PUWERA AND ALBANY EXPERIMENTAL AREAS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 5, 20 November 1923, Page 302

PUWERA AND ALBANY EXPERIMENTAL AREAS.

NOTES ON OPERATIONS, SEASON 1922-23.

T. H. PATTERSON,

H.D.A., Instructor in Agriculture, Auckland

The issues of the Journal for May, 1921, and’ December, 1922, contained accounts of the operations at the Puwera and Albany- gumland experimental areas. For details of cultivation and cropping those interested should refer to these' reports. It may ■ be repeated that Puwera is situated some eight miles from Whangarei, while Albany is near Auckland. The same general aim has been pursued on both areas — namely, the investigation of the most suitable grass-pasture for the gum. lands represented, . and the selection and growing of fodder crops to keep up adequate supplies of feed chiefly for autumn and winter, when pastures are not producing sufficient feed for the stock.

PASTURES.

The area under pasture at Puwera has been increased during the year. Field 3A (4 acres) was put down in permanent pasture last autumn. Half . of the field, nearest the main road, was sown on 17th April with the following mixture : Perennial rye-grass (Poverty Bay), 8 lb. ;r Italian rye-grass, 31b.; cocksfoot, 12 lb. ; crested dogstail, 2 lb. ; paspalum, 6 lb. ; white clover, 2 lb. ; cow-grass (colonial), 31b.; chicory, |lb. : total, lb. per acre. The remainder of the field was sown on-30th April with the same mixture, except that the cocksfoot was cut out and the paspalum increased to 81b., . —'

The first-mentioned mixture is now considered, from our experience at Puwera, to be one which will produce a good permanent pasture on this class of land. The fertilizer used, at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre, was a mixture of equal quantities of superphosphate and basic slag. The take was very fair, but the continued wet weather all through the winter and spring has had a bad effect on this area, much of which is flat and low-lying.

An additional 5 acres in tai] manuka in Field 7 was cut; burnt, and surface-sown on 16th May with the following mixture : Perennial rye-grass (Poverty Bay), 12 lb. ; Italian rye-grass, 4 lb. ; paspalum, 51b. ; crested dogstail, 2 1b. ; cow-grass (colonial), 3 lb. ; white clover, 2 lb. ; Lotus major, 1 lb. : total, 29 lb. per acre. The grass has taken well, and should provide good grazing until the manuka-stumps have rotted sufficiently for the field to be ploughed.

In Field 7 the winding creek, which drains the lower portions of Puwera, has been straightened, and the water from heavy rains is now carried away much more rapidly. Further, the under-drainage of the soil on the low-lying land of Field 7 has been materially improved by the straightening of the creek. The result has been a decided general improvement of the drainage of the whole farm, but in particular the lower portions of it.

There is now nearly 50 acres at the Puwera area in grass-pasture. It is on the various grass-fields (all of which have been sown with different seed-mixtures) that observations are being made to ascertain whether or not a profitable pasture can be maintained. A further period of some six or seven years is necessary to secure, conclusive results. Beef-cattle and horses are now used to graze the areas under

trial. From an economic point of view it is conceded that it would be better to test the pastures and crops grown with a small dairy herd, as dairying on small areas may be more profitable than grazing. When more, of the area is in pasture the test could be made by dairying.

The pasture' on Field 3B (now in its third year) is holding very well. It consists mainly of rye-grasses, red and white clover, Lotus major, and a sprinkling of paspalum and brown-top. It has had an average annual top-dressing of basic slag at 2| cwt. per acre. It is the best sole of grass on Puwera, and it promises to hold out, as it has shown no signs of weakening, but, on the other hand, is improving under stocking. If it can be maintained for a further six or seven years with a continuance of the rational treatment it has received up till the present, then the successful grassing of these lands will have been economically solved.

