Pasture yield estimations using a capacitance meter were compared with data obtained from the random quadrat and cage techniques and with the actual yields. The cage technique gave the most accurate and consistent estimations of the yield whereas the random quadrat method underestimated the yield and the capacitance meter gave inconsistent results.
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(80 KB)Field experiments, conducted mainly on the severely phosphorus deficient pumice soils of the Rangitaiki Plateau, have shown tha: pasture and lucerne will establish rapidly and grow vigorously, provided: (1) The legume seed is inoculated and, preferably, coated. (2) The seed is sown very early in spring, into a consolidated seedbed. (3) A heady rate omf superphosphate is applied, 10 cwt/ac for pasure, and up to 20cwt/ac for lucerne. Drilling of some phosphate fertilizer with the seed is desirable. (4) Potassium and magnesium fertilizers are applied where neces sary. (5) The seedbed for lucerne is prepared with 1 ton/at lime. The base fertilizer for this crop should include copper and boron, and the seed should be drilled with 3 cwt/ac lime.
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(118 KB)An electronic capacitance meter was used to estimate pasture yield in a grazing experiment of two years’ duration. One day each month a yield measurement and meter reading were made at ten sites within each of four paddocks. The regression of pasture dry weight on meter reading was calculated for each of 84 paddocks and only about half were found significant at the 5% level. Significant differences in regression coeficients or intercepts existed between individual paddock regressions for 19 of the 21 months. Pred’iction of yield was least reliable in autumn. It is concluded that factors causing variations in yield-meter reading relationships need identification and their effects reduced before the meter can be used widely in grazing trials
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(114 KB)The seasonal production of six cultivars of subterranean clover, Geraldton, Yarloop, Woogcnellup, Clare, Mount Barker and Tallarook, was evaluated under cutting in North Canterbury. Woogenellup and Clare produced more than 7,OOOIb DM/ac, 2,OOOlb DM/ao more than the other cultivars.. Geraldton produced the highest seed yield and seed yields tended to decline with increased lateness of flowering.
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(146 KB)Production of pastures measured by the trim and difference cutting techniques are presented for sites on North Island hill pastures and South Island improved tussock grasslands. On North Island sites the trim technique consistently gave higher yields. On South Island sites, interim results have shown no consistent overall effect, although large differences in yields have been measured at some cuts. The number of samples required by the trim lechnique to give a standard error + 10% of mean yield was 30 on North Island sites (sample size 0.3 m x 0.2 m) and 15 on South Island sites (sample size 0.5 m x 0.5 m). The difference technique was much more variable and required 5 and 20 times more samples on North and South Island sites, respectively, to give a standard error +- 10% of the mean yield. On another North Island site, large, laxly trimmed sampling sites gave higher yields than smaller, severely trimmed sampling sites and one large sample (3.4 m x 1 .O m) generally gave similar precision in yields to 6 or 7 smaller samples (0.8 m x 0.3 m).
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(189 KB)Production of pastures measured by the trim and difference cutting techniques are presented for sites on North Island hill pastures and South Island improved tussock grasslands. On North Island sites the trim technique consistently gave higher yields. On South Island sites, interim results have shown no consistent overall effect, although large differences in yields have been measured at some cuts. The number of samples required by the trim lechnique to give a standard error + 10% of mean yield was 30 on North Island sites (sample size 0.3 m x 0.2 m) and 15 on South Island sites (sample size 0.5 m x 0.5 m). The difference technique was much more variable and required 5 and 20 times more samples on North and South Island sites, respectively, to give a standard error +- 10% of the mean yield. On another North Island site, large, laxly trimmed sampling sites gave higher yields than smaller, severely trimmed sampling sites and one large sample (3.4 m x 1 .O m) generally gave similar precision in yields to 6 or 7 smaller samples (0.8 m x 0.3 m).
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(189 KB)IN December 1959, fifteen farms were ballotted for in the Rotorua area and the writer was lucky enolugh to draw one at Whakamaru. It was 294 acres, divided into six paddocks with no woolshed or yards. It had a good type of farm house, an implement shed, a deep well and pump and each of the paddocks was watered. The value of the improvements on this blcck was $18,400 of which $4,200 was paid in cash. Security was taken over a car and other personal assets. At that time the value of the car, horses and dogs and implements was acceptable as part of the deposit.
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(85 KB)The talk delivered at the Grassland Conference was a summary of the following two papers which were published recently in the New Zealand journal of Agricultural Reseurch: Lucerne Establishment Studies on Uncultivated Country. I. Germination and seeding establishment. II. A nodulation problem, by C. G. Janson and J. G. White. N.Z. Jl ngric. Res., 14: 572-96. 1971. For full details of the experiment, this journal should be consulted. A summary of the paper is given below.
