Open AccessNATURAL RESEEDING IN PERENNIAL RYEGRASS/WHITE CLOVER DAIRY PASTURES
Author(s) -
P.J. L'Huillier,
D. W. Aislabie
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand grassland association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1179-4577
pISSN - 0369-3902
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.1988.49.1812
Subject(s) - grazing , perennial plant , agronomy , tiller (botany) , pasture , biology , seedling , grassland , lolium perenne
The extent to which propagation of perennial ryegrass from seed can contribute to sward stability and the influence on this of spring pasture management (seedling competition and seed viability and losses was examined in a replicated plot experiment. Under hard grazing in late spring less than 5% of reproductive tillers reached flowering. Where grazing was restricted during reproductive tiller development to allow reseeding, 80-90% of tillers flowered. Subsequent seedling densities were 20-50 times higher and herbage accumulation during late summer-early winter was 33% greater on plots reseeded than those hard grazed in spring. Farm practices such as hard grazing, topping and possibly silage conservation which remove reproductive tillers before flowering will greatly reduce ryegrass reseeding and may contribute to the poor persistence of ryegrass swards under intensive dairy cattle grazing. Keywords: grassland management, propagation, botanical composition, herbage accumulation, soil, seed dynamics.