ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF TAGASASTE

Abstract

Tagasaste was successfully established from spring sown seed, drilled into cultivated ground and into herbicide treated pasture (55% and 40% of viable seed established respectively after 12 weeks) when spring soil temperatures reached about 13°C (at 10 cm). Seed drilled into short pasture suffered from plant competition and seed broadcast onto herbicide-treated and short pastures failed to establish (each <7% establishment after 12 weeks). Mid September sowings were slower to establish than October or November sowings because of cooler soils. Established plants, in rows (equivalent to 10,00O plants/ha) on two hill sites and cut either once or twice per year to 30 cm, gave a mean annual production of 1.6 kg DM/plant,ln another trial established plants cut to 50 cm in August, or December, or both these times, subsequently produced more dry matter than plants grazed by sheep at these times. Guidelines for establishing and managing tagasaste are given. Keywords: tree lucerne, Chamaecytisos palmensis, sowing time, drilling, broadcasting, defoliation, cutting, grazing, production.