scholarly journals Hill country farm investment options - cocksfoot pasture vs. superphosphate fertiliser

1999 ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
D.J. Barker ◽  
D.G. Sheppard ◽  
A.D. Mackay ◽  
N. Dymock
Keyword(s):  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Financial Return ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Economic Return ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L ◽  
Farm System

Farmers can choose between investment in pasture species or fertiliser, however, there are few comparisons of these options. This paper reports on the effects of 'Grasslands Wana' cocksfoot, (Dactylis glomerata L.) introduction and superphosphate application on pasture production in hill country. The effects of pasture production on bullbeef production were subsequently modelled using Stockpol®. Pasture, bull and financial performance was measured within four self-contained farmlets (each approximately 9 ha) at the AgResearch Ballantrae Hill Country Research Station; half of two farmlets had been oversown with Wana in autumn 1992 and two farmlets were untreated "Resident" hill pasture. The Wana farmlets generated an average $42.80/ha greater income than Resident farmlets. On average, modelling with Stockpol found gross financial return was increased by 80% by application of 40 kgP/ha ($715.26/ha) compared to nil fertiliser ($397.84/ha). With a cost of fertiliser of $2.44/kgP applied ($97.60) this predicted return was highly profitable. If the establishment costs of Wana were spread over the life of the pasture economic responses would be greater from investment in Wana cocksfoot, however, in the short term, economic responses were greater from investment in fertiliser. In the medium term a combination of investment in Wana establishment and fertiliser input would likely maximise the economic return. Keywords: bull beef, Dactylis glomerata L., farm system, 'Grasslands Wana' cocksfoot, Stockpol®, superphosphate

scholarly journals Comparing the seasonal productivity of cocksfoot and resident pastures on hill country farms using a system model

1993 ◽  
pp. 81-85
Author(s):  
D.J. Barker ◽  
J.A. Baars
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
System Model ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Farm System

Grasslands Wana cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) has potential for use in hill country, especially dry hill country. Although Wana can have slow spring growth it is usually more productive in summer and autumn. Prior to large-scale field evaluation, strategies for incorporating significant areas of new species into farming systems can be evaluated with a farm-system model. The objective of this work was to use the farm-system model, Stockpol, to investigate the influence of 0, 33, 66, or 100% of a farm sown to Wana, on bull beef or breeding ewe enterprise productivity. Three scenarios, in which annual herbage dry matter production from Wana was -14%, +13%, and +41% relative to resident pasture controls, were identified from field trials and tested with the model. A strong relationship between annual production and stocking rate was found, with a lesser influence from seasonal distribution of production. 'The system model was a useful tool to compare these pastures, and highlighted deficiencies in our knowledge of cocksfoot. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, farm system, Grasslands Wana, hill country, model, seasonal pasture production

CHINOOK ORCHARD GRASS

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 615-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. HANNA ◽  
S. SMOLIAK ◽  
D. B. WILSON
Keyword(s):  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Full Description ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Orchard Grass ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

Chinook is a winterhardy cultivar of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) developed by the late R. W. Peake at the Agriculture Canada Research Station, Lethbridge, Alberta. It was released in 1959, but a full description of this cultivar was not published.

scholarly journals Moving from exploring on-farm opportunities with a single to a multi-year focus: Implications for decision making

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Rendel ◽  
A.D. Mackay ◽  
P.N. Smale ◽  
I. Vogeler
Keyword(s):  
Annual Variation ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Small Difference ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Optimisation Model ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Farm System

In pastoral grazing farm systems there is growing awareness of the importance of including year to year variation in pasture grown when analysing and designing appropriate and more profitable systems. Few authors have clarified how an optimal farm system incorporates inter-temporal variability. This paper shows for a Whanganui hill country sheep and beef farm, that inclusion of inter-annual variation in pasture growth rate results in a more dynamic farm system than when only average pasture production data are used in a new, multi-year farm optimisation model. The variation in stock numbers, sale dates and pasture covers were quantified, as was the variation in farm profitability (measured as Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation, EBITDA). Interestingly, there was only a small difference in Net Present Value between the two approaches over 10 year's simulation. Keywords: farm systems, variability, INFORM, multiyear

