Feed For Your Stock

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 61, Issue 2, 15 August 1940, Page 93

Feed For Your Stock

Pampas Grass Is A Valuable Winter Fodder

“Where the soil and climatic conditions appear to be suitable, the possibilities of pampas grass as a valuable fodder plant should certainly be exploited. Once established, upkeep charges are low, utilisation is conveniently simple, and under a system of proper management the farmer is completely assured of a valuable reserve of nutritive and palatable winter feed regardless of the vagaries of the season.”

-By-

P. S. SYME,

Instructor in Agriculture, W'arkworth.

A LTHOUGH only a comparatively a comparatively few years have elapsed since pampas grass was first introduced to the farming community as a useful fodder crop rather than an ornamental garden shrub, this plant is now widely established on dairy farms throughout the warmer districts of New Zealand.

Judging by its rough and fibrous appearance, one might well suppose that the plant would be both unpalatable

and indigestible. Surprising as it may seem, however, once accustomed to pampas, stock will eat it with evident relish, and its high feeding value as shown by analysis is confirmed by practical farming experience. Where other kinds of supplementary feed cannot conveniently be grown, pampas may well prove to be a particularly useful crop, provided that the climatic and soil conditions are suitable to its establishment and vigorous growth. Quality of Soil Important When pampas was first boomed some too enthusiastic advocates claimed that, because of its extensive and deep rooting system, the quality of the soil was not of great importance. That this

is very far from being correct has been the sad experience of many farmers who were encouraged to believe that any odd unproductive corner of the farm could profitably be planted with pampas grass. In its native home, the grass is found growing mainly on rich, moist depressions or near water courses, and, contrary to what one might assume from the name, it is not found on the wide, grassy expanses of so-called pampas. When planted on dry, ■ exposed ridges or on very poor, heavy', or waterlogged land pampas is very likely to prove a failure, and the ideal soil is undoubtedly a free, moistbut not waterloggedalluvial soil. In the north, pampas has succeeded well on certain of the better flats, but on the average run of gumland failure has

been, recorded, much more frequently than success. Although it has been extensively tried out in different localities and on a wide range of soil types in the South Island, plantings of pampas have generally proved a failure, and, as a fodder crop it can safely be recommended only for certain of the warmer districts of the North Island. Establishment of Pampas As pampas plants are dioecious—the male and female elements being on separate plants is rather difficult to procure live seed unless both types of plant are growing close together. For practical purposes, however, the male and female plants can readily be distinguished by the size of the flower

heads. Those of the female are by far the larger as well as the more handsome, .and, with due care, it is possible to obtain seed germinating up to 70 per cent., from which plants can easily be raised.

The. seed should be grown 'in boxes .filled with fine, sandy soil, and is best simply dusted on. the surface and left uncovered. Moist, . warmth, and shade are necessary to secure good and quick germination of the small seeds. In some districts seedling plants can be freely found growing naturally, or they -may be cheaply obtained from nurserymen or from the Whangarei Harbour Board. , i’'

While such plants may be planted direct in their permanent positions, mortality is liable to be very high unless the ground has been very carefully prepared in advance, so that it may be advisable to bed the small plants in good free soil in the garden for transplanting the following season as well rooted and established plants. If carefully lifted from a light, free soil, such plants do not die back. The roots strike very quickly, and) the plant suffers little check.

Establishment from Root Cuttings . Where mature plants are available, root cuttings from, them . provide a cheap .'and effective method of propagation. .; The usual.’ method of obtain- i

ing. cuttings is to rope the plant tightly above the crown and. trim it across , about eighteen inches above the ground . level by means of a saw. Rooted stools can then be easily dug out with a spade. .

If the mother plant is very big and dense the operation may be expedited by loosening the roots with a judiciously calculated charge of blasting powder. The best cuttings are usually obtained from the outside rather than from the centre of the parent plant.

Distinguishing Pampas from Toetoe

When obtaining cuttings, farmers have frequently gone to considerable trouble to procure plants from a distance under the impression that the numerous tussocks growing naturally in the vicinity were toetoe. Although toetoe and pampas are somewhat similar, they can be very easily and positively distinguished. In pampas, the leaf • sheath which clasps round the stalk at the base of the blade is always round, and the midrib is not continued into the sheath. In toetoe, the midrib of the leaf is continued down the sheath, which is consequently oval in shape.

