THE WALLACEVILLE PASTURE EXPERIMENTS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 20 January 1919, Page 23

THE WALLACEVILLE PASTURE EXPERIMENTS.

Botanical Survey, Wallaceville, 12th November, 1918

The following plants were also noted throughout each paddock : Juncus effusus, gorse (Ulex europeus), Polytrichum sp., Juncus (stoldniferous type), sweetbrier (Rosa rubiginosa). -''■■■ Summing up, it may be said that the indications are that the dressings may be expected to increase the carrying-capacity of the land because they . . . (zz.) Diminish the inferior native and introduced grasses ; (&.) Increase the exotic grasses of approved feeding-value ; (c.) Increase the leguminous constituents (clovers) of the pasture, and hence the albuminoid content of the food to a great extent (the most valuable effect) ; (t?.) Diminish bare space and moss ; and hence create a closer and more nutritious sward.

RESULTS OF GRAZING EXPERIMENTS.

These experiments, as indicated, are being conducted on poor danthonia pasture following the clearing of Fagus (beech or "birch”) forest land, which, although on level land, is far inferior in quality, to any of - the- hillside • soils • on the west side of Wellington Harbour, "birch”, or! beech country • being generally recognized as the . worst

type of forest country to bring in, and far inferior to mixed tawa [Beilschmiedid) and rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) forest. The results of the two first seasons’ experiments are mitigated by the fact that the. summers were-exceptionally dry, and in one season-(1916-17) the pasture caught fire and burnt in two of the paddocks (Nos. 3 and 4), necessitating the suspension of the experiments. In the season 1915-16 dogs worried some of the sheep and were shot in the act. It is advisable that the results 4 obtained should be recorded, as, however small, they point the way for further efforts in the right direction. ; ■ • In the first season seven numbered sheep (two-toothed ewes and hoggets of mixed crossbred Romney-Lincoln - type) were placed on each 5-acre paddock on 13th December, 1915, and the same animals were carried right through the season until 7th March, 1916. In the second season a different set of eight animals (two-toothed wethers and hoggets, four of each on each plot) instead of seven were grazed from 10th December, 1916, to 12th March, 1917. r . -' In the third season, a very wet one, from 30th May, 1918, to nth December,“1918, the" effect of the dressings of limestone and phosphates on paddocks Nos: 3 and 4, compared with the control paddocks, Nos. 1 and 2, was very marked. Eight sheep (four wethers and four hoggets) were placed on each of the paddocks Nos. 2, 3, and 4 on 30th May. Additional temporary : sheep were put on to keep the grass down, twelve extra sheep being put on all the paddocks on 1st November, but .on the 22nd it was necessary to take off No. 2 the twelve extra sheep and place four of them on No. 3. (On 27th December four more sheep were placed on No. 3. At the time of final writing (13/1/19) No. -2 is carrying only eight sheep No. 3 is carrying twenty-eight; No. 4 is carrying. twenty ; and the experiment is being ; pushed well on into the summer.) ■ £•: . ; ‘ . - ' - ■ ■

The animals were weighed every month, and the following table shows the differences in the average live-weights in pounds per sheep, due to feeding on the pastures. Multiplying this by the number of permanent sheep on each 5-acre paddock the total live-weight increases are obtained.

In the third season only paddocks 2, 3, and 4 were J. In addition to the gains shown paddock No. 2 must be credited with grazing twelve temporary sheep for three weeks, paddock No. 3 with twelve temporary sheep for six weeks and four for three weeks, and paddock No. 4 with twelve temporary sheep for six weeks to 11/12/18.

Detailed Weighings.

It -will be seen that the average weight of the sheep at the commencement of the experiments was: No. 2 (control), 94 lb. No. 3, 83|lb. ; No. 4, 89I lb. ; and that if any advantage was to be gained it was given to the control paddock, and next to the limestone paddock, the poorest average-weight sheep being put on the phosphate and limestone paddock. .

On the control paddock the animals all gained in weight up to 24th June, when they began to lose weight owing to the • very inclement weather and hail with bitterly cold winds and rain. Frosty nights followed, and on 31st July most of them had started to pick up again, but it was not until 24th September that they had all recovered, condition, from which date they all made increases until the final weighing on nth December. On paddock No. 3 (rough limestone and phosphate) the influence of the better quality and quantity of feed in combating the effects of . the inclement weather is seen. As in the control paddock, the animals suffered a check in growth from 24th June till 13th July, but contrary to the results on the control all the loss in weight , had been made up on 31st July, the progress of each animal from this date onward (with one slight exception) being uninterrupted.

