Evaluation of dryland forage species for lowland Marlborough and 'Mid Canterbury

Abstract

Grazing trials were established at Dashwood, Marlborough and at Winchmore Research Station, Mid Canterbury, to determine persistence, production patterns and changes in composition of various dryland pasture species. Plots were individually fenced and grazed to optimise individual species performance. At Dashwood (Dashwood shallow silt loam and stony loam, 600 mm rainfall), nine species were established: ryegrasses (Grasslands Supernui, Grasslands Nui, and a local ecotype), cocksfoot (Grasslands Wana), phalaris (Grasslands Maru), bromes (Grasslands Tiki and Grasslands Hakari), wheatgrass (Grasslands Luna), and a luceme/phalaris mix (Grasslands Otaio Maru). All species were sown with white clover (Grasslands Tahora) and red clover (Grasslands Pawera). Interim results of the first 3 years show ryegrass species Supernui, Nui and the local ecotype established well in the first year but are gradually being surpassed by the slower establishing species such as Mar-u, Wana and Otaio lucerne. The Winchmore project (Lismore stony silt-loam 739mm rainfall) included 11 species: lucerne (Grasslands Otaio), sheep's burnet, birdsfoot trefoil (Grasslands Goldie), red clover (Grasslands Colenso), browntop (Grasslands Muster), chicory (Grasslands Puna), wheatgrass (Grasslands Luna), ryegrass (Grasslands Pacific), smooth brome (Grasslands Tiki), upland brome (Grasslands Hakari) and grazing brome (Grasslands Gala). Over the first three years Otaio has remained as one of the best producers, but Colenso and Tiki, while producing well in the first year havedropped considerably by year three. Results demonstrate that there is potential for some species tested to enhance the production on the light east coast soils in the South Island but in the long-term persistence must be monitored. Keywords: dryland, pasture species, pasture composition, pasture yield