On Fields 5 and 6 the mixtures laid down have been carefully examined regularly. An attempt has been made to secure a paspalum sward on Field 6. The paspalum is slowly taking charge and- promises to make quite a good pasture, associated as it is with white clover and Lotus major, both of which have increased in vigour and quantity, mainly on account of, their response to the top-dressings of slag, which have been applied each year at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre. On the upper portion of Field 6 (3 acres) superphosphate at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre, following on a liming of | ton to the acre, has. produced such a satisfactory growth that the area will be cut this season for hay. . This portion of the field is on the ridge, the poorest area of soil on the farm.

Kikuyu-grass (Pennisetum clandestinum).

An area of i acre was laid down in the spring of last year with kikuyu-grass, white clover, and Lotus major. Roots of kikuyu were planted, as the grass does not seed. The roots were spaced in rows 5 ft. apart and 3 ft. between the plants in the rows. Alongside was an acre plot of paspalum with Lotus major and white clover, and another plot of prairie-grass and red clover. The kikuyu grew vigorously, and with the clover and Lotus major produced a great quantity of feed. Cattle were turned in on the plots, and they fed off the kikuyu before going on to the other plots ; they relish the grass. These kikuyu and paspalum plots were top-dressed last autumn with equal parts of slag and super mixed, and when the kikuyu was inspected on 29th September it was commencing to shoot.

At Albany the area on which kikuyu and Lotus major are growing together produced excellent herbage, while plots near-by where kikuyu and white clover were growing, and kikuyu alone, were not satisfactory. The growth was poor and the turf appeared to be sod-bound. The results on these ' plots illustrated. most strikingly the advantage of growing kikuyu with Lotus major in addition to clovers.

As seed of kikuyu-grass cannot be procured its economic value in New Zealand farming must be thereby limited. Areas have to be planted with roots. The roots, of course, could be planted with the plough as in the case of young mangold-plants. Clover and Lotus major seed can be sown broadcast on the area after the kikuyu is planted.

MANURES FOR PASTURES.

Results show that phosphatic manures are essential on these soils. Their application is followed by an increase in clovers and other legumes, while the grasses also directly benefit. ■ Stock at Puwera, as elsewhere, show a preference for pasture on which phosphates have been applied. Basic slag, basic slag with superphosphate mixed, and superphosphate with lime all give satisfactory results. Ground raw rock phosphate, though slower in producing growth than any of these fertilizers, has nevertheless promoted clovers and improved the pasture. From trials now in progress at Puwera the increase in the weight of hay produced on permanent pasture with a top-dressing of 3 cwt. per acre of ground raw rock phosphate has been approximately 30 per cent. That was very satisfactory for the first year. The pasture had been established five years and had ■ received no fertilizer since being seeded. Ground raw rock phosphate, mixed with superphosphate, using equal weights of each, has, from eye inspections, given much better results so far than raw rock phosphate alone. The weights of hay will be taken at the end of this year when these plots are cut.

Where the areas have been top-dressed in Field 6, the pasture of plots 6 and 8, dressed with Nauru ground raw rock phosphate and lime, still remains poor, whereas plot 7,. which lay between the two last-mentioned plots, and which received pure ground rock phosphate only, has a good mixture of clovers and grasses. This is the third season that this trial of ground raw rock phosphate with and without lime has been continued.

It has been well demonstrated that a pasture at Puwera cannot be satisfactorily maintained without regular top-dressings with some kind of phosphatic manure.

Nitrogenous Fertilizers and Green-manuring.

A very striking result has been secured with an application of 11 cwt. per acre of nitrate of soda on a new pasture of Wimmera ryegrass (Lolium subulatum). and . red clover laid down last. autumn. Early in September the grass was looking fairly vigorous, but was a pale, yellowish-green colour. It was evident that it lacked available nitrogen. A month after the application of nitrate of soda was made the writer inspected the area. The . plot which had received the manure stood out clearly from the rest. The colour was a dark green and the grass was more vigorous, while it was 2 in. or 3 in. taller than on the areas adjoining. Experiments at Albany with sulphate of ammonia as a top-dressing on pasture in spring gave. similar results. These gum-land soils lack nitrogen, and are usually cold and wet in the winter; they therefore respond to dressings of nitrogen in spring.

