Best-practice pasture renewal for forage production and sustainability: description of a farmer-led study and initial findings

Abstract

Constraints to pasture renewal success have been identified by many farmers so this multi-disciplinary study was initiated to trial and monitor the establishment, persistence and production of key forage species. Eight farms in the Bay of Plenty are being monitored. On each farm, paddocks have been selected so that a wide range of contrasting previous management and current pasture performance is covered. Keywords: clover, grass, dry matter, black beetle, clover root weevil, grass grub, white fringed weevil, cyst nematode, root-knot nematode, earthworm, soil moisture