SPRING SOWING OF PASTURES

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 12

SPRING SOWING OF PASTURES

NURSE CROPS WITH GRASS

OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTHLAND

Under Southland conditions, the spring and early summer (October to January) sowing of permanent pastures is a commonly-accepted practice. Early sowing gives a longer green feed season, generally a good germination and a more rapid establishment especially of clovers—provided that weed competition is not excessive. It is also a common practice in Otago to sow grass with turnips in November, or with oats in the fall. The sowing of grass seed with companion crop cannot be generally recommended, except in the coastal area of Southland, which is one of the few districts where this can be accepted as a good farming practice when associated with suitable management. Elsewhere the sowing of grass alone is desirable, without the competitive effect of a crop and the excessive trampling of stock. If it is desired, the inclusion of half a pound of rape, kale or chou moellier seed with a grass seed mixture will give an extra bulk of fattening feed, without the disadvantages mentioned. Also a light sowing of oats as a cover crop in the late autumn may be an advantage. Under the climatic conditions of Southland, however, the additional shelter provided by the oat crop, which is the principal nurse crop, and the greater length of time elapsing before grazing, permits more successful clover establishment. The oats should be sown at 3to 3| bushels an acre. A full sowing of oats is not advisable. Rape and turnips do not prove good nurse crops on better class Southland land, though on lighter Southland country they may be quite satisfactory. SUITABLE MIXTURES Other requirements for the successful establishment of permanent pastures are the use of mixtures of suitable seeds of truly perennial strains, adequate preparation of the soil resulting in a fine, firm seed-bed free from weeds, and top-dressing at the time of sowing. After the preliminary ploughing and the following deep cultivation have been carried out, there should be a period of six weeks with intermittent light surface cultivation before the grass seed is finally sown. After the sowing of the seed it is advisable to roll if conditions are dry and fine, but not under wet conditions with frequent rain.

Top-dressing and liming in the first year may generally be taken as a prerequisite for successful establishment, followed by annual top-dressing. It should not be necessary to stress the importance of sowing suitable mixtures of seeds and the correct strains of these seeds. A good pasture cannot result from the sowing of inferior or unsuitable seeds. Where information is required as to seed mixtures for local conditions, this should be obtained from the nearest district officer of the Fields Division. The saving of seed from newly-sown areas should receive every consideration.