Overview

Maru is a productive and persistent semi-erect phalaris with lower alkaloids and increased saline tolerance. Maru phalaris was bred from a line of phalaris from Argentina. It is similar in habit to Australian phalaris, but has better seedling vigour and lower alkaloid levels giving reduced risk of phalaris staggers.

• Salt tolerant phalaris

• Better establishment vigour than Australian

• Lower alkaloid content (associated with phalaris staggers)

• Maru may be sown as part of a perennial pasture mix.

 

Variety	Maru
Type	Phalaris
Ploidy	Diploid
Heading Date	All
Endophyte Options	N/A
Stock Suitability	All
Sowing Rate	• In low rainfall areas (500–550 mm) it should be sown at 3 kg/ha, with 1kg/ha Tekapo cocksfoot, plus Goulburn sub clover. • In moderate rainfall areas (550–700 mm) it should be sown in a 50/50 mix with Holdfast phalaris (4 kg/ha total), plus Goulburn and Leura sub clover. • In high rainfall areas (600–750 mm) it should be sown in a mix with Resolute winter active tall fescue (4 kg/ha total), plus Leura sub clover. • In heavy or wet soils or under summer rainfall it should be sown at 2 kg/ha with Quantum tall fescue (7 kg/ha) plus Leura sub clover, Tahora white clover, Bolta balansa clover and Upward strawberry clover. • In moderately saline areas (550–700 mm) it should be sown in a mix with Dundas tall wheat grass (5 kg/ha), Quantum tall fescue (5 kg/ha) plus Bolta balansa and Upward strawberry clover.
Recommended Seed Treatment	Ultrastrike
Notes	MARU is well suited to sow into areas receiving a minimum of 500 mm annual rainfall. It is suited to a wide range of soil types, and has performed well across south east Australia in trials. It should not be sown in soils with high levels of aluminium. In Australian trials Maru has shown better salt tolerance compared with other phalaris cultivars. For high salinity situations EC > 4 dS/m it should be sown in a mix with Dundas tall wheatgrass.

 

Testimonials

MARU PHALARIS – GREG SHEATHER

Greg Sheather manages ‘Strowan’, a 900 hectare mixed farm enterprise near Nile, 40km south east of Launceston. With a 570mm annual rainfall, the property runs Merino ewes, finishes steers, and grows cereals, poppies and pasture seed. As part of a clean-up program, Greg has been growing cereals and then sowing down to pasture after that. Greg said, “I’ve had previous experience growing phalaris and when I came here I saw an opportunity to try it on this property, as...

+ Read more