On the paddock No. 4 (rough limestone alone) the slight check of June-July will also be noticed, but the animals had all recovered by 31st July, and thereafter until the final weighing progress without exception in every animal was continuous.

CONCLUSION.

In conclusion it should be pointed out that these experiments at Wallaceville are being carried out under exceptional difficulties, chief of which are the rapid drying-up of the soil and pasture in summer, the proximity of the railway —always a menace to dry pasture from the danger of fire—and the incursions of dogs from the thickly populated adjoining areas and camp. Further, although the very good results obtained this year may be largely due to the abnormally favourable .rainfall,- and therefore should be continued for a series of years before it is possible to obtain an idea of the average improvement due to fertilizers, it is desirable to draw early attention to any possible method of improving poor danthonia country following “ birch ” /forest,' of; which there are such large areas in the Dominion.

Mr. H. A. Goudie remarks as follows in the annual Forestry Report : Several uncultivable areas within the Rotorua nursery enclosure were planted with Eucalyptus, principally E. Macarthuri. Very good results have been obtained with these, and it is intended to make further, plantings of a similar nature during' the coming year. In addition to the prospective value of these small areas for the production of fencingmaterial, the tree-growth is badly needed in the meantime to suppress the growth of blackberry, a weed that is likely to become a serious nuisance in this district.”, ' - ' :

Constituents of Pastures. Paddock No. 2 (Control). Paddock No. 3 (Phosphate and Rough Limestone). Paddock No. 4 (Rough Lives Danthonia pilosa (native) .. 97'5 87-5 . 80 Sweet vernal (Anthoxanthum odor alum) . .. IOO 97-5 87-5 Suckling-clover {Trifolium minus) 77’5 95 75 White clover (Trifolium repens) . . . . 27'5 75 52-5 Crested dogstail (Cynosurus atus) ■ 67'5 82-5 92-5 Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) ' . . ' . . 67-5 .65 . 77'5 Rib-grass {Plantago lanceolata) ' . . 57'5 70 . 75 - Poa pratensis . . . . 25 ’ 20 32-5 • Cocksfoot {Dactylis glomerate/,) .. 30 • 67-5 60 Hair-grass {Festuca bromoides) ■ 7'5 12-5 ' 5 Bracken (Pteridium esculentum) .. - 2-5 7’5 - '■ 5 Field-daisy (Bellis perennis) ' . . . 5 12’5 22-5 Moss .. 25 5 ' 12-5 Thelymitra sp. (wild native orchid) . . - 5 0 2-5 Bare ground .. .. •.. . • .. 25 2-5 ' 22-5 Selfheal {Prunella vulgaris) 7’5 7'5 IO Lesser mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium triviale) 2’5 5 ■' 2-5 Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) ... . . IO 27-5 . IO Perennial rye-grass (Folium perenne) 2-5 5 7'5 Muehlenbeckia (native climbing shrub) . .' 0 2’5 0 Hawkweed (Crepis capillaris) . . '.. 0 2’5 0 Stones . . . . .. ..■ 2-5 2-5 5 Tarweed (Bartsia viscosa) . . 0 IO ' 2-5 ' Sheep's burr (Acaena ovina) . . .:. 0 2-5 0 Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 0 2-5 2-5 Piripiri {Acaena sanguisorbae) .. 5 2-5 2-5 Redtop {A grostis vulgaris) .. 2 ; 5 2-5 15 New Zealand rice-grass (native) (Microlaena 0 0 2’5 stipoides) ■ - ' 0 0 2-5

The figures show the relative frequency of occurrence of each constituent per cent, analysis.

..Paddock No. r (Control), — f ton Fine Carbonate of Padclock No. 1 (Control), f ton Fine Carbonate of . Lime. Paddock No. 2. No Dressing. Paddock No. 3. " ' 3 tons Rough Limestone; 5 cwt. Phosphate Rock. First season (12 weeks) Second season (13 weeks) Third season , (28 weeks) '■ 16-3 X 7 = 114-1) lb. " n-o (X 8 = 88) lb. . . 20 ( X 7 = 140) lb. 12 ( X 8 — 96) lb. 41-7 (X 8 = 333-6) lb. 2i-i (x 7 = 147-7) lb15 ( X 8 = 120) lb. 46-5 (X’8 = 372)lb./ Paddock No. 4. • ' / 3 tons Rough Limestone. . Paddock No. .4; • . Paddock No. 5. 3 tons Rough Limestone.' 5. cwt. Epihos Phosphate. . Paddock No. 5. , ■■ 5. cwt. Ejihos Phosphate.. First season (12 weeks) Second-season (13 weeks) . . .; < 'Third season (28 weeks) • T 17-6 X 7 = 123-2) lb. 12-25 ( X 8 = 98) lb.' 50 ( X 8 — 400) lb. 17-8 ( X -7 = 124-6) lb. 12-7 ( x 8 = ioi-6) lb.

