A COMPARISON OF RYEGRASS CULTIVARS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY 1. Perennial cultivars

Abstract

The seasonal and annual production of New Zealand perennial ryegrasses were compared with that of a number of overseas cultivars. Several imported tetraploids established much more quickly than the New Zealand standards. R.V.P. Melle, Barlatra, S23 and New Zealand Mangere showed good summer drought resistance. At Waimate Mangere gave the h,ighest seasonal and total production while at Timaru, where Mangere was not included, Grasslands Ruanui and Grasslands Ariki gave the highest autumn, spring and total yields. White clover was usually higher yielding when with the less productive ryegrasses. This often meanst that ryegrass plus clover yield differences were less than those of the ryegrass cultivars alone.