THE GROWTH OF 'GRASSLANDS TAMA' WESTERWOLDS RYEGRASS ALONE: AND IN MIXTURE WITH CEREALS

Abstract

In autumn-sown greenfeed trials on a Templeton silt loam following cereal1 cropping, the herbage yield from 'Grasslands Tama' Westerwolds ryegrass at first grazing in July and the subsequent regrowth to late August was 27% higher than from 'Grasslands Paroa' Italian ryegrass. The margin in yield was less where both grasses were spelled until late August. Subsequent regrowth in spring was similar for both grasses where there was one prior grazing in late winter, but growth of. Paroa was less than Tama ryegrass where there were two prior grazings in mid- and late winter. Grazing twice in July and August gave a 27% higher total yield from Tama ryegrass than a single grazing in late August. Yields of both grasses were higher with 67 kg/ha than with 22 kg/ha of nitrogen at drilling. Both grasses responded to further nitrogen Bpplied in mid-winter, Paroas more so than Tama ryegrass. Up to late winter, Amuri oats outyielded Tama ryegrass and C.R.D. ryecorn. Yields from an oats-Tama ryegrass mixture were 25% higher than from Tama ryegrass alone. They gave higher yields than Tama ryegrass alone to mid-winter when the cereal dominated, and provided as good recovery growth as Tama ryegrass alone in late winter and spring. when ryegrass dominated.