The economics of transformation toward sustainable hill country land use: Whatawhata case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 163-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.B. Dodd ◽  
W. Carlson ◽  
P. Silcock
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Integrated Catchment Management ◽  
Operating Profit ◽  
Farm System

Abstract The Whatawhata integrated catchment management project generated a substantial amount of data on the biophysical impacts of land use and management change - livestock enterprise performance, terrestrial biodiversity, water quality etc. The question has been posed: What was the impact of the changes on the financial viability of the catchment farm system? Farm operating budgets before and after land use changes, enterprise gross margins, costs associated with tree planting, and farm system modelling with FarmaxPro® have been integrated to give a whole-system view of farm business viability over the long term (1995-2030). This information compared the existing system (1990s) with the new system implemented in 2000. Annual operating profit for the 296 ha breeding ewe and breeding cow system in the late 1990s was between $25 000-$30 000 reflecting the size and land use capability distribution of the block. Changes to the livestock enterprises improved farm surplus from ca. $100/ha to ca. $330/ha in the first 3 years, but on a reduced pastoral land area (150 ha). This gave an annual operating profit (EFS) of ca. $50 000. Much of this difference reflected product price movements. The cost of land use change was approximately $969 000 over the first 10 years. Selective intensification of hill lands can improve per ha profitability in the short-medium term. Two key financial issues, the transformation cost and medium term viability, need to be addressed in implementing land use change to move toward hill land sustainability. Keywords: integrated catchment management, land use change, sustainable hill country

scholarly journals No evidence for flooding stress memory in saplings of eight hardwood floodplain forest species

Plant Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 222 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-483
Author(s):  
Melanie Schindler ◽  
Franziska Schäfer ◽  
Tobias W. Donath ◽  
Kristin Ludewig
Keyword(s):  
Recovery Period ◽  
Floodplain Forest ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Floodplain Forests ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Foliar Injury ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Stress Memory ◽  
Flooding Stress

AbstractAlluvial floodplain forests became rare in many parts of Europe, due to anthropogenic changes. Therefore, restoration of floodplain forests is important, but a difficult task because of the complex environmental conditions. The zonation of woody species in floodplains is mainly determined by hydrological conditions, not only within one year but also during the previous years. Tolerance to flooding can be regarded as a key factor for the successful establishment. We examined whether a previous flooding showed an increased flooding tolerance of saplings from eight woody floodplain forest species after a recurrent flooding under controlled common garden conditions at the research station Gießen-Leihgestern (Germany). This would indicate a stress memory towards flooding stress. The individuals of the experiment already experienced a partial flooding of three different durations (three, six or nine weeks) or no flooding in the previous year. After nine months of recovery, these fourteen-month-old saplings were again either exposed to a partial flooding of nine weeks or no flooding. We assessed foliar injury and growth in terms of plant height, number of leaves and stem diameter three weeks (short-term recovery) and nine months (medium-term recovery) after flooding. The saplings showed no increased tolerance to a recurrent flooding irrespective of the previous experienced flooding duration. Therefore, no immediate stress memory towards flooding stress could be observed. To recover after flooding seems to be the better option compared to forming a stress memory, which explained that most species showed a decreased foliar injury after medium-term compared to short-term recovery period.

scholarly journals An evaluation of tall fescue, phalaris and cocksfoot in mixes as an alternative to single-species pastures

1994 ◽  
pp. 133-138
Author(s):  
R.J. Johnson ◽  
N.A. Thomson ◽  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
T.G. Judd
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