Poor Danthonia pilosa Pasture following Beech or “Birch” Forest on Gravel.

— Paddock No. 6. 3 cwt. Basic Superphosphate. Paddock No.'7. 5 cwt. Basic Slag. First season (12 weeks) . . .. Second season (13 weeks). 30-3 ( X 7 = 212-1) lb. 20-25 (X 8 = 162) lb. 25-5 (X 7 = 180-5) lb. 24-6 X 8 = 196-8) lb.

Improved Pasture (mostly Rye-grass, Cocksfoot, and Clovers) sown down and manured previously on Better Adjoining Soil.

Sheep’s No. May June July July Aug. Aug. Sept.' Oct. Nov. Nov. Dec. 3°June 24. July 13July 3iAug. - 13Aug. 30. Sept. 24. • Oct. 8. Nov. 1. Nov. 26. Dec. 11. • II. Paddock No. 2 Control). . 58 ... • 93 105 ■ 994 100 J . IOO 984 1014 1024 1124 1194 124 63 • ■ ' 69 704 694 74 741 774 ■ 78 834 95 103 106 66 .. I2O| 135 133-I 135 138-4 139 142 1464 162 1684 1764 67 • • ' . . 117 I 3 of 1224 125 1284 1271 1364 138 1524 1631664 • 70 .. 1274 1331 1264 129 1334 1374 139 1414 1494 1604 i( 554 94 . • 9o4 944 89 . 85 - 88 874 924 ■. 96 1044 116 1214 95 • • 674 784 74? 764 774 784 81 84 964 108 1114 98.. 67 77 714 734 724 76 . 784 824 964 1084 1144 Total weight 752 8244 786f 7984 8124 8224 848I 8741 968 IO46I 10854 Average weight 94 103 .984 991 1014 IO2f 106 1094 121 1301 1351 Paddock No. 3 (Rou gh Limestone and Island Phosphate > Island Phosphate J 27 .. 584 614 614 614 614 641 664 694 744 85 984 60 . . 69I 77 76 80 8x4 834 894 97 1064 1144 xo8f 61 . . 65 664 66 681 68f 69 73 79 89 994 io 41 62 . . . 116 121 1204 I2lf 1244 128 1334 140 152 1551 162 65 • • io6| 1164 116 120 125 1244 1264 127 1344 1451 150 92 . . . 634 ' 75 . 744 .764 78 844 92 974 II2| ix8f 130 93 • • 954 1044 1034 1051 108. 112 115 1224 129 1394 i 44 97 • • . 94 100 944 ■ 994 97 92 , 98 1054 117 1284 134 Total weight 668 i 722 712 7334 7431 758 7934 8374 9141 987 10294 Average weight 834 ■ 904 89 9x4 9 2 t ■ 941 994 1044 1144 1234 i28| Paddock No. 4 dock No. 4 (Rough Limestone). L • " (Rough Limestone). 28 . ., 6i| 674 65 68 70 73 784 834 Too 113 119 29 • • . •• 7i4 754 , 754 78 804 ' 84 91 974 1134 123 . 1264 30.. 571 62 594 644 654 684 7 2 1 77 90 99 1034 59 • • ' 724 77 764 79 81 84 91 964 107 115 121 64 .. 106 . 1114 110 114 1164 n8f 1244 132 144 1581 162 68 . . 114 1154 1154 1184 120 1214 126 1304 1461 1564 160 69 .. 120 1234 1224 1254 1294 1304 137 1434 154 164-I x6 4 f 96 • . 114 H5i 113 1204 1214 .123I 1274 134 1431 1521 1574 Total weight 7i6f 7484 7264 7674 784 .8034 8484 8944 .999, 1082 1113I Average weight 894 934 9°1 96 - 98iooj 106 inf 124! 1354 1394

The result of the weighings of the period from May to December, 1918, are considered important enough to give in full for paddocks Nos. 2, 3, and 4, and are as follows (in pounds) : —