Collateral with this evidence may be cited the good results, which are seen after a legume has been grown previously to cropping, or where organic matter is added by feeding off a crop or ploughing in a green crop. 1 Orchardists on clay gum lands will be well advised to consider green manuring, especially as blue lupins, white , mustard, and suchlike can be so successfully grown. The blue lupin crop at Puwera this season reached 4 ft. highland was in every way a success. White lupins have not done well at Puwera. Grass-pea, serradella, and other legumes do well on these gum lands.

SUPPLEMENTARY FORAGE CROPS.

■ The area in grass at Puwera which was grazed or cut for hay during the season totalled 42 acres. On this were run sixteen head of cattle, four horses, and four sheep. The stock were wintered on the area and came , through in good condition. Two acres were cut for

meadow hay, and 3 acres of Algerian oats for chaff; 3 acres sown in roots, mainly swedes and mangolds, were harvested. The oat crop yielded approximately 6 tons of excellent sheaves. The grain filled well, and the general quality of the material was good. The root crops, particularly the swedes and mangolds, suffered through a dry spell which commenced in the middle of January and continued till the middle of April. However, with the roots grown, together with the meadow hay and oaten chaff saved, the stock were adequately fed during the late winter, which proved long, cold, and wet.

Mangolds.

It has been shown at Puwera that an addition of 2 cwt. per acre of agricultural salt produced 9 per cent, increase in the yield of mangolds ; an application of 4 cwt. per acre increased the yield 26 per cent. Nitrate of soda, at the rate of i| cwt. per acre, gave no economical gain two seasons ago. Last season, however, the results favoured the addition of nitrate of soda. In addition to the general dressing of mixed fertilizer, consisting of phosphates and potash applied uniformly to the ten mangold plots, five were top-dressed at the rate of 11 cwt. per acre with nitrate of soda, with the following results :—

Without nitrate of soda (average of five plots) : Yield 29-35 tons per acre. With nitrate of soda (average of five plots) : Yield 35-07 tons per acre ; gain 5-72 tons per acre, or 19-48 per cent.

' It is intended to repeat these trials next season, when further data will be obtainable. The mangolds were sold at £1 7s. per ton ; therefore the gain per acre of 5-7 tons represented a monetary return of .£7 13s. rod. The cost of the manure per acre was £i.7s. 6d., leaving a gain of £6 6s. qd. per acre. This does not make allowance for labour and other costs necessarily associated with the production of the crop; but it is quite apparent that the use of nitrate of soda was decidedly profitable. Carrots and other root crops have also responded well to a dressing of nitrate of soda.

NURSERY NOTES.

A new grass known as carpet-grass {P asp alum cupressum), which is native to the southern United States of America, was sown in the spring of last year. In a plot side by side with Paspalum dilatatwm the carpet-grass has so far not compared as well. Soya beans were tried, but the results were only fair. Compared with lupins, grass-pea, and other legumes referred to earlier they have not produced the same quantity of green material for ploughing-in. Kudzu has again failed at Puwera. Seed of white-fleshed swede, supplied by Mr. Langford, of Papakura, was sown in December, • 1922. The crop produced was decidedly better than those of two other varieties, Masterpiece and Webb's Empire, also grown in -the nursery... It withstood the dry spell which was experienced from late January until the middle of April. . '

Cotton was tried in the nursery at Albany. The seed was supplied by the Queensland Department of Agriculture, the variety being Durango Upland. The seed germinated well, and the plants grew to an average height of 6 in. to 9 in., while odd plants reached 3 ft. high and flowered. The flowers, however, were attacked by caterpillars,

and the damage caused by them prevented the flowers coming to maturity. Most of the crop withered and died off. The soil, which is a clay loam with a fair amount of humus present, was in good condition when the seed was sown, on 2nd November, 1922. Intercultivation was carried our regularly, keeping the surface mulched and clear of weeds. Maize, sorghum, millet, and elephant-grass—all subtropical plants well. The season was one characterized by frequent showers all through the summer and autumn, and the rainfall was above the average. This cotton crop may be considered a failure, but it is intended to try it again this season.

