Effects of November–April grazing pressure on hill country pastures 1. Pasture structure and net accumulation rates

Sheath, G. W.; Boom, Robin

doi:10.1080/03015521.1985.10426100

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Total annual herbage production of plots was not recorded, but similar sites with improved pastures have produced 4-6 t DM/ha per year with resident legume production ranging between 500 and 2200 kg DM/ha per year (Sheath & Boom 1985a;Ledgard & Brier 1988). These low production values reflect the dryness of the experimental site, despite it receiving high annual rainfall.…”

Section: Herbage Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of clovers in dry hill country 3. Regeneration and production of subterranean clover at Whatawhata, New Zealand

Sheath

Macfarlane

1990

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Section: Herbage Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of clovers in dry hill country 3. Regeneration and production of subterranean clover at Whatawhata, New Zealand

Sheath

Macfarlane

1990

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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“…A similar composition pattern was reported by Rumball & Esler (1968) and most likely reflects the adaptability of these 2 grasses to the combined effect of moisture and available nutrients during previous years (Jackman ~ Mouat 1972). The direct effect of moisture stress during the 1980-81 summer would have been insufficient to alter the distribution of these grasses, even though it was drier than normal (Sheath & Boom 1985a). As indicated by relative changes in tiller and leaf number, the reaction of ryegrass and browntop plants to changes in moisture status was similar.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…In addition, seedling numbers within each ring were counted in May each year. In analysing micro-site and grazing treatment effects, the 3 post-grazing treatments (Sheath & Boom 1985a) were considered as replicates. …”

Section: Root Massmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of November–April grazing pressure on hill country pastures 3. Interrelationship with soil and pasture variation

Sheath¹,

Boom²

1985

New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture

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Variations in soil moisture content, nutrient levels, and temperature were measured for a range of micro-sites located on a steep, northfacing hillside. Species distribution and plant responses to changing moisture conditions and different grazing treatments were related to these physical conditions. Soil nutrient levels (organic carbon; total, inorganic, and mineralised nitrogen; Olsen phosphorus; potassium) were highest in camp/old track areas reflecting nutrient transfer by grazing animals. Variation in nutrient level between other flat and sloping areas was low. Soil moisture holding capacities were similar for most areas, but sloping areas were consistently drier in the surface horizon (0-50 mm) because of less effective rewetting compared with flatter areas. Maximum soil surface temperatures of 45-50°C were reached on clear days where low pasture cover existed on sloping areas. The effects of grazing treatments on ryegrass and browntop tiller number, white clover leaf number, and seedling establishment were similar across a wide range of micro-sites. However, pasture species content varied between micro-sites: ryegrass was dominant on camps and tracks; brown top increased with steepness of slope; white clover peaked on rolling and easy sloping areas; grass seedlings were most numerous on camps and tracks; and legume seedlings were most numerous on steeper slopes. Pasture type would appear to be determined more by nutrient fluxes (e.g., mineralisation rate, excreta return) and summer rewetting of the soil surface than by nutrient pool size and inherent water-holding capacity of the soil.

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“…However, there have been some pasture control and quality issues associated with the removal of the breeding cow herd, since this class of stock has traditionally been used to utilise spring pasture surpluses and maintain pasture quality through the summer when young stock need to maximise growth rates (Sheath & Boom 1985). This indicates that the optimal cattle policy for this class of land includes a mix of breeding cow and bull beef enterprises, which is reflected in the MWIES farm survey data (Table 7).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the economic and environmental performance of a New Zealand hill country farm catchment: 3. Short‐term outcomes of land‐use change

Dodd¹,

Quinn²,

Thorrold³

et al. 2008

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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The third phase of a multi-stakeholder, integrated catchment management project at the Whatawhata Research Centre is described. Land use and management changes were implemented to improve economic and environmental performance of the Mangaotama case study catchment farm. The major changes included: afforestation of 160 of the 296 ha catchment farm with pine and native trees, riparian management of the entire 20 km of stream network via fencing and/or forestry, restoration of 5 ha of existing native forest, and intensification of the remaining pastoral component to a high fecundity ewe flock and bull beef finishing. Marked improvements were observed in the key environmental and economic performance indicators. In particular, declines in sediment (76%) and phosphorus (62%) loads and faecal coliform (43%) levels were observed, native forest fragments showed early signs of recovery in terms of sapling numbers and vegetative cover, and the pastoral enterprise recorded increased per hectare production of lamb (87%) and beef (170%). There were implementation challenges with the better matching of land use to land capability, but this study demonstrated that significant progress can be made in the short-term.

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Effects of November–April grazing pressure on hill country pastures 1. Pasture structure and net accumulation rates

Abstract: Net dry matter accumulation rates (N AR) of pasture on flat and slope areas of a steep

Cited by 15 publications

References 13 publications

Evaluation of clovers in dry hill country 3. Regeneration and production of subterranean clover at Whatawhata, New Zealand

Evaluation of clovers in dry hill country 3. Regeneration and production of subterranean clover at Whatawhata, New Zealand

Effects of November–April grazing pressure on hill country pastures 3. Interrelationship with soil and pasture variation

Improving the economic and environmental performance of a New Zealand hill country farm catchment: 3. Short‐term outcomes of land‐use change

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