Open AccessPasture establishment on non-cultivable hill country: a review of the New Zealand literature
Author(s) -
K. N. Tozer,
G. B. Douglas
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
grassland research and practice series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2463-4751
pISSN - 0110-8581
DOI - 10.33584/rps.16.2016.3233
Subject(s) - sowing , pasture , agronomy , grazing , agroforestry , agriculture , forage , integrated pest management , weed control , germplasm , livestock , geography , biology , ecology
Steep, non-cultivable hill country below 1000 m comprises about 40% of New Zealand's land surface and is known as "hill country". It is used predominantly for mixed livestock farming, and makes a large contribution to the national economy. Recently there has been renewed interest by industry and government in germplasm introduction through pasture establishment to increase forage supply in these difficult environments. In this review, establishment is defined as development of a sown pasture species to a stage where it is able to reseed. The aim of this review was to determine the effect of key factors associated with pre-sowing management, sowing, and post-sowing management on establishment, including: site selection, herbicides, the role of litter, grazing management, burning, weed and pest control, fallow, fertiliser, species selection, seed quality, sowing time, sowing method, sowing rate, seed inoculation, coating and pelleting, natural reseeding and dissemination of seeds by animals. Over 120 studies were reviewed. A secondary aim was to highlight directions for future research. Keywords: establishment success, sowing, pasture renewal, oversowing