PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT ON EAST COAST NORTH ISLAND HILL COUNTRY

1984 ◽  
pp. 216-218
Author(s):  
B.J. Arnst ◽  
O.L. Park
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Stock Management ◽  
Hill Country

Large areas of North Island hill country are producing below potential as a result of low fertility and poor pasture composition. Removal of undesirable species and replacement with a higher producing pasture is essential for increased productivity but is difficult to achieve. A development programme is described where the use of glyphosate in close association with oversowing and stock management has allowed rapid pasture establishment, marked increase in carrying capacity and a quick return on investment. Keywords: Pasture establishment, glyphosate, oversowing, white clover, subdivision, productivity.

Quantifying the value proposition for white clover persistence on a New Zealand summer-dry hill-country farm

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 199-209
Author(s):  
Mike B. Dodd ◽  
Katherine N. Tozer ◽  
Iris Vogeler ◽  
Rose Greenfield ◽  
David R. Stevens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
The North ◽  
Farm System

The improvement in forage quality and quantity of summer-dry hill country pasture resulting from the introduction of clover is well recognised. However, ensuring the persistence of the commonly availablecultivars is challenging, in the face of seasonal moisture stress, intensive grazing, competition from established well-adapted pasture species, low soil fertility and low soil pH – conditions typical of the East Coast of the North Island. Here we quantify the value proposition associated with the introduction of white clover into a case study on a Gisborne sheep and beef farm, using a six-step process. A topographically explicit approach is taken, using an understanding of the underlying spatial variability, based on a combination of soil and pasture measurements, APSIM simulation modelling of pasture growth and farm system modelling of enterprise performance. We show that from a baseline of a typical low-fertility, diverse species hill country pasture, white clover introduction can increase spring and summer forage consumption by 17%, enabling inclusion of an additional 6-month bull finishing enterprise generating a 32% greater carcass weight production and leading to a 49% improvement in farm system EBIT. This represents a positive net present value of over $360,000 for the original investment in white clover establishment into existing pastures.

ESTABLISHMENT OF HILL COUNTRY WHITE CLOVER SELECTIONS FROM OVERSOWING

1983 ◽  
pp. 149-155
Author(s):  
J.F.L. Charlton ◽  
N.G. Giddens
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Plant Survival ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Hill

The establishment characteristics of three hill country white clover selections were compared with 'Grasslands Huia' and Kent white clover after oversowing in spring and autumn on a low fertility, summerdrv hill country site near Palmerston North. The hill country selections gave 15-16% establishment of sown seed in spring. whereas in autumn two of the hill country selections established much higher seedling numbers than other clovers, one-third surviving at 6 weeks. Less than 5% of Huia seed established in autumn. Less than one-quarter of spring-sown seedlings survived dry summer conditions. Plant survival at one year after autumn oversowing was markedlv better and at this stage, two of the hill country selections had developed 6 times the stolon density of Huia and they were giving at least 3 times the herbage content in the pasture. Keywords: Legume establishment, white clover, hill country, seedling establishment, plant survival, slugs, oversowing, stolon density, nematodes.

scholarly journals Controlling variegated thistle in East Coast North Island hill-country

2018 ◽  
pp. 225-234
Author(s):  
Katherine N Tozer ◽  
Rose M Greenfield ◽  
Mike B Dodd ◽  
Trevor K James ◽  
Catherine A Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Aerial Application ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Selective Grazing

Variegated thistle can dominate north-facing slopes on North Island East Coast hill-country reducing pasture production and livestock carrying capacity. On a hill-country sheep and beef property near Gisborne, the herbicides 2,4-D + clopyralid were applied in early-May by knapsack in combination with a June aerial application of 2,4-D ester. This was more effective than a single June aerial application of 2,4-D ester in reducing the abundance of variegated thistle and enabling grasses from the seedbank to colonise the bare ground in the herbicide-treated patches. Mixtures of grasses, legumes and herbs, oversown onto bare patches previously occupied by thistle plants, did not establish on a north-facing slope. While they did establish on a south-facing slope, the sown species did not persist, most likely due to selective grazing. To establish competitive pasture, natural germination from the seedbank may be less risky than oversowing seed into thistle patches, if desirable species are present in the seedbank.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND PASTURE IMPROVEMENT IN SOUTH OTAGO TUSSOCK HILL COUNTRY

1989 ◽  
pp. 41-45
Author(s):  
A.W. Pantall
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Good Position ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Future ◽  
The 1950S

