BETTER PASTURES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21051, 1 June 1938, Page 4

BETTER PASTURES

THE EARLY BITE I IMPORTANCE OF TOP-DRESSING A certain degree of consolidation assists grass establishment, but, if possible, stock should be kept off the young grass in wet weather and when the land is liable to “poach.” A few light grazings with avoidance of close grazing is the ideal to aim at in securing a good sward. If the herbage plants are allowed to get “proud" before being grazed it mitigates against good pasture establishment by overshading the slower-establishing species. This applies particularly when Italian ryegrass and red clover are included in the mixture. Experience has proved the importance of completing the top-dressing programme before the mid-winter period. The fullest value from fertilisers on grassland comes if they are applied at a time when plants are still growing. At the season of minimum growth there is greater possibility of fertiliser ingredients being “locked up” by the soil before the pasture plants can utilise them. The present is a suitable time to apply a fertiliser such as amoniated super, to certain selected pastures—those with good content of ryegrass not too closely grazed for preference —so as to obtain a good early bite for earlycalving cows and early-lambing ewes. Pre-winter top-dressing even with phosphate—especially soluble phosphate —does tend to better even out grass growth throughout the year than manuring at any other period of the year. The securing of the maximum amount of succulent grass at times of normal pasture scarcity is the aim of the progressive stock owner. There is to-day a tendencj 7 to spread the top-dressing programme over several months in the autumn and even to treat certain pastures on the farm in the autumn and others in the spring.