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(20 KB)Eleven years of experimentation ha’ve resulted in certain establish ment procedures being recommended and it has been shown that direct drilling of lucerne into chemically killed turf has given yields comparable with notmal cultivation methods. Maintenance topdressing trials have shown responses to increased quantities of potash, intermittent responses to sulphur, conststent responses to lime, and fleeting responses to boron. A grazing experiment with four lucerne varieties is described where increased yields have been obtained from a comparison of haying and grazing over production from a pure hay stand.
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(138 KB)“Wairau” and “Chanticleer” lucernes were subjected to a series of different mowing and grazing treatments. The effects of these treatments were measured in subsequent spring cuts in terms of: (a) Total dry matter yields. (b) Dry matter yields of lucerne. (c) Dry matter yields of other species. Stem height and number were also examined. The experiment confirmed the importance of adequate spelling between successive grazings in the maintenance of a vigorous crop, capable of competing with invading grasses and weeds. There was no significant difference between the two varieties in the way they responded to the grazing treatments. It was clear that lucerne can be a valuable crop in the humid, temperate climate of the North Island.
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(112 KB)On twenty-four sites throughout the country the effect of time and rate of applied nitrogen on “out-of-season” pasture production was studied over two seasons (1969-70 and 1970-71). Responses to spring-applied nitrogen wem more reliable than to autumn-applied. Spring responses varied from slight (2-7 kg DM/kg N) in the Waik& o, Bay of Plenty and parts of Canterbury to very good (10-20 kg DM/kg N) in Taranati, Dannevirke, southern Wairarapa, northern South Island, Westland and parts of Southland. When yield responses are considered as a substitute for hay, or other supplementary feedstuffs, payable results occur above about 7 kg DM/kg N. Factors such as time of application, soil type, pasture composition and amount of nitrogen in the soil affected the response to applied nitrogen.
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(125 KB)On light droughty soils in Canterbury, ‘Grasslands Tama’ westerwolds ryegrass when overdrilled into lucerne has produced between 1,200 and 5,200 kg/hi1 of dry herbage, in part supplementary and in part complementary to Lucerne growth. Factors affecting growth of the overdrilled ryegrass, such as time of sowing, use of nitrogen at overdrilling and in mid-winter, and of grazing in mid-winter and early spring, are illustrated. On heavier moisture-retentive soils, autumn growth of lucerne reduces establishment of overdrilled grass. At high stocking rates on all-lucerne farms on light lands Tama ryegra’ss can provide high quality greenfeed prior to spring growth of lucerne and thus assist management to better equate feed supply with stock needs. Where Tama ryegrass is sown in cultivated soil, herbage yields far exceed those obtained where it is overdrilled into lucerne. Systems analysis may aid the development of a sound choice for use of the afbove grass with lucerne. Because ruminants are inefficient converters of leaf protein to animal protein the use is suggested oi Lucerne overdrilled with grass for producing leaf-protein concentrate for monogastric animal feeding and partial-protein-extracted residue for feeding ruminants.
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(124 KB)A nine-year comparison was made of pasture yields measured by the “mowing and clippings returned” and the “enclosure” techniques of yield estimation. Using the former technique, pasture yields declined at a rate of 270 to 360 kg/hn dry matter per annum. Using the “enclosure” technique (which includes the grazing animal) there was no change in pasture production with time. Both techniques detected significant responses to superphosnhate. Results from the “mowing and clinoinas returned” techniaue approximated absolute pasture production for a period of up to three years. The “enclosure” technique is considered to have provided a reliable. estimate of absolute production over the nineyear period.
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(138 KB)The region contains half the area of exotic forest in New Zealand and the major industries dependent thereon. Both are expanding rapidly to meet promising export markets. Local conditions are particularly favourable for this form of primary production and continued expansion is expected.
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(52 KB)The recommendations for fertilizer mixtures currently in use on established pastures in Taupo County were derived from the results of field experiments and soil analyses. The time of application, and the composition, of these mixtures is governed by such effects as: the leaching of sulphate because of the generally low retention of sulphate by pumice soils; the build-up of phosphorus in the soil allowing phosphate applications to be reduced; the decrease in soil magnesium status due to applications of potassium.
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(306 KB)TAUPO has evolved as a region of New Zealand with unique features. The volcanic ash covered some 9,000 square miles and the soils which developed, though young in geological age, were found to be highly suited to both exotic timber production and, eventually, pastoral use. Taupo is the fount of that valuable resource - water, a vital element fully exploited by man for both electricity and trout fishing.
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(101 KB)A simple pasture yield meter based on the use of a weighted metal disc is described. The device has been calibrated against pastur,: dry matter yield from mowing machine Luts over all seasons and a range of pasture types.
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(293 KB)The post-tax returns/acre/annum of farm woodlot scale forestry are compared with sheep siocked at 5 stock units/acre. The results are presented as a break-even timber value. This is the paint at which returns from forestry and farming are equal, thereby implying that farm forestry would be more profitable than sheep grazing at timber values above the breakeven.
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