Pasture establishment on non-cultivable hill country: a review of the New Zealand literature

Tozer, K. N.; Douglas, G. B.

doi:10.33584/rps.16.2016.3233

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…White et al 1972). Hard grazing or herbicide application prior to oversowing is critical to reduce competition with resident pasture species and allow establishment (Tozer and Douglas 2016). Alternatively, hill country pastures can also be managed to increase the content of subterranean clover when drilling is not possible (Olykan et al 2019).…”

Section: Species Mixtures For a Tagasaste Silvopasturementioning

confidence: 99%

Tagasaste silvopastures in steep-hill country. 2. Effect of increasing proximity to tagasaste on growth and survival of companion pasture species

Tozer

Noakes

Douglas³

et al. 2023

Crop & Pasture Science

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Context. Tagasaste (Cytisus proliferus), a fast-growing leguminous tree, has potential to supplement pasture production in steep-hill country and to increase pasture resilience.Aims. In the companion paper, we quantified tagasaste production characteristics. Here, we determine the effect of proximity of 10-year-old tagasaste trees on productivity of eight pasture species including grasses (perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne; cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata; prairie grass, Bromus willdenowii; microlaena, Microlaena stipoides), perennial legumes (white clover, Trifolium repens; red clover, T. pratense; lotus, Lotus pedunculatus), and an annual legume (subterranean clover, T. subterraneum).Methods. A site was established in the East Coast region of the North Island of New Zealand on steep-hill country (>20° slope). Herbage production, nutritive value and survival of pasture species established as spaced transplants were measured over 3 years.Results. Cocksfoot had high survival, herbage production and metabolisable energy content but was negatively affected by proximity to tagasaste. Microlaena was not significantly affected by proximity to tagasaste; however, it was much less productive and had lower nutritive values than the other grasses. Only 40% of perennial ryegrass transplants survived 3 years, and survival of perennial legumes was negligible. Subterranean clover was able to set seed in the open and in shade.Conclusions. Cocksfoot was the most productive grass species, and microlaena was least affected by proximity to tagasaste. Given the poor persistence of perennial clovers, annual clovers may be better suited to a tagasaste silvopasture on steep, dry hillsides.Implications. Mixtures of cocksfoot and subterranean clover may be well suited to summer-dry hillsides, between and under trees in a tagasaste silvopasture. Microlaena may provide some forage and can maintain groundcover despite shade.

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Section: Species Mixtures For a Tagasaste Silvopasturementioning

confidence: 99%

Tagasaste silvopastures in steep-hill country. 2. Effect of increasing proximity to tagasaste on growth and survival of companion pasture species

Tozer

Noakes

Douglas³

et al. 2023

Crop & Pasture Science

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“…One of the advantages of monocultures is that they are able to target weeds effectively, which can overcome some of the difficulties associated with legume establishment in hill country (Tozer and Douglas 2016). This strategy has been used to successfully integrate red clover monocultures into satellite areas of hill country farms in wetter (800-1100 mm) environments (E).…”

Section: Red Clovermentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of legume research and extension in New Zealand (1990–2022)

Moot

2022

Crop & Pasture Science

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Legumes have underpinned transformational change on New Zealand sheep and beef farms over the last 30 years. This was through an emphasis on ewe nutrition based on lucerne or red clover dominant pastures, and increased use of subterranean and white clovers on uncultivatable hill country. Pre- and post-weaning lamb growth rates have increased, and enabled earlier slaughter of heavier lambs. The farm systems results include greater numbers of hoggets mated, higher lambing percentages and greater ewe efficiency (kg lamb weaned/kg ewe mated). Extension packages to support legume use have compared growth rates of resident and legume-based pastures, economic analyses of successful farms and management packages for the most appropriate legume in different environments. Over the same period, the dairy industry rapidly expanded in cow numbers and area onto flat irrigated land on the Canterbury Plains. The nitrogen deficiency of perennial ryegrass was overcome by a linear increase in nitrogen fertiliser use. Environmental concerns from this intensification has led to a legislated nitrogen cap of 190 kg/ha.year. This, coupled with a recent trebling in urea price, has returned attention to increasing the white clover content of these pastures. Nitrogen applications can be minimised by using diverse pastures sown with a legume, herb and <8 kg/ha of perennial ryegrass. Work on other legumes, including annuals and those with condensed tannins, has to date failed to increase their use in most pastoral settings, with the exception of the perennial lupin which is adapted to high-aluminium soils in the South Island High Country.

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“…Despite this, the legume content of hill country pastures is frequently low and, at times, the economics of applying fertiliser and lime to maintain the legume is uncertain (Morton et al, 2022). The introduction of legumes to grass dominant swards is also difficult, particularly through oversowing (Tozer and Douglas 2016). Where they do establish, preferential grazing by animals (Clark and Harris 1985) reduces the legumes competitive ability against resident grasses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total annual and seasonal DM production of improved and unimproved resident pastures at three farms in Canterbury

Moot

Smith²,

Mills³

2023

Journal of NZ Grasslands

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Yield differences between resident and improved pastures were quantified over a 3-4 yr period on three rainfed farms located in North Canterbury (Stockgrove, north of Amberley), Banks Peninsula (Willesden Farm) and the Mid-Canterbury foothills (Inverary Station). Improved pastures produced two- to three-times more feed annually than unimproved resident pastures at each property. At Stockgrove, improved chicory/white clover-based pastures produced 14.1±0.66 t DM/ha/yr compared with 4.36±0.41 t DM/ha/yr from unimproved pastures. Spring accounted for 85% (improved) and 72% (unimproved) of total annual DM production. At Willesden, lucerne monocultures produced 11.5±0.97t DM/ha/yr, which was more than the 4.44±0.45 t DM/ha/yr produced from resident pastures. Improved pastures at Inverary yielded 7.31±0.59 t DM/ha in summer/autumn of 2018/19, which was more than double the 3.34±0.43 t DM/ha from unimproved pastures. In 2019/2020, improved pastures produced 11.7±1.45 t DM/ha compared with 4.45±0.73 t DM/ha. In the third growth season (2020/2021) improved pastures produced 14.1±1.76 t DM/ha compared with 6.67±1.38 t DM/ha from unimproved pastures. In Year 4 (2021/22) the 12.6±1.29 t DM/ha from improved pastures was 56% more than the 8.07±0.85 t DM/ha from the unimproved pastures. Substantial increases in annual and seasonal feed supply patterns can be achieved through hill country pasture improvement.

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Pasture establishment on non-cultivable hill country: a review of the New Zealand literature

Cited by 8 publications

References 47 publications

Tagasaste silvopastures in steep-hill country. 2. Effect of increasing proximity to tagasaste on growth and survival of companion pasture species

Tagasaste silvopastures in steep-hill country. 2. Effect of increasing proximity to tagasaste on growth and survival of companion pasture species

A review of legume research and extension in New Zealand (1990–2022)

Total annual and seasonal DM production of improved and unimproved resident pastures at three farms in Canterbury

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