Cocksfoot on Light Land.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 58, Issue 2, 20 February 1939, Page 151

Cocksfoot on Light Land.

Establishment of Permanent Pasture.

A. H. FLAY,

Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln.

IN recent years much has been said and : written about subterranean clover for light land, but little or no mention

has been made of cocksfoot for this class of country. Next to rye-grass, cocksfoot is the most important and valuable pasture grass, and on light land, under conditions of grazing suited to it and for special purposes, is actually superior to rye-grass.

Cocksfoot is, however, more difficult to establish than rye-grass. This is one reason why it is not used more extensively. Another is that the pastures, as sown on light land in the past, have had to be ploughed up in three or four years —at a time when the cocksfoot was just becomingwell established. Where such constant renewal of pastures must be carried out, the sowing of a costly and valuable permanent species is definitely not justified, but in association with subterranean clover, which is sown to provide a permanent pasture, cocksfoot has a very important place. A pasture with cocksfoot and subterranean clover dominant provides much late spring and early summer grazing in November and December—just at a time when there is a “ pinch ” in the pasture feed-supplybefore rape, &c., are ready. Judicious and light early spring grazing are necessary to allow a 'good bulk of leafage to be available at this critical period. Depth of Drilling. Since the establishment is difficult more attention is necessary here. The normal and best time to sow subterranean clover is in the early autumn—or even late January. It should be drilled with manure through every coulter very shallow on a, well-prepared, firm, moist, and weed-free seed-bed. This method of sowing is also ideal for cocksfoot establishment. Too frequently when grasses and clovers are being drilled in the seeds are buried at a depth of 2 in. or 3 in. The few seeds that actually miss being completely buried grow vigorously, but the strike from deeply buried cocksfoot and clovers is a poor one.

If, however, the land is properly prepared, such as can be done after turnips or green-feed oats by ploughing, perhaps once or twice, then harrowing frequently

at intervals of a week or ten days followed by rolling, the seed-bed should be firm and in good order. Weeds must be under control and moisture must be present right to the surface. By using turnip coulters or old, worn coulters set to merely scratch the firm seed-bed so as to form a small furrow into which the cocksfoot and subterranean clover seed and' manure fall, a very shallow drilling is obtained. Actually some seed and manure should be clearly visible not completely covered by earth falling' in on either side of the coulter mark. Light harrowing will complete the operation of sowing.

If no seed and manure are visible in the coulter mark, then the seed is already covered deeply enough, if not too deeply, and no final light harrowing should be carried out to further cover the seed. Sowing with Oats. It is not likely that a pasture of cocksfoot and subterranean clover will be sown alone. Oats may be sown as well. These should be drilled in first separately before the seed-bed is finally firmed by rolling. Or a mixture of rye-grass, red clover, and white clover may be included. Where a first-class permanent pasture is desired on light land and where it is

the intention to top-dress to assist to maintain such a pasture a general mixture is recommended. It might well consist of: Certified cocksfoot, 10 lb. to 12 lb. ; certified perennial rye-grass, 4 lb. to 5 lb. ; subterranean clover, 2 lb. to 3 lb. ; Montgomeryshire red clover, 3 lb. to 4 lb. ; and certified white clover, 1 lb. By broadcasting the rye-grass and drilling in the cocksfoot and clovers very shallow an excellent establishment of all species will be secured. A light seeding of rye-grass sown in this fashion will not smother and retard either cocksfoot or subterranean clover on light

land. The light seeding of rye-grass will assist to form a more complete cover and provide a well-balanced pasture. The value of a dominantly cocksfoot pasture for summer feed is not in any way reduced by the inclusion of a light seeding of ryegrass. Best Strain of Cocksfoot. In the past the Akaroa strain of cocksfoot has had preference for pasture grazing and for permanence. To-day, however, an improved or pedigree cocksfoot (known as College C 23), which has been proved to be higher producing than

Akaroa, is available commercially. It is uniformly finer in the leaf, is denser in the crown, stands up to close grazing better, and is generally a better pasture type of cocksfoot. It seems to be just as resistant to grass-grub attack as Akaroa. Farmers should not hesitate to use this cocksfoot-seed when sowing permanent pastures. Properly sown such pastures top-dressed will be down even on light land for many years. Establishment of the cocksfoot cannot fail if the seed is drilled in with manure very shallow on a firm, compact, moist, and weed-free seed-bed.