Palatability of Pampas Grass

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 2, 15 August 1941, Page 118

Palatability of Pampas Grass

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J. E. BELL,

Instructor in Agriculture, Auckland. iimiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiEiiir

AT first approach, one wonders why cattle will eat such a plant as pampas'grass, with its coarse, jagged-edged/-leaves. Having had- some experience with the feeding of cattle on this plant, and after noting how ■ it is relished by them, one is surprised to find on certain farms that the plant is entirely neglected by cattle. Two such farms have come to' 'my noticeone at Clevedon and one at New Lynn. On both of these farms pampas grass has been planted for fodder for dairy cattle. Fg. 1 shows pampas grass on the New Lynn farm which has been cut

back some time previously. The young, fresh growth on the plants is more succulent and more palatable than the old growth, but the cows were not tempted and refused to eat it.

Strain appears to have little or nothing to do with the matter. The plantation, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 1, has been derived from several sources (at least three). At

Clevedon, pampas grass from another source altogether was planted. Where pampas grass grows well and is eaten by stock it is nearly everywhere— has proved a valuable addition to the stock larder. However, the doubt as to its palatability is demonstrated as a warning merely so that farmers will not expend much money and labour in the establishment of plantations until the palatability of the plant on their farms and for their stock has been determined by small trial patches.Another warning .note with regard to pampas grass is that trials have shown it to be as particular as any plant in regard to soil conditions. For quick establishment it requires a rich, moist soil, reasonably well drained. On poorer and drier soils, it is slow to establish and the percentage of deaths is high. Fig. 2 shows pampas grass growing under good soil conditions. On this farm pampas grass is readily eaten by stock, which, however, have preferred the Glyceria aquatica, which can be seen closely grazed in Fig. 2 at the foot of the pampas grass which remains untouched. It is quite possible that the position would be reversed on other farms and with other stock, with stock preferring pampas grass to Glyceria aquatica, ■ which is, after all, not the most palatable of the swamp grasses.

Value of Cultivation

JN the Whakamarama district there is a striking example of the value of inter-cultivating pampas grass in its early stages.

The farmer concerned planted out a small area several rows wide, all plants being planted on the same day and with the same manurial treatment. He planted potatoes between the rows of pampas on half the area and left the other half untouched. The potatoes received a fair amount .of cultivation during their growth, while the area with no potatoes received none. Now, eighteen months after the pampas was planted out, there is still a distinct difference between the two parts of the pampas area. The part in which the potatoes were grown is considerably more advanced than the other half, and the plants are more vigorous' and are throwing double the feed. ' . A. V. ALLO, Instructor in Agriculture, Tauranga.