From Springwood@mailbox.uq.oz.auWed Apr 17 00:28:46 1996 Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 11:05:40 GMT From: Chris L To: sustag-public@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: WEB PAGE: Tagasaste browse shrub Dr Laurie Snook, an agricultural researcher, has written a book about Tagasaste. Tagasaste is a hardy, leguminous shrub. In temperate climates it can provide heavy yields of nutritious green fodder for grazing animals. Tagasaste fodder can be an important base for aquaculture. It provides a high-protein feedstock for fish food from worm farms and snail farms, and for freshwater crustacea. The shrub is being exploited in dryland Australia for high- protein fodder. Even when grown on poor coastal sands tagasaste (correctly fertilised) can produce high yields of edible dry matter containing 23% to 27% crude protein and only 18% to 24% indigestible crude fibre. Australian farmers now growing tagasaste are reporting these additional benefits: * Shade and shelter for livestock during climate stress. * Wind and water erosion control. * Increased soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. * Reductions in water tables causing salinity problems. * Habitat for native birds that eat pasture and crop pests. * Green firebreaks around homesteads and along boundary fences. * Winter nectar for bees. * Reduced internal parasite problems as shrub fodder is browsed above pasture that harbours dung-borne worm eggs. Many Australian farmers are now following this revolution as soil salinity and soil acidity problems make browse shrubs a most sensible way to go in improving landcare. For more information please visit the web page at: http://www.thehub.com.au/~agrovis/agrovis