Pasture experiments in small plots at Albany have given some interesting results. This work, carried out by Mr. A. G. Elliott, will form the subject of some special notes at a later date.

ROCK PHOSPHATE AND SULPHUR.

It is claimed that sulphur used in combination with ground raw rock phosphate helps to make the phosphate more readily available to crops. Plots were set out last season at Albany, and grass-pea used as the indicator crop. Legumes have a higher power of using phosphoric acid in the raw rock form than other crops. The results obtained showed that on one plot the dressing of sulphur and rock phosphate produced a decided increase in yield, measured as weights of green-stuff produced. On another area the control was equal to the sulphur - and - rock - phosphate plot. The' results were sufficiently encouraging, however, for repeating the trial during the current season. ■

INSTRUCTIONAL WORK.

The people of the respective districts show increasing interest each year in the work on these experimental areas, this being particularly manifest in connection with Puwera. In July last the writer, at the joint request of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce and the sub-provincial executive of the Farmers' Union, gave a lantern lecture on “ Gum Lands " at the Whangarei Town Hall. There was a large attendance, including farmers who had travelled a distance of thirty miles. The boys taking agriculture at the local high school were also present. Next day the farmers and members of the Chamber of Commerce made a visit of inspection to Puwera and were conducted over the area. The day was very wet, but the attendance numbered fifty persons. Those boys of the high school who take agriculture as a subject made their annual visit . to Puwera on 27th September last. Sixty-five pupils with the master and the Chairman of the High School Board and others were shown over the area and the experiments explained to them. The instructional side of Puwera is steadily growing in popularity. It is the only Government experimental area in the far North, and its general help to the farming community and others, apart from the matter of the gum-land investigation, is much valued.

LOCAL RAINFALL RECORDS.

Spent Oxide from Gasworks. This material, which can often be had for the cartage, is rich in sulphur and also in nitrogenous compounds, which when allowed to oxidize on the surface of the pasture are transferred into useful nitrogenous fertilizers. The sulphur is also of value on some soils.

Seed-testing. — the official year 1922-23 9,056 seed-samples' were tested at the Agriculture Department’s seed-testing station for germination, and ■ some 1,500 were analysed for purity. Of this number only eighty were forwarded by farmers, which may be taken as showing an increasing confidence in the ability and desire of seed-merchants generally to supply good seed. This position has arisen, firstly, from the demand by the farmer for high-class seed, and, secondly, from the efforts of the merchants to cater to that demand, and their widely adopted custom of selling on the Department’s certificate.

Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March. April. May. June. July. August. Sept. Total. • Jan. Feb. March. April. May. June. | July. August. Sept. Total. - PUWERA. Rainfall (Inches J ' and Number of Wet Days. Number of Wet Days. 4-10 2-65 4-89 3-24 0-92 I 0-92 i-95 i-95 6-6i 6-6i 7-78 8-04 7-78 6’50 8-04 3-19 6-5° 3’05 3-19 52-92 3’05 52-92 20 . 12 10 4 1 4 1 4 7 '7 ’ 11 11 21 | 24 21 19 ■24 ' 13 19 12 13 157 12 157 ALBANY. Rainfall (Inches) and Number of Wet Days. 4'04 3-66 5’99 6-44 I 3-85 3’85 1-76 1 1-76 5’73 5'73 4-12 1 8-95 4-12 I 2-8i 8’95 3’19 2-8i 4-00 3'19 54'54 . 4-00 54'54 19 17 11 10 12 12 8 8 10 10 26 29 19 21 22 204 1 26 1 29 1 1 19 21 22 204 Mean Annual Rainfall : Puwera, 53-9 in. ; Albany, 43-8 in. in.

The following tables give the rainfall at the two areas during the period covered by these notes—October, 1922, to September, 1923 : —