Survey Shows Decline in Use of Pampas Grass

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 85, Issue 2, 15 August 1952, Page 114

Survey Shows Decline in Use of Pampas Grass

RESULTS of a survey of 147 plantations of pampas grass growing mainly on dairy farms in various parts of New Zealand were published in the July 1948 issue of the "Journal". At that time pampas grass was being planted widely, particularly by dairy farmers in the warmer parts of the North Island. The survey showed that a large percentage of the farmers whose plantations were included in the survey were satisfied with pampas grass as a fodder plant. Recently an endeavour was made to follow up this survey with another one, the object being to ascertain what changes, if any, there were in acreages and farmers' opinion. Details of 104 plantations, involving 312 acres, were secured. THE following table shows the number, of plantations that had been increased in area, reduced in area, abandoned, or maintained at the same area: —

Maintained at former area 61 Area increased .. .. 8 Area decreased .. .. 11 Abandoned . . . . . . 24 Total 104

The area maintained totalled 197 acres, and 48 acres of plantations were abandoned. The total acreage of plantations where the area was increased rose from 25 to 58 acres, and the total area where it decreased fell from 42 to 20. The net result was a decrease in area of 37 acres or about 12 per cent, of the former total. This decrease would have been considerably greater if areas that were being neglected and allowed to die out had been included in the abandoned areas. Plantations Allowed to Die out The figures do, however, show that there has been a total decrease of 70 acres, which has been compensated to some extent by additional plantings amounting to 33 acres. Although the acreage has been maintained on more than half of the plantations, many of these, are being allowed to die out gradually. In a number of cases decreases in area were due to partial failures of plantations caused by damage by stock or poor soil conditions. Abandoned areas included those that farmers wished to eliminate and a number where change of ownership, broken fences, or neglect had so affected the plantation as to make it of little or no value. In some instances increased areas reflected a desire to have more pampas grass; in others it represented a virtual replacement of portion of a plantation that was not thriving. Farmers' Opinions Farmers’ opinions on the place of pampas grass in farming still vary considerably. In the following table the opinions of farmers at the time of both surveys is condensed. In both cases it was not possible to obtain definite opinions on all plantations. The figures include only those plantations about which an opinion was expressed.

First Present survey survey Per cent. Per cent. Enthusiastic or satisfied .. 78 43 Dissatisfied . . 22 . 57 This shows that over the past 4 years pampas grass has fallen considerably in favour. The first survey showed that over three-quarters of the farmers were satisfied and half of them were enthusiastic; in the present survey fewer than half the same farmers were satisfied and only one in 12 was enthusiastic. ' The survey shows that, although relatively few farmers rely on pampas grass entirely for winter feed, a considerable number regard it as a useful standby if hay or silage is not available. Most farmers using pampas grass do so in conjunction with hay, silage, or pasture. Most of the farmers who are dissatisfied with pampas grass consider that it does not produce as much valuable feed, on good land particularly, as will-good pasture. These comments apply particularly to dairy farms. - The survey covered comparatively few hill-country farms, but there is some evidence that pampas grass is regarded favourably for the wintering of run cattle. Pampas grass is valuable in that it replaces hay, the saving of which on hill-country farms is often difficult. Hill-country improvement,

resulting in increased carrying capacity

of both sheep and cattle, necessitates the provision of more winter feed, and it is on such improved farms that the area of pampas grass is likely to be increased in the future. Changed Circumstances Though the survey shows a marked decline in the popularity of pampas grass as a fodder plant, it should be remembered that the first survey was done when pampas grass was at the peak at its popularity and when, owing to shortage of fertilisers during and after the war, pastures were not as good as they are now. Pampas grass provided much-needed supplementary feed which was not available as hay and silage. Since the first survey the need for pampas grass has lessened considerably, mainly because more “grass” feed (autumn-saved grass, hay, and particularly silage) has been available. Pampas grass is likely to be of value on dairy farms only when it is not possible to grow sufficient pasture for the provision of winter feed. Pasture production depends largely on availability of fertilisers and efficient utilisation of pasture. Insufficient fertiliser or . poor utilisation lower production from pasture, and pampas grass then becomes relatively more valuable.

S. H. SAXBY,

Agrostologist, Department of Agriculture, Wellington