The influence of herbage height at treading and treading intensity on the yields and botanical composition of a perennial ryegrass-white clover pasture

Abstract

To cite this article: K. R. Brown (1968) The influence of herbage height at treading and treading intensity on the yields and botanical composition of a perennial ryegrass-white clover pasture, New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 11:1, 131-137, DOI: 10.1080/00288233.1968 ABSTRACTThe effects of sheep treading and herbage cover at treading on the yield and botanical composition of a perennial ryegrass-white clover pasture were assessed at four rates of treading.Where pasture was trodden before the herbage was removed, compared with treading pasture after defoliation, higher yields of total herbage and sown species were recorded in winter and spring, but not in autumn and summer.At the highest treading intensity marked reduction in herbage yields were recorded in all seasons, but at treading intensities of 24 sheep equivalents per acre or less, reductions were much less marked in some seasons.The implications of the results obtained on extrapolations from experimental treading investigations to farm practice, on the significance of herbage cover at treading in farm practice, and on farm management systems, are discussed.

Effects of treading and defoliation height on the growth ofPaspalum dilatatumPoir

“…These interactions offered no evidence of protection against treading damage from a higher stubble as found by Brown (1968). The first interaction revealed paspalum leaf yield to be depressed more severely by treading (TI5 and T60) in the 5 ern stubble treatment, and the second showed increased yield per tiller with a 5 ern stubble only in the absence of treading (TO).…”

“…The influence of grazing on paspalum production may be associated with animal effects of biting or treading, or interspecific plant competition which mav interact with each other and with other factors 'such as height of defoliation or seasons (Brown 1968). Treading by sheep depresses the growth of all species but there is significant variation in susceptibility among species (Edmond 1966).…”

An analysis of environmental and economic implications of nil and restricted grazing systems designed to reduce nitrate leaching from New Zealand dairy farms. II. Pasture production and cost/benefit analysis

“…A reduction in annual pasture production because of animal treading has been shown in various studies and ranges from 0 to 38% (e.g., Campbell 1966;Brown 1968;Edmond 1970;Mullen et al 1978;Drewry & Paton 2000). Short-term reductions in DM yield can be even more severe, with a reduction in DM yield of up to 81% over a 5-month period following intensive treading by cattle (Cluzeau et al 1992).…”

“…Short-term reductions in DM yield can be even more severe, with a reduction in DM yield of up to 81% over a 5-month period following intensive treading by cattle (Cluzeau et al 1992). Various studies have shown the highest reductions in DM yield at higher stocking rates, or when the treading damage was not (partly) compensated for by the input of excretal nutrients (Bryant & Blaser 1961, 1968Charles & Valentine 1978;Cluzeau et al 1992). Edmond (1970) showed that annual yield increased when pasture was grazed at low stocking rates, compared with no grazing, but decreased at a very high stocking rate.…”

Effects of animals on pasture production

“…Similarly, plant growth is improved by cattle dung (Bornemissza & Williams 1970;MacDiamid & Watkin 1971) and urine (Norman & Green 1958;During & McNaught 1961). However, trampling by stock (Edmond 1974;Brown 1968) can reduce pasture production, as will overgrazing. The beneficial effects of grazing stock can be manipulated to outweigh the detrimentai effects in managed situations.…”