Factors In Light Land Improvement

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 9

Factors In Light Land Improvement

COMMENTING on the article on these pages last week on the development of light land in the Te Pirita district, Mr R. L. Bennetts, an instructor of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch, said that the district had changed from one where finance was hard to obtain and farms difficult to sell to one that was now creditworthy and sought after.

Mr Bennetts, who has been closely associated with the development which has taken place on many of the properties and has done considerable experimental work in the district, said that he attributed the change to the use of good light land farming methods: the use of superphosphate; sulphur-superphos-phate mix; molybdenum and United quantities of lime; the extension of stock water systems on both a county and farm basis; good prices for meat and wool; subdivision and smaller paddocks; more powerful tractors and equipment; and the will and ability of the farmers concerned to push ahead breaking in and developing the country. Mr Bennetts said that very large areas had been cultivated and sown to good pastures, and in future with adequate usage of manures, D.D.T. and other insecticides for pest control, and good pasture management, it should be possible to hold pastures for many years. It was his recommendation to use a ton of lime prior to sowing pastures, and to sow

down with 2cwt of molybdic superphosphate. For maintenance dressings he recommended 1J to 2cwt of sulphur superphosphate (4001 b mix) annually, with molybdenum included every fourth year. The department had plans in hand for a series of largescale trials to determine maintenance rates of topdressing with sulphur and phosphate, but in the meantime li to 2cwt per acre of sulphur superphosphate (400) had been giving good results. While, fully realising the importance of subterranean clover in the development and productive ability of this country, Mr Bennetts said, he had encouraged farmers to keep some areas free from it with a view to the future establishment of lucerne. A large block of lucerne he regarded as a “must,” and said that he considered subterranean clover the most serious competitor to lucerne establishment on light land. He had seen many cases where subterranean clover had taken over completely in a very short time.

For subterranean clover pastures which were running out, Mr Bennetts said he recommended a quick surface working in the summer and resowing with greenfeed oats and a grass mixture in February or early March to renew and revitalise pastures. Mr Bennetts said he had confidence that with improved pastures, heavy stocking and regular topdressing this country would continue to improve and carry more and mon stock.