The productivity of Maku Lotus as a forest understorey

Abstract

Oversowing Lotus uliginosus cv. 'Grasslands Maku' offers considerable scope for improvement of understorey forage production in New Zealand's plantation forests. In a grazing trial in Kaingaroa Forest annual forage yields of predominantly Maku lotus were 3000-5000 kg/ha dry matter (DM) from tree age 4-7 years but declined to 1000-3000 kg DM/ha by age 11 years. Forage yields available for grazing under different tree stockings (100,200 and400 stems/ha) were (up to treeage 11) approximately the same, in spiteof the percentage area covered with slash being significantly affected by tree stocking. Forage species composition since time of oversowing has changed from initial stands of almost pure lotus to a mixture of lotus and lower fertility grasses, particularly Yorkshire fog, and flat weeds. By tree age 11 years (8 years after oversowing) lotus comprises 20-30% of understorey ground cover, both with and without cattle grazing. Keywords Maku lotus, forest understorey, forest grazing, oversowing, forage yields