Successful Establishment Needs Care

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 2, 15 August 1941, Page 117

Successful Establishment Needs Care

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E. H. ARNOLD,

I Instructor in Agriculture,; = E Dargaville. i -iiiiiiiiiiiiiutiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiu**

Accompanying the first extensive plantings of pampas grass for fodder purposes were many disappointing strikes and failures, and decided reaction against further plantings followed. A careful stocktaking of the position revealed that the establishment of a pampas grass plantation was not quite so simple or so uniform as was once thought. Climatic conditions, time of planting, soil quality, use of fertilisers, preparation of the ground, and the actual method of planting are all single or combination factors influencing success or failure in obtaining a satisfactory strike. However, where pampas grass is successfully established, information is sufficient to show that it is useful for fodder purposes on the richer 'flat and easy lands. Further, . immense possibilities can be visualised for its similar use on hill country where hay and ensilage cannot be saved. It is on this latter type of land that less attention is usually given to certain important factors which accompany successful establishment. The first two illustrations are of a pampas grass area planted some years ago. More, by accident than by design, two important aspects of management and planting stand out. The pampas was planted out among a,rank growth of grass, fern, and blackberry. A hard fight for. existence among the roughage occurred, and the plants did not thrive. Then, before the pampas plants had made sufficient top and bottom growth, cattle grazed the area with the exception of a small piece cut off by a deep drain. The plants which were grazed down closely before they, were firmly established did not recover and were smothered by the fern and blackberry. Two factors in combination brought about the failure of this plantation. . ;

tn successful plantations, one . of which is shown, in Fig. 3, the cleaning and keeping down of the rough growth between the plants until they are well established proves worthwhile. Further, grazing is harmful until the pampas plants have attained size and root development. When a mixed-age plantation is grazed the replants used to fill the gaps never make the recovery or attain the size of those plants successfully established at the time of the first planting. Depending upon the soil fertility and whether seedlings or cuttings were used, it may be three or even four years after planting: before it is safe to graze the newly-established pampas plantation. The less fertile the soil, the slower will be the establishment and the longer the period before the initial grazing. Just as poor soil will not grow good pasture unless topdressed, so a poor soil untreated will not grow good pampas grass.