ESTABLISHMENT OF OVERSOWN PERENNIAL RYEGRASS IN NORTH ISLAND HILL COUNTRY

Abstract

Seed of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. 'Grasslands Ruanui') either untreated, treated with the fungicide captan, coated by a commercial process or coated plus captan, was oversown by hand into existing pastures at three separate hill country sites in Manawatu, Southern Hawke's Bay and Northern Wairarapa. The sites experienced dry, moist and wet conditions respectively, during the period after oversowing. Seedling establishment was poor at all sites and was unaffected by different seed treatments. The number of seedlings decreased between 2 and 8 weeks after oversowing at the moist and wet sites, but increased during this time at the dry site. Seedling establishment levels (% of viable seeds sown) at the three sites 8 weeks after oversowing were: dry, 17%; moist, 11%; and wet, 14%. It was only at the dry site that large numbers of viable seeds were recovered four weeks after oversowing. These results typify the poor levels of establishment that are achieved in hill country from oversown grass seed. Keywords: pasture establishment, perennial ryegrass, seed treatment, oversowing, hill country.