ESTABLISHMENT, SPACING DENSITY AND GRAZING EFFECT

For the production of acceptable yields of grass seeds, attention must be paid throughout the life of the plant towards encouraging the type of growth and development that is likely to result in the maximum seed production from any particular stand during its lifetime. The lifetime of certified grass seed crops'in New Zealand ranges from one harvest season for Tama ryegrass, to four harvest seasons for perennial ryegrass, six for tall fescue, seven for phalaris and eight for cocksfoot. Management of these stands, particularly the long term stands, is a year round process right from the day harvest is finished until the next season's harvest. In this paper severalcultural aspects of grass seed production which will encourage consistent high seed yields throughout the lifetime of the stand, and methods of avoiding the decline in seed yields that often comes with stand age, will be discussed. Particular emphasis will be placed on plant density in establishing the stand, time of establishment and post-harvest management.