To maximise the use of available space and for easy stock movements, Old Man Saltbush is planted out into the paddock in rows which gives a hedging effect. The standard plant spacing along the rows is 1m but in very fertile situations greater spacing is needed. The hedged rows of the saltbush need to be far enough apart to allow equal access by stock to all of the plants, so rows are generally no closer than three metres.

This “3m x 1m” given to the plants and rows result with a maximum of 3,333 seedlings per hectare. Such a plantation design is based on 50 years of research in South Africa but soils are quite poor in very arid areas of South Africa.

A more modern approach when establishing saltbush in Australia in higher rainfall areas, or on very favourable soil types, is to plant a double hedge row 2m apart then a wider gap of 4m. This 4m and 2m design of the rows gives maximum saltbush production in good areas. A 4m gap is required to maintain general stock movement around the paddock, while the 2m double row maintains plant density.

In very dry areas there may be a benefit in reducing the plant density from 3,333 plants per hectare down to around 2,000. This would give each plant a little more room in which to gain its water requirements. The plant spacing would be about 1.6m between plants instead of 1m, while keeping with the single rows 3m apart.

A common view is to plant saltbush on the worst sites of a property, for example, sites that are not be very productive or have become degraded. These areas will show the greatest percentage improvement, from a very low base, but the resulting grazing benefits of a commercial Old Man Saltbush plantation will be the best on the better quality soils.

A plantation of Old Man Saltbush put on the best soils will have the greatest bulk production and show the greatest returns from grazing in such a position. As is the usual case, the best soils will produce the best results and the most profit.

Old Man Saltbush is a great recycler of nutrients. For example, if a plantation of Old Man Saltbush was established on old farming country where the nutrients from the top layers of soil have been used by the previous cropping routine, the extensive and deep root system of the Old Man Saltbush will bring inaccessible nutrients from deep below to the stems and leaves of the plant. Old Man Saltbush is continually dropping leaves, so nutrients in the dropped leaves and in manure from the grazing stock, are returned to the top layers of the soil for use by all plants.

Old Man Saltbush must be given time to fully recover after grazing. Old Man Saltbush evolved in a situation where ancient herding animals would graze an area heavily then leave. This meant the plants that were completely defoliated and then would have an adequate period of rest before the next grazing attack. This is why set stocking of Old Man Saltbush is never recommended and it may well lead to the death of significant numbers of plants within a saltbush stand.

The old man saltbush species has no obvious or regular dormant growth period, so can be caringly grazed year-round; thus there is no time of the year when the rotational grazing cycle completely breaks down. It may not be quite as active in winter, especially where it is very cold, but it will keep producing all the same.

Stock will need to frequent the water supply more often throughout the day due to the higher salt content in their diet provided by the saltbush. Water is used to flush the salt from their body therefore it needs to be in good supply and easily accessed.

Old Man Saltbush will not compete with grasses between the rows, which are beneficial to this grazing system. We advise to encourage the grasses to grow in between the saltbush rows, as it is high in carbohydrate and with the high protein of the Old Man Saltbush makes a great balanced ration.

Usually if these plants are in a fertile situation, the saltbush plantation can be grazed for the first time when bushes are 0.8-1m high. Sometimes this can be in 8-10 months after planting.

“de Kock” Old Man Saltbush plant, in drought – 9 months old

For the first grazing, commence with a large numbers of sheep or cattle and defoliate bushes back until there is 10% leaf cover in 2 weeks or less. If there are fenced grazing cells in the new plantation then work the stock work through each cell quickly. This quick and intensive first grazing will set the saltbush plantation into a period of recovery and growth needed for a long life of high production from this new commercial saltbush stand.

In a rotational grazing scenario a minimum of four fenced grazing cells are needed because the maximum grazing duration for each cell is three months. The recovery period after a three month graze is about nine months. A more efficient method is to use at least 13 cells with a grazing duration of two weeks or less. The recovery period after two weeks of grazing is about six months; this means that each cell can be grazed twice a year instead of just once.

The stock need to be removed from cell when 90% leaf defoliation has occurred on most bushes, a good stocking rate is reached when this level of grazing has been reached in the time calculated for each grazing cell.

A word of warning is due and it relates to if the plantation is not grazed for some extended time, the plants can easily grow above the height at which sheep can reach and properly graze the tops of the bushes. If cattle are a part of the grazing mixture, this is not such a problem as cattle love to break down tall shrubs and this act allows grazing for all types of livestock. It is possible to cut the tall bushes mechanically with a modified slasher or forage harvester but this process is always best avoided because it is difficult and very time consuming.

All livestock that have not grazed Saltbush before will need a period of familiarisation before they will graze it enthusiastically. On the first introduction stock may recognise and graze all the familiar plants and then start on the saltbush in earnest last. Once having acquired the taste for saltbush, the next time they are exposed they will graze saltbush much more readily and may even prefer it to other types of plants.