Introduction, production, and persistence of five grass species in dry hill country

Abstract

The production and persistence of five oversown grass species and resident pasture, were measured between 1979 and 1987 at six New Zealand sites, under several fertiliser (phosphate and/ or nitrogen (N)) and summer grazing severity treatments. ‘Grasslands Nui’ ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), ‘Grasslands Wana’ cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) (‘Grasslands Apanui’ at Tekapo), ‘Grasslands Maru’ phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), ‘Grasslands Matua’ prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth), and ‘Grasslands Roa’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), established successfully at most sites. Findlay-Wilkinson analysis of annual total herbage accumulation (THA) of four sites, found that Maru production was above average and resident production was below average. Variation in THA between sites and years was related to variation in annual rainfall (621–1484 mm/ year). Wana was the most persistent grass at all sites (60% of THA after 4–6 years), followed by Nui (51% of THA after 4–6 years). Maru was only pe...