scholarly journals Seasonal patterns of pasture production in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato

Author(s):  
J.A. Baars ◽  
G.J. Goold ◽  
M.F. Hawke ◽  
P.J. Kilgarriff ◽  
M.D. Rolm

Patterns of pasture growth were measured on 3 farms in the Bay of Plenty (BOP) and at No2 Dairy (Ruakura Agricultural Centre) in the Waikato from 1989 to 199 1. A standardised trim technique with cages and 4-weekly cutting under grazing was used. Long-term seasonal growth patterns, using a predictive pasture model, were also simulated. Simulated pasture growth from long-term climatic data shows that pasture growth rates are higher in winter, early spring and late autumn in the BOP than the Waikato. However, the actual measurements over the 2 years show that pasture growth over the latter periods is lower at the BOP sites than at the Waikato site. In the BOP the spring peak is much later than in the Waikato while an early summer peak, with higher growth rates than in the Waikato, occurred in the BOP. No such summer peak was evident in the Waikato. The difference between the two regions is caused by the large contribution of subtropical grasses to sward production in summer and autumn, The prolific summer growth of subtropical grasses may explain the low ryegrass content and low pasture production in winter. The lower than expected autumn, winter, spring production may also becaused by low clover content, possibly a result of competition from subtropical grasses and a sulphur deficiency. The apparent low amount of nitrogen fixed by clover may explain the low rates of pasture production over the cooler season. Applications of nitrogen fertiliser may substantially increase dry matter production from April to September. Keywords pasture,simulation,subtropical grasses, Paspalum, Digitaria sanguinalis, growth rates

Author(s):  
L.C. Smith

Pasture growth rates for Southland were reported by several researchers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, pasture species and farm management systems have changed somewhat since then. This paper presents data from measurements at Woodlands, near Invercargill, that have been ongoing since 1977, and discusses some of the variability that has occurred over the years. Measurement of pasture growth was done using a standardised cutting method known as "rate of growth" or moving cages, with measurements every 3 weeks. Annual yields were calculated from 1 June to 31 May of the next year. The pasture growth at Woodlands is characterised by a spring-summer peak of growth followed by a deep winter trough where growth is minimal. Long-term average annual growth was 11.8 t DM/ha for older 'Ruanui' based pasture and 12.7 t DM/ ha for newer 'Nui'/'Supreme'/'Greenstone' ryegrass based pasture. However the newer pasture produced considerably more (ca.14.2 t DM/ha/year) for an initial period of 3 years, after which time the production dropped back to be similar to the old pasture (ca.12.0 t DM/ha/year). Key words. pasture growth; long-term; annual variability


1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 709 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Donnelly

Weaning percentage and perinatal mortality of lambs born in late winter or early spring to Merino and Border Leicester x Merino ewes grazing at several stocking rates on lucerne or phalaris-clover pastures were measured over 2 years. Weaning percentages for mature crossbred ewes declined linearly from 136 lambs per 100 ewes joined when stocked at 9 ha-1 to 100 for those at 18 ha-1. For mature Merino ewes, the values were 109 and 70 respectively. Weaning percentages were similar on lucerne and phalaris pastures, although 8% more lambs were born to ewes grazing on phalaris; higher mortality in lambs born as multiples eliminated the difference. Death from exposure during the first 3 days of life was the most important cause of lamb losses. For lambs born as singles to Merino ewes the probability of death from exposure was up to 0.4, and reached 0.6 for lambs born as multiples. For single and multiple lambs born to crossbred ewes equivalent probabilities were 0.25 and 0.4 respectively. These probabilities were reduced if maternal weight was high at lambing, the reduction being of practical significance in very cold weather, particularly if the proportion of multiple births was high. Under mild conditions, where the probability of death from exposure was low, reductions in mortality from high ewe weight at lambing were of little consequence. Long-term weather records kept at the experimental site near Canberra show that a high risk of death in new-born lambs is likely from early June to mid-September. Throughout this period deaths from exposure could be expected to exceed 30% in lambs born as multiples to Merino ewes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 259-268
Author(s):  
B.F. Quin ◽  
A.G. Gillingham ◽  
D. Baird ◽  
S. Spilsbury ◽  
M. Gray

