ALTERING THE GROWTH PATTERN OF KIKUYU PASTURES WITH TEMPERATE GRASSES

Abstract

Temperate grasses were introduced mto kikuyu-based dairy pastures to Improve poor winter and spring growth rates. Methods of suppressing resident pasture growth before sowmy included, forage harvesting, hard grazmg and paraquat spraying (0.44 kg al/ha). Seed was either broadcast sown or direct drilled. 'Grasslands' cultwars Tama and Nui ryegrass and Matua prairie grass were used. Tiller densities, dry matter production and pasture cornposItIon were measured at 3 to 8 week Intervals in three trials rangmg from 8 to 24 months duration. Hard grazing or forage harvesting did not differentially affect subsequent pasture productlo" Establishment of Tama was best after paraquat spraying and then direct drilling. Sprln~ dally growth rates rose from 25 kg DM/ha in ktkuyu pasture to 56 kg DM/ha in pasture direct dnlled wth Tama after paraquat spraying. but pasture growth rates were similar in early summer once Tama died. Early autumn sowing of Tama is likely to give poor establishment if kikuyu IS not severely suppressed, and late autumn sowing will contribute llttle to winter productjon. In another trial Matua increased annual productlon through better autumn, wmter and sprmg growth. Nui and Tama both improved growth rates rn wrnter and sprmg, but only Nui increased annual productjon also. Keywords: Kikuyu, Nui, Matua, Tama, establishment, paraquat, herbage production, direct drilling.