Seasonal and annual dry matter production of ryegrass was compared with drought- and grass grub-tolerant species Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) as both single species and different combinations of mixes in two trials from 1982 to 1991. In trial 1, Nui ryegrass (damaged by Argentine stem weevil) produced significantly less than cocksfoot, phalaris and mixtures of the drought-tolerant grasses. Yatsyn-1 ryegrass in trial 2 was not subjected to stem weevil attack and the annual dry matter production was significantly higher than that of tall fescue and, although not significantly, higher than that of phalaris and cocksfoot. In both trials the highest producing mixture was the phalaris/ cocksfoot mix with the exception of the triple mix of phalaris/cocksfoot/tall fescue in trial 2. The phalaris/cocksfoot mix produced significantly more than phalaris as a single species and although not significant, 14% more than cocksfoot suggesting these species are complementary in a mix. The triple mix in trial 2 produced significantly more than all single species except ryegrass. Mixes of srgnificant. tall fescue/phalaris and tall fescue/cocksfoot had no advantage in DM production over single-species sowings of phalaris or cocksfoot, but improved yields over tall fescue. These results show possible complementary effects to sowing phalaris and cocksfoot. The addition of tall fescue to the mix had small and non-significant benefits. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Loliumperenne, Phalaris aquatica. grass grub, pasture mixes, pasture production, single species, summer dry spells

scholarly journals Grass grub tolerant pastures and fertiliser nitrogen as an alternative to white clover in pasture subject to grass grub attack

1990 ◽  
pp. 105-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
N.A. Thomson ◽  
A.H.C. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Average Annual Production ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

The effect of replacing white clover with fertiliser nitrogen (N) on dry matter production and grass grub populations in 'Grasslands Roa' tell fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), 'Grasslands Mat-u' phalaris (Phalutis aquatica L.), 'Grasslands Kara' cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), 'Grasslands Mama' prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) and 'old' (30 year plus) ryegrass was measured over a 2 year period. For all pastures the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N significantly reduced grass grub numbers. This was greatest in tall fescue, phalaris and cocksfoot, showing that pure swards of these species were resistant to grass grub. Decreases in grass grub numbers in ryegrass and prairie grass were less. There was overall a significant increase in pasture production by eliminating white clover and applying fertiliser N, with a differential response between species. Average annual production of prairie grass was unaffected, whereas the yield of cocksfoot increased by 9 % and old ryegrass, phalaris and tall fescue increased by 26 % . Most of this extra production for tall fescue and phalaris occurred in autumn. These results show that the use of tall fescue and phalaris and the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N has potential for increasing pasture production in districts subject to grass damage. Keywords old ryegrass, Roa tall fescue, Maru phalaris, Kara cocksfoot, Matua prairie grass, white clover, grass grub, nitrogen fertiliser

scholarly journals Pasture growth on dairy farms in the Golden Bay and West Coast of the South Island

1998 ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
K.L. Davis ◽  
N.A. Thomson ◽  
N.R. Mclean ◽  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
R.J. Hainsworth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Coast ◽  
Difference Method ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
The South ◽  
Financial Return ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
The Difference

Pasture growth was monitored on 22 farms covering Golden Bay, Nelson, Murchison and West Coast districts during 1994 to 1997. Pasture growth was measured monthly from grazed pasture using the rising plate meter (RPM) and the difference method. Pasture growth from the South Island sites were compared with growth at the WestpacTrust Agricultural Research Station (WTARS) in South Taranaki, measured by the more traditional trim method, and the difference method as used in the South Island study. The pasture growth recorded was then used by the dairy farm production model UDDER to predict the planned start of calving (PSC), stocking rate and milksolids (MS) production at maximum net financial return for seven districts. At WTARS the average pasture production recorded by the difference method was 16.3 t DM/ ha and by the trim method, 12.9 t DM/ha, the greatest difference between the two methods occurring in late spring/early summer. Pasture production on the south Island sites varied from 9.6 (Taramakau) to 16.1 (Grey Valley) t DM/ha. The major factor identified as influencing pasture growth, in an environment where rainfall for 91% of the sites exceeded 2000 mm, was number of frosts. A multiple regression combining pasture production climatic and soil nutrient variables identified number of frosts and Olsen P as the major factors influencing pasture production (R2 = 0.25). The use of the growth from seven districts by UDDER showed a marked variation in management practices and MS output. PSC varied from the first 10 days in August (Takaka, Nelson, Westport) to the last 10 days in August (Murchison). Stocking rates ranged from 2.0 cows/ha at Motueka to 3.3 cows/ha on an irrigated farm in the Nelson district. MS production/ cow differed little among districts and MS production/ha reflected stocking rate, ranging from 650 kg/ha for Motueka to 1150 kg/ha for Nelson. The main factor driving stocking rate and PSC was winter pasture production. Keywords: climate, dairy production modelling, pasture production, soil fertility

scholarly journals Long term effects of withholding phosphate application on North Island hill country: Ballantrae

