Pasture Management and Crop Production

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 2, 15 August 1950, Page 145

Pasture Management and Crop Production

SEASONAL NOTES Contributed

by the EXTENSION DIVISION

TN arable farming districts many spring-sown pastures are established with a cover crop, usually by undersowing the grass mixture on land which is carrying an autumn- or winter-sown cereal. Though the best results in pasture establishment are usually obtained when grass and clover seed are sown alone in autumn after a summer fallow, this is not always possible and a portion of each year’s new grass on arable farms must often be sown with a cereal. * * *

RYEGRASS SEEDING

Ryegrass is the main species affected by shading and competition of a cover crop, „ /I

and where the normal seeding of ryegrass is 25 to 301 b. per acre without a cover crop, the seeding of this species should be increased to 35 to 401 b. when it is sown under a cover crop.

CLOVER BLOAT

* * * Bloat is a common hazard on dairy farms. It may occur at any time and with varying types of feed, although it is usually associated with o hpQvxr cnrino- rlnvpr irrnwih. Certain feed-

a heavy spring clover growth, certain teeoing management methods help to reduce bloat; for example, full provision of hay and other supplementary feed in early spring so that dairy cows are not unduly hungry when grazing, the saving of late-autumn and early-winter grass for spring feeding, and the mowing and wilting of luxuriant clover before grazing it. * * *

EARLY SPRING

Pastures which have been hard grazed over the winter are usually very clovery in spring. The approved practice of saving late-autumn and

CXJ../ p 1 V V-VI {Jiavtivv VI T Jlliv, vvv*vv«i.»xa early-winter growth of grass on certain fields provides early-spring feed which is dominantly grass. If this saved grass is rationed out for feeding each day in small breaks (with an electric fence) after the herd has consumed its ration of hay or silage, the incidence of bloat is usually greatly reduced. * * *

LATE SPRING

* * * In mid- and late spring when clover and grass are making rapid growth dairy cows do not consume hay and silage readily and it is often

at this period that clover bloat causes severe losses. The risk of bloat may be largely overcome if the clovery pasture growth is mown and wilted before feeding. The daily mowing of a break of clovery pasture does not take up much time and does not entail as much work as that necessary to watch the herd and attend to blown cows, which has to be done often when dairy cows are grazing clovery fields.

LINSEED PRODUCTION

* * * Linseed production could well be ex- [ panded in South Island arable districts and the crop incorporated in the regu-

lar rotation programme so that seedbed preparation might receive the attention it deserves. In the past the crop has often been sown on land intended for some other crop which was not sown because of the lateness of the season and the linseed crop has suffered in yield accordingly. Linseed should be sown not later than the middle of October at the rate of 35 to 601 b. per acre (the smaller-seeded varieties being sown more lightly than the larger-seeded) with lewt. of superphosphate per acre.

LINSEED VARIETIES

* * * When a crop becomes as widely grown as has linseed in recent years the matter of the most suitable varieties for varying soil

111 C mufti & ULA Let VdIICUCO IUI veil J Illg dull types and different climatic conditions becomes of extreme importance. For many years the only variety grown in New Zealand was known as “N.Z. Commercial”. Though this variety has been discarded from Department of Agriculture trials, it is still being grown by

some farmers. In recent years a number of new varieties have been imported mainly from the U.S.A, and India. These new varieties have undergone trials throughout the linseed-growing districts and the following notes are based on the behaviour of the varieties in those trials. The main features of a good variety are yield, freedom from disease of a serious nature, early maturity, and ease of harvesting. Golden Viking, which usually grows 16 to 20in. high, has proved an excellent variety in all trials. It is only slightly susceptible to rust, matures fairly early, and is a satisfactory variety to harvest. Compared with other varieties its yields have been good. It is the principal variety grown in Canterbury today. Bison is taller growing than Golden Viking and matures earlier. It is grown more extensively in Southland, because lateness of maturity is a disadvantage there. The variety is, however, susceptible to rust attack. Walsh has been slightly more susceptible to rust and slightly later in maturing than Golden Viking in trials so far. Yields of seed generally have been below that of Golden Viking, which usually grows 2 to 3in. taller. It appears to be preferred on the lighter lands of North Canterbury. Koto appears to be a promising variety. It is early maturing, is not. susceptible to rust, and is easy to harvest. In trials it has yielded slightly less (on an average) than Golden Viking, but appreciably more than Walsh. It was tried commercially for the first time last season and sufficient seed is now available for wider sowings. Victory is of similar height to Walsh, is not 'susceptible to rust, and can be harvested satisfactorily. It is a good yielding variety, but is late in maturing, which may be a disadvantage in some districts. Seed supplies of this variety are. at present limited. Cheyenne is tall growing and resistant to rust, but details of the variety are available from one trial only. It was the earliest-maturing variety in the trial, a factor which may be of great importance in a district such as Southland. Seed is now available for sowing commercial areas.