Comparative performance of ‘Grasslands Matua’ prairie grass and ‘cGrasslands Nui’ ryegrass under a hard, infrequent grazing management

Abstract

Abstract ‘Grasslands Matua’ prame grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) and ‘Grasslands Nui’ ryegrass (Lolium perenne Lam.), both sown with ‘Grasslands Huia’ white clover (Trifolium repens), were compared under sheep grazing on two soil types near Riversdale, Southland. The soil types were a Kaweku silt loam and a Hororata silt loam. The trial was sown in October 1982 and continued until February 1986. Plots were grazed to 4 cm from November to February and to 1 cm during the rest of the year, with regrowth periods long enough to enable 1500-2000 kgDM/ha to accumulate. Production from high-endophyte Nui swards was significantly better than from Matua in autumn and winter but annual production was not significantly different. White clover growth was greater with Matua prairie grass than with Nui ryegrass in the second year, but not in the first or third years. “Unsown species”, mainly Poa annua and Bromus mollis, made up a significantly greater amount of the annual yield in Matua swards than in Nui swards. Matua re-seeding did not alter tiller numbers, and production from Matua was similar in each year. Grass grub infestation at one site did not alter the ranking of the treatments.