Over the past 25 years farmers in South Otago have raised the carrying capacity of native undeveloped tussock land from 0.6 su/ha to 15 su/ha through techniques of cultivation and oversowing. The success has been achieved by a whole range of mterrelated operations, which have evolved from cultivating ploughable undeveloped tussock land and sowing into pastures with white clover/fyegrass cultivars. and oversowing the rougher undeveloped hills with similar Pasture species. Soils of the region lacked molybdenum and phosphate, and topdressing with molybdlc superphosphate greatly increased white clover yields. In the 1950s animal production was based on breeding and selling store stock, but today the emphasis is on retaining stock and fattening for export The results of development over the last two to three decades have put the farmers in a good position to meet the future, especially the economic problems facing the industry. Keywords: molybdenum, oversowing. grarmg management, productivity, cultivars, tussock hill country

scholarly journals Effects of summer grazing and fertiliser on the clover content of hill country swards in the Gisborne region

1990 ◽  
pp. 113-117
Author(s):  
C.J. Korte ◽  
S.J. Quilter
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Grass Growth ◽  
Clover Content ◽  
Summer Grazing ◽  
Better Than

Preliminary results are presented from an investigation to identify reasons for the low clover content of hill country pastures in the Gisborne-East Coast region. Four experiments were established near Gisbome. Treatments included: fertiliser versus no fertiliser; summer grazing versus no summer grazing; and clover cultivars (transpanted into swards). Summer rainfall had the major influence on the clover content of swards. With a reliable high summer rainfall the clover content averaged 16% of herbage. By contrast, with less reliable and lower summer rainfall, the clover content averaged 4-5% and subterranean clover was more important, Summer spelling of pasture, which allowed rank grass growth, reduced both white and subterranean clover content of swards. Fertiliser inputs increased the clover content of swards. Performance of cultivars was affected by grazing, differences between cultivars being greatest with summer grazing. The small-leaved cultivars of white clover ('Grasslands Tahora' and 'Whatawhata') initially performed better than larger-leaved cultivars at the high summer rainfall site, but failed to sustain any advantage. 'Tallarook' subterranean clover increased the clover content of swards with summer grazing. Keywords white clover, subterranean clover, East Coast, hill country, fertiliser, grazing management

scholarly journals Long term (?) effects of withholding superphosphate application on North Island hill country: a 10-year update

1999 ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.B. Dodd ◽  
S.F. Ledgard
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Olsen P ◽  
Over Time

Measurements of soil phosphate, pasture production and botanical composition from two superphosphate fertiliser trials in northern North Island hill country (Whatawhata and Te Kuiti) have been made over a 15-year period. The impacts of superphosphate fertiliser withholding have included a decline in Olsen P, decreases in annual pasture production of 10-17% (Whatawhata) and 22-42% (Te Kuiti), decreases in the abundance of productive and desirable species (15-20% for ryegrass and white clover), and increases in the abundance of undesirable species (browntop and other low fertility grasses). These changes have increased over time, beyond that period covered by the original experiments (4-6 years). Different responses to withholding between the two sites are still apparent, and the reasons for these are explored. It is not clear that these systems have yet reached a new equilibrium, nor how long it will take for this to happen. The implications for our view of longterm grassland studies are discussed. Keywords: fertiliser, long-term, pasture production, pasture species composition

ON-FARM FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR NORTHLAND

1986 ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
J.S. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Joint Ventures ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Financial Returns ◽  
Farm Forestry ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Financial Position ◽  
On Farm

Agroforests and woodlots offer Northland hill country farmers investment and diversification opportunities. Agroforests have less effect on the "whole farm" financial position than woodlots, especially where a progressive planting regime is adopted and where no further borrowing is required. Establishment and tending costs for agro-forests are lower, and returns come much sooner. The proven opportunity for continued grazing under trees established in this manner, apart from a short post-planting period, further enhances the agroforesty option. Even where there is reluctance on a farmer's part to plant trees on high fertility land, the expected financial returns from agroforests on low and medium fertility land will increase the overall long-term profitability and flexibility of the whole farming operation. Woodlots may be more appropriate on low fertility areas where weed reversion is likely. Joint ventures may be worth considering where farm finances are a limited factor. Keywords: On-farm forestry development, Northland hill country, agroforestry, woodlots, diversification, joint ventures, progressive planting regimes, grazing availability.

Dry-matter yield ofLotusvarieties in grass-white clover mixtures in a low-fertility soil

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Marshall ◽  
M. Fothergill ◽  
E. Rees ◽  
E. Sizer-Coverdale ◽  
R. P. Collins
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Dry Matter Yield
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