RYEGRASS STRAINS

Southland Times, Issue 25417, 19 October 1935, Page 15

RYEGRASS STRAINS

WHEN PERENNIAL IS UNEXCELLED INFLUENCE OF RAIN AND' MANAGEMENT Perennial ryegrass could occupy the dominant position in most permanent pastures on the medium and better soils where it persisted and its production was influenced by rainfall and management,- said Mr J. W. Calder, of Canterbury Agricultural College, in a paper on the value of strains of ryegrass in Canterbury, delivered to the recent Grasslands Conference.

Perennial shot to seed readily on the approach of dry weather and remainded in a dormant state until conditions again favoured growth, he continued. On the light plains it did not satisfy the requirements of a permanent pasture after the relative high fertility associated with fodder crops and cultivation had reached normal in two or three years. The rapidity with which these soils dried out and their low moisture holding capacity made conditions too severe for permanent productive ryegrass pastures. For long-term pastures on this class of land cocksfoot should form the dominant constituent in the mixture. Basis of Pasture.

The true perennial ryegrass strain was a long lined perennial and should form the basis of all long-term pasture mixtures on all but the lightest and dryest soil types, while the temporary type, which was not perennial ryegrass at all but a hybrid mixture, was short lined, and should be omitted from all long-termed pastures, said Mr Calder.

There was a difference in palatability between the two, but the lower palatability of the true perennial could be minimized by sowing well proportioned mixtures, by encouraging rapid growth and by keeping the grass grazed, to prevent it becoming tough or fibrous.