1990 ◽  
pp. 25-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.G. Lambert ◽  
D.A. Clark ◽  
A.D. Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Residual Activity ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Phosphate Retention ◽  
Reactive Phosphate Rock ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall

In a farmlet grazing trial at DSIR's Ballantrae Hill Country Research Station near Woodville the effect of withholding phosphate application was investigated. Soils are yellow-brown earths and related steepland soils with low phosphate retention, and average annual rainfall is 1200 mm. Four 10 ha farmlets, 2 each with histories of high (HF) or low (LF) superphosphate application, had annual applications continued at 125 (LF-LF) or 375 (HFHF) kg/ha; or discontinued on one farmlet in each case (LF-NF and HF-NF), starting in 1981. Soil Olsen P level decreased on the HF-NF area, but not on LF-NF and pasture production decreased by 4.6 and 1.7% p.a. respectively. Botanical composition was affected only on the HF-NF farmlet. Ewes were lighter as a result of not applying fertiliser. Ewe and lamb wool production, and lamb liveweight, were reduced by an average 1.2, 3.7 and 2.6% p.a., respectively, over the 7 years. A phosphate application trial suggested that reactive phosphate rock was as effective as superphosphate in stimulating legume responses in the 1st year after restarting phosphate application, and had greater residual activity. Keywords fertiliser, withholding, cessation, phosphate, superphosphate, hill country, pastures, soil fertility, wool, sheep

scholarly journals Precise aerial fertiliser application on hill country

1999 ◽  
pp. 221-226
Author(s):  
A.G. Gillingham ◽  
J. Maber ◽  
J. Morton ◽  
M. Tuohy
Keyword(s):  
Application Rate ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Economic Return ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Topographic Complexity ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Olsen P ◽  
Fertiliser Application

The fertiliser requirements of hill country vary with soil type, slope and aspect-related factors which govern pasture production potential and species composition. In most situations, the topographic complexity is such that only very broad differentiation in land units can be made when aerially applying fertiliser. The traditional method of aerial topdressing is for superphosphate to be flown on at a common rate over large blocks of complex topography by fixed-wing aircraft. Advances in geographical positioning system (GPS) and aircraft technology now allow aircraft to fly accurately defined track spacing and so achieve optimum uniformity of fertiliser spread. The same technology could be used to vary fertiliser application rate along a flight path according to predetermined recommendations and through links to a farm geographic information system (GIS) map. This approach could also be used to apply different fertiliser types. In a desktop study the effects of differential, compared with uniform, fertiliser application policies, on animal productivity and economic returns were examined for three contrasting hill farm situations using a combination of trial results and the AgResearch PKS Lime Programme. Results showed that for a farm with a low soil P status (Olsen P =9), that stocking rate could be increased by 0.5 su/ha, and the economic return by 7.5%, by differential, rather than uniform fertiliser application. In a similar but higher soil P status farm (Olsen P = 15), the increase was 0.9 su/ ha and 10.1% respectively. In a summer-dry situation where nitrogen fertiliser could be substituted for some P fertiliser, a differential policy designed to optimise production gave a 2.1 su/ha and 43% net margin increase, compared with the uniform application of a typical rate of maintenance P fertiliser only. The results from the desktop study are discussed in relation to the practical aspects of developing differential fertiliser application methods. This will relate to extra fertiliser application cost, and the definition of practical sized land units and fertiliser forms, which will all have some effect on the net economics of a differential application policy. Despite these unknowns, the technology would appear to offer real gains to the hill country farmer. Keywords: economic return, fertiliser application, GIS, GPS, hill country, phosphate

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