Field trials under grazing on two contrasting dairy farms in mid-Canterbury (Site C) on a stony silt loam under irrigation, and in rain-fed central Waikato (Site W) on a volcanic ash-derived soil, compared standard granular urea (4-5 mm diameter granules) with ONEsystem®. This uses prilled urea (0.8-2.8 mm diameter prills), passed through a fine water spray (50 litres/ha) that contains the urease inhibitor nbpt (2 gm nbpt/kg N) during application. A nil N control and three rates of each fertiliser were applied to 12 × 25 m plots on four occasions after rotational grazing during spring/early summer 2014. ONEsystem® resulted in extra dry matter (EDM) to N applied compared with granular urea at Site C. At Site W, the initial advantage to ONEsystem® in Period 1 (early spring) was not maintained. To produce EDM of 1250 (±750) kg/ha required 120 and 126 kg N/ha as granular urea at Sites C and W, respectively (giving EDM factors of 10.4 and 9.9 (± 2) kgDM/ kgN applied respectively). This compares with 50 and 74 kg N/ha required with ONEsystem® for higher EDM factors of 24 and 17 (± 5) kg DM/ kg N. Pasture N concentrations were higher at Site C following ONEsystem® application, and total N uptake was increased 3-fold compared to granular urea. At Site W, increases in EDM with ONEsystem® only occurred in the first period. The results of this study have implications for both the economic and environmental efficiency of fertiliser urea use on grazed pastures. Keywords: ONEsystem®, prilled urea, nbpt, granular urea, N efficiency, pasture, N uptake


Author(s):  
J. Menneer ◽  
S. Ledgard ◽  
C. Mclay ◽  
W. Silvester

The effects of a single, moderate or severe pugging event in early spring on pasture production, clover growth, and N2 fixation were measured during a 1-year study on dairy pasture in the Waikato. Moderate and severe pugging of the poor-draining Te Kowhai soil resulted in annual pasture production decreases of 21% and 45%, respectively. Clover showed a much greater decrease in production than grass (65% vs. 38%) following severe pugging, and indicates that clover is more susceptible to the negative effects of pugging than grass. Nitrogenase activity showed a rapid decrease (up to 90%) within 3 days of pugging, and reflected the measured decrease in air-filled porosity (from 16% in the non-pugged to an average of 11% for the moderately and severely pugged treatments) and measured loss of root biomass. On an annual basis, the total amount of N fixed decreased from 151 kg N/ha in the control to 109 kg N/ha (-28%) and 45 kg N/ha (-70%) in the moderate and severe treatments, respectively. Longer-term effects of the decrease in clover DM yield from a single moderate or severe pugging event each year were modelled using a dynamic dairying model of N cycling. After 10 years, pugging was predicted to decrease N2 fixation, soil organic N and grass growth, and result in a loss in milk production of 21% and 54%, respectively. On a whole farm basis, if moderate and severe pugging occurred on 50% and 10% of the farm, respectively, this would represent a decrease in milk production of 16% (e.g., from 1000 to 840 kg milksolids ha/year). Keywords: dairying, N2 fixation, pasture production, pugging, ryegrass, white clover


1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (15) ◽  
pp. 326 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Yates ◽  
LA Edye ◽  
JG Davis ◽  
KP Haydock

A grazing experiment on Sorghum almum pastures, one of which received 200 lb nitrogen an acre a year, as urea, was carried out at Lawes in south-east Queensland. Pastures were grazed continuously at three set stocking rates : 1 beast to 1 1/2 acres, 1 beast per acre, and 2 beasts per acre. Grazing commenced 3 1/2 months after sowing and continued for two years. Mean liveweight production over the whole period at the medium stocking rate of one beast per acre was 0.92 lb a head a day. Production was closely related to stocking rate : gain per head decreased and production per acre increased as stocking rate increased. Nitrogen fertilizer increased animal production at the heaviest stocking rate. Seasonal pattern of animal production was influenced by stocking rate, but, in general, a winter--early spring period of small gains or losses of weight was followed by a rapid increase in late spring--early summer, with the rate of gain decreasing from mid-summer onwards. This followed the seasonal pattern of pasture production : little or no production over the cool dry winter, but high yields of forage during summer. No close relation was detected between liveweight gain and green forage available in the period of rapid increase in liveweight. During the phase of declining pasture and animal production, liveweight increment was related to available pasture expressed as green material minus S. almum stem. Crude protein content of unfertilized S. almum varied from 15 per cent for green material in spring to 2.5 per cent for the dry forage available in winter. Urea increased both yield and protein content.


2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry A. Sokol ◽  
Michael S. Greenwood ◽  
William H. Livingston

Abstract Diameter-limit harvesting has long been suspected as a dysgenic forestry practice, but a conclusive, practical demonstration of the effects of this selection technique on residual tree performance is lacking. To determine the effects of repeated diameter-limit harvesting on the phenotypes of residual trees, we compared radial growth patterns of residual red spruce trees (with ages greater than 100 years) after diameter-limit harvests with those of residual trees in stands subjected to positive selection harvesting. After nearly 50 years of repeated harvesting, residual trees in the diameter-limit stands were nearly 40% smaller and had grown 32% slower than residual trees in positive selection stands. Furthermore, diameter-limit residuals were initially smaller and remained significantly smaller than positive selection residuals throughout their lifespan, despite major release events. After release, the diameter-limit trees responded with increased growth rates, but the increase was relatively small. Growth rates were consistently and significantly lower for diameter-limit residuals until the final 20 yr when growth rates in each treatment converged. Our results indicate that red spruce stands subjected to repeated diameter-limit harvesting will develop progressively less valuable growing stock with limited growth potential.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Ruchika S. Perera ◽  
Brendan R. Cullen ◽  
Richard J. Eckard

