Innovative pasture optimisation for drought-resilient farming systems
The research group – Pasture Optimisation for Drought Solution (PODS) – focuses on developing resilient pasture systems for dryland and mixed farming systems to empower farmers with sustainable and climate-smart pasture options that maintain productivity while safeguarding natural resources.
Our research is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) through the Future Drought Fund and Climate-Smart Agriculture Programs. Our researchers work in partnership with SA Drought Hub, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), SA Livestock, and farming system groups spread across Adelaide Hills, Murray Mallee and Upper Eyre Peninsula.
The performance of diverse novel annual pasture legume species in South Australia is underway, including assessment of multispecies swards as well as different grazing strategies in terms of soil health improvements, nitrogen fixation, and forage quality under drought conditions.
By combining on-farm experiments, farmer collaboration, and data-driven approaches, the PODS group aims to design pasture systems ensuring seamless transitions between pasture and crop phases in ley farming systems.
