In this video Prof Derrick Moot discusses the differences between established and establishing lucerne stands in relation to the rate at which the roots explore and exploit water stored in the soil. Known as the extraction front velocity (EFV) this is a measure in millimeters of soil per day that the plant roots access to … Read more
In this, the final video blog in the late autumn field walk series taken in early May, we look at the state of the fourth treatment in our ‘MaxAnnuals’ Experiment at Ashley Dene, Canterbury (approx. 4 mins). This pasture was established with the following dryland pasture mix in autumn 2013:10 kg/ha ‘Ultra Enhanced’ perennial ryegrass … Read more
In this video we look at the third of the dryland pasture mixes which forms part of our grass/clover experiment at Ashley Dene, Canterbury. (approx. 6 mins)This pasture was established with:2 kg/ha ‘Greenly’ cocksfoot (orchardgrass; Dactylis glomerata)10 kg/ha subterranean clover (5 kg/ha ‘Denmark’ plus 5 kg/ha ‘Rosabrook’; Trifolium subterraneum)0.5 kg/ha ‘Tonic’ plantain (Plantago lanceolata)0.5 kg/ha … Read more
In this video blog, the third in the autumn series taken on 7th May 2015, Dick Lucas discusses the state of the hybrid ryegrass pasture initially established in autumn 2013 at Ashley Dene, Canterbury. Approx. 4 ½ mins) The initial species and sowing rates for the pasture discussed in this post was:10 kg/ha ‘Ultra Enhanced’ … Read more
In this second video blog taken on 7th May 2015, Lincoln University Dryland Pasture Research team member Dick Lucas discusses the status of the cocksfoot/sub clover/balansa clover dryland pasture mix. The pasture was initially established in autumn 2013 at Ashley Dene, Canterbury. The initial species and sowing rates for this pasture mix were:2 kg/ha ‘Greenly’ … Read more
Dick Lucas ventures into our MaxAnnuals experimental area at Ashley Dene in the first of this series of video blogs taken on 7 May. In this video Dick discusses the general state of the cocksfoot or hybrid ryegrass pastures this autumn with a bit of a recap on what he has observed at the site … Read more
Posted on behalf of Dick Lucas The recent early autumn, record rain in North Canterbury and other east coast areas will give perfect conditions for an early flush of sub clover seedlings in dryland pastures. In milder coastal areas and north hill faces, if sub clover/grass pastures have an average of 10 sub seedlings per … Read more
Post prepared by Prof. Moot, summer scholar Rebekah Brosnahan and Anna Mills Many dryland regions of New Zealand experience heavy winter rainfall that can cause periodic waterlogging in paddocks. Lucerne is more sensitive than ryegrass under flooding and this is sometimes cited as a reason not to sow lucerne in a paddock. However, after a … Read more
We have just completed our second season of lambing on lucerne, and as Derrick said “things just keep getting better and better”… We realised after our our first experience last year that the length of time the ewes were set stocked for lambing was compromising the management of the lucerne, so this year we scanned … Read more
This is a bit late, but we thought we’d still write a blog on the subject – if only for next season’s reference!! Winter spraying of our lucerne ended up being quite the headache this year. Between: Figuring out what products to apply to suit all the different weeds Getting someone to come on-farm and … Read more