Consolidation Of The Soil Favours Certain Pastures

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 87, 16 May 1949, Page 3

Consolidation Of The Soil Favours Certain Pastures

| Consolidation of the soil and com- ! paction of the turf favours the establishment of certain high-yielding pasture species (notably ryegrass) at the expense of less productive grasses (sweet vernal). Heavy treading by stock is useful also in sod-bound pastures and for eliminating fern and other undesirable secondary growth. On wet, heavy soils, over-tramp-ling cuts up the surface and leads to subsequent infestation by weeds and grasses of lower productivity (such as Poa trivialis). The grass that does remain is rendered dirty and unpalatable. Where land gets very wet in winter, the best plan is to graze the dry stock right off the property, because of the great harm caused by pugging. Where no light land is available, there are two alternatives (1) abandon rotational grazing and put the stock in a fairly big field, or (2) confine stock to paddocks which are shortly to be ploughed, and to the driest portions of the farm. Some farmers have overcome the problem by stallfeeding over the worst of the winter poaching-period.

Queen wasps are now on the wing and this is the time of year when further infiltration of the pest can be looked for in all districts. All wasps and nests should be destroyed as quickly as possible.