Readily Eaten c ' , Dy Stock _ When pampas was first considered as a fodder crop claims were freely made regarding the . superior palatability of certain strains. . Whether or not these claims were justified, the fact remains that stock have shown no special preference or dislike when grazing plantations carrying plants of

very diverse origin, so that no apprehension need be felt on this score when collecting either cuttings or seedlings.

Site for Plantation / As already mentioned, the idea that

pampas will grow anywhere is erroneous. Like any other cultivated plant/ its ease of establishment and rapidity of growth are largely dependent on fertility.

Pampas may very well be used to fill an odd corner if the soil is suitable, but, considering its high potential value and the small area of land re-, quired, this valuable crop surely deserves something better than the worst piece of land on the farm. Yet, judging from many plantations seen, whether by accident or by design, pampas is . often allotted the role of Cinderella, and this only too frequently explains why so . many stands have proved utter failures.

Far from being of little significance, as has been claimed, observations carried out at Ruakura on a number of two-year-old stands strongly suggest that fertility is a factor of very prime importance, and that whether the yield is to be 5 tons per acre or 50 tons per

acre depend almost entirely on the quality of the soil. Apart from this aspect, the site should be near a handy run-off for grazing, and it may be an advantage a the land is such that it it can be conveniently worked up before planting, and , nece ssary, surface cultivated urdd ' the plants are ’ properly estabushed. Needless to say, the area must be well fenced.

Planting the Stand

The plants should be spaced about 6ft. apart each way, and this will require about 1200 plants per acre. Planting is best performed in the spring, when danger of frost is past, and, under normal conditions, the best results may be expected with late September or early October plantings. In order to assist establishment a handful of super-blood-and-bone in equal parts may be worked in round each plant.

Although the plants may possibly establish even under adverse conditions, a well-prepared bed greatly reduces mortality and results in much faster growth. This is particularly important if small seedling plants have been used.

If cuttings are being planted they should be set at an angle of about 45 degrees rather than vertically. Good plantations can be established either from cuttings or from transplants. Mortality is usually much lower, however, where good transplants are used, and it has also been claimed that the latter stool out into bushes rather more quickly.

Quite apart from special plantations for stock fodder, pampas may very usefully be employed as a shelter belt

for stock, and, used in this way, it possesses the added advantage of providing a very cheap and permanent emergency ration for times of scarcity. Management of Plantation Once the ground has been planted little further attention is required. If weeds are particularly aggressive, horse-hoeing between the rows may be desirable in the early stages, but a limited amount of weed growth does little harm, and actually serves as a useful shelter for the developing plant. When properly established, pampas will quickly turn the tables, and will even smother out blackberry. It is claimed that growth is improved if the plants are prevented from seeding by removing the seed heads during the summer. While there is some difference of opinion regarding the efficacy of topdressing once the plants are established, it may be mentioned that on a trial carried out on the farm of Mr. A. S. Eyton, Matakana, where a variety of fertilisers was applied, no appreciable benefit resulted. Because of the nature of ground, however, this trial cannot be regarded as conclusive. Grazing by Stock If conditions have been favourable the plants may be grazed in the second year after planting out. Too early grazing and too hard a grazing of a young stand, however, is harmful, and it should be emphasised that even well-grown plants cannot withstand constant and persistent grazing.

Stock which have not been accustomed to pampas will more readily eat it if a few of the plants are cut over above the crowns. This results in a very speedy growth of succulent white shoots, and once stock have tasted them they require no further introduction. Pampas may be fed out, but in practice it is generally most conveniently fed oft by fencing it off in breaks. When fed off, the area is usually fired to clean up all litter and any dead shoots or leaves around the plants. It is then closed up to permit re-, growth. Yield of Pampas Under favourable conditions individual plants may weigh as much as 250 lb. or more within two years of planting, and a yield of 50 tons per acre of useful fodder cannot be regarded as in any way exceptional. As the dry matter analysis of pampas is actually higher than that of swedes or. mangolds, it is not surprising to learn that one acre under favourable conditions may winter up to about 100 head of stock if a good run-off is available. Where the soil and climatic conditions appear to be suitable, the possibilities .of this valuable fodder plant should certainly be exploited. Once established, upkeep charges are low, utilisation is conveniently simple, arid under a system of proper management the farmer is completely assured of a valuable reserve of nutritive and palatable winter feed regardless of the vagaries of the season.