The seasonal pattern of pasture production and its variability from year to year are important for pasture-based livestock production systems in south-eastern Australia because they influence key strategic decisions such as stocking rate and timing of the reproductive cycle. In this study, the effects of observed climate variations over the period 1960–2015 on pasture growth patterns were investigated by using a biophysical modelling approach. Pasture growth rates were simulated using DairyMod biophysical software at five sites ranging from high-rainfall, cool temperate at Elliott in Tasmania to medium-rainfall, warm temperate at Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales. Annual pasture yields showed a small increasing rate of 50 kg DM/ha.year at Elliott and 40 kg DM/ha.year at Ellinbank (P < 0.05), whereas other sites showed no significant trend over time. A cross-site analysis of seasonal average pasture growth rates predicted under four different discrete periods of 14 years each showed that winter growth has increased steadily through time (P = 0.001), and spring pasture growth rate has decreased (P < 0.001) in 2002–15 compared with the earlier periods. Year-to-year pasture yield variability (coefficient of variation) during autumn and spring seasons has also increased (P < 0.05) across sites in the period 2002–15 compared with 1998–2001. At each site, the number of spring days with water stress (growth limiting factor_water <0.7) was ~10 times greater than the number of days with temperature stress (growth limiting factor_temperature <0.7). There was an increase in the number of days with water stress at Wagga Wagga, and increased heat stress at Wagga Wagga and Hamilton (P < 0.05) in the most recent period. These results highlight the importance of incorporating more heat-tolerant and deep-rooting cultivars into pasture-based production system. Although previous studies of climate-change impact have predicted increasing winter growth rates and a contraction of the spring growing season in the future (2030), this study provides clear evidence that these changes are already occurring under the observed climate in south-eastern Australia.


2008 ◽  
pp. 94-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Sorokin

The problem of the Russian economy’s growth rates is considered in the article in the context of Russia’s backwardness regarding GDP per capita in comparison with the developed countries. The author stresses the urgency of modernization of the real sector of the economy and the recovery of the country’s human capital. For reaching these goals short- or mid-term programs are not sufficient. Economic policy needs a long-term (15-20 years) strategy, otherwise Russia will be condemned to economic inertia and multiplying structural disproportions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 183-195
Author(s):  
Elena Macevičiūtė

The article deals with the requirements and needs for long-term digital preservation in different areas of scholarly work. The concept of long-term digital preservation is introduced by comparing it to digitization and archiving concepts and defined with the emphasis on dynamic activity within a certain time line. The structure of digital preservation is presented with regard to the elements of the activity as understood in Activity Theory. The life-cycle of digitization processes forms the basis of the main processing of preserved data in preservation archival system.The author draws on the differences between humanities and social sciences on one hand and natural and technological science on the other. The empirical data characterizing the needs for digital preservation within different areas of scholarship are presented and show the difference in approaches to long-term digital preservation, as well as differences in selecting the items and implementing the projects of digital preservation. Institutions and organizations can also develop different understanding of preservation requirements for digital documents and other objects.The final part of the paper is devoted to some general problems pertaining to the longterm digital preservation with the emphasis of the responsibility for the whole process of safe-guarding the cultural and scholarly heritage for the re-use of the posterior generations. It is suggested that the longevity of the libraries in comparison with much shorter life-span of private companies strengthens the claim of memory institutions to playing the central role in the long-term digital preservation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hochedlinger ◽  
W. Sprung ◽  
H. Kainz ◽  
K. König

The simulation of combined sewer overflow volumes and loads is important for the assessment of the overflow and overflow load to the receiving water to predict the hydraulic or the pollution impact. Hydrodynamic models are very data-intensive and time-consuming for long-term quality modelling. Hence, for long-term modelling, hydrological models are used to predict the storm flow in a fast way. However, in most cases, a constant rain intensity is used as load for the simulation, but in practice even for small catchments rain occurs in rain cells, which are not constant over the whole catchment area. This paper presents the results of quality modelling considering moving storms depending on the rain cell velocity and its moving direction. Additionally, tipping bucket gauge failures and different corrections are also taken into account. The results evidence the importance of these considerations for precipitation due the effects on overflow load and show the difference up to 28% of corrected and uncorrected data and of moving rain cells instead of constant raining intensities.


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