppose. Stock will eat it when there is little choice, as in bad
times,
which seems to be all we get lately. It's exellent for erosion
control.which
can be critical in some degraded pastures and neglected creek beds.

I think you are talking about stock eating regenerating bush???? If
you are then you'd be interested in what our cattle did with a very
large old tree (snow gum) which fell here a month or two ago. They
got right in amongst the branches and ate as much of the leaves as
they could get their mouths to. And this is with good pasture
available to them. They did a great job of cleaning up before we got
to it with the chain saw.

Wishing you some good rain,

Thanks. This is the first year that I can remember when the soil has
already been dry before the leaves of the deciduous trees have even
emerged. Doesn't look good for a top season.

Say hello to Mt George for me next time you are out that way.