IX. Hamilton

Abstract

Pasture growth rates from 1954 to 1970 are presented for a site at Rukuhia Soil Research Station near Hamilton in the Waikato. The pasture consisted mainly of perennial ryegrass tLolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens). Two pasture areas were used and each one was cut alternately for yield measurements and then grazed for a period. Cuts were taken at 2-weekly intervals and five time replicates were cut at 3-to 4-day intervals. The mean yield and standard error of individual samples are given for standard dates at 14-day intervals. The growth pattern had a dominant peak growth rate in October and a secondary peak in December. The mean average annual yield was 10220 kg DM/ha of which 13% was produced during the winter months of June, Iuly, and August, 44% during spring, 25% during summer, and 18% during autumn. General climate data, mean monthly rainfall, and temperature data during the period of pasture measurements are given.

Long-term Central Waikato summer-autumn rainfall and pasture growth trends. Are conditions for pasture growth changing over time?

“…Linking trends in climate data to measured pasture production is difficult because of the lack of actual long-term pasture growth measurements from any one location. Long-term sequential records for annual pasture growth from research sites in Waikato before 1980 were difficult to find although some publications presented data for shorter periods (e.g., Mcaneney et al (1982) covered 1953-1966and Baars (1976) covered 1954-1970.…”

Seasonal Distribution of Dry Matter Production From Pure and Overdrilled Lucerne and From Lucernegrass Mixtures as Compared With Pasture on Pumice Country

“…With this proviso, the pastures at sites, 10 to 13 in Table 1 exhibit a range in annual production which suggests that good pastures can be grown on pumice country, and that the best sites have similar yields to those recorded in the Waikato by the same technique (Baars, 1976). Although mean lucerne yields of sites 1 to 9 were 50% higher than those of pastures at sites 10 to 13, there was a large variation between sites, possibly due to soil type.…”