PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3304, 2 June 1931, Page 6

PASTURE MANAGEMENT

INFLUENCE OF GRAZING.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION. The part played by skilful grazing in the successful management of grass land forms the topic of discussion in the latest bulletin from the Fields Division and Plant Research Station, Palmerston North. It is suggested that many farmers do not give much thought to possible means of improving grazing management merely because they have not yet realised to what extent production can be increased and cheapened by it; or have they become aware of the truth that skilful grazing is often just as important as correct manuring. “ Improvement in grazing is often a matter more of the use of the latest ideas than of the use of money,” says the bulletin. “ Seldom can improved grazing be introduced successfully without careful preparation and planning—preparation and planning that may well be based on study of results obtained during the current season while these results are still fresh in our memories. For instance, with r view to better control of pasture growth during next season, we may well ask ourselves at this stage whether it would have appreciably eased the task of grazing management this season had certain fields been subdivided, or would it have helped had our ensilage programme been different ?

PRACTICES. “If changes in such matters are desirable, it is well to have considered them in good time, so as to be ree to proceed with them when the relatively slack season of the year arrives A point of great importance is that grazing management is at times the link that governs the results of other practices which are efficient in themselves, but which do not stand or fall as economic propositions solely on their own merits. Top-dressing illustrates this point very well. INFLUENCE OF OTHER “It may be said safely that some of the disappointing results obtained from top-dressing are due, not to incorrect top-dressnig, but to the fact that full use has not been made of the improved growth brought about. Un-der-stocking of top-dressed areas may lead to the appearance of coarse, woody herbage, which is unsuited to the needs of the grazing stock, to checking of the clover, which is so valuable a proportion of the herbage, and to undesirable opening up of the sward. Hence top-dressing, which is efficient as a means of improving pasture production, may conceivably prove undesirable under unfavourable grazing management. Looked at in another aspect, a top-dressing programme which is one man’s salvation may bring about another’s financial downfall —all of which serves to emphasise the important role of grazing management, which in a general way probably offers more scope for improvement than any other aspect o' grass-land farming.

YOUNG PASTURES. “ Special care should be taken in the treatment of young pastures. The plants, having been given a suitable opportunity to establish themselves, should neither be allowed to become long and productive of flower-heads, or be continuously eaten down closely. To keep the plants desirably shortened back it is usually best to turn in a relatively large number of stock for a short time only. This avoids the selective hard grazing of the most attractive species and the neglect oi other species, which is apt to occur in cases of light stocking. Properlycontrolled grazing, which prevents too rank a growth during the youth ocf a pasture, leads to stooling out of the plants, and consequently to a denser sward, which more effectively covers the soil. Persistent close grazing of young pastures is especially harmful, because it means that the plants are not allowed to build up the strong root systems upon which the future vige of the pasture depends. “At times certain species in a young pasture do not establish as successfully as could reasonably be expected under the conditions generally experienced in the locality. For instance, ryegrass plants may be weakly where ryegrass would be expected to persist. Particularly in the case of young pastures is increased fertility, due to top-dressing, likely to be worth while, because during a critical stage it assists superior plants to compete successfully against invading inferior kinds.

BENEFITS OF HARROWING. “ In the older farming countries the value of animal manure is rated so highly that costly and careful provision is made to bring about its most effective use. It is specially stored special machines are manufactured for the purpose of distributing it. on the fields, and it is often the subject of legal provision in leases in order that there may be no neglect in respect to it. This care contrasts sharply with the neglect and, indeed, the abuse, of animal manure in New Zealand. We can obtain the benefits of our animal manure much more easily than can be done in the older countries; so it is not surprising that we value these benefits much less than do the older countries. From our system of farming it follows that storage of the manure is unnecessary, and that much, if not all, of the necessary distribution is brought about naturally; yet many neglect the small and inexpensive attention which is needed satisfactorily to complete distribution.

“ This modicum of attention is supplied by suitable harrowing of our grass land. At this time of the year harrowing is often urgently needed on fields, animals droppings having accumulated as' the result of heavv summer stocking. The longer these remain undisutrbed the greater will be the subsequent development of those rank patches of growth which are definite evidence of ineffective utilisation of animal manure. On the other . hand, if they . are thoroughly distributed, in good time the fertility of the whole field is improved.”