Best-practice pasture renewal for forage production and sustainability: description of a farmer-led study and initial findings

摘要

Constraints to pasture renewal success have been identified by many farmers so this multi-disciplinary study was initiated to trial and monitor the establishment, persistence and production of key forage species. Eight farms in the Bay of Plenty are being monitored. On each farm, paddocks have been selected so that a wide range of contrasting previous management and current pasture performance is covered. Initial measures of pasture production, composition, insect populations, nematodes, earthworms and interactions amongst these variables were made in February 2009. Pasture renewal significantly increased white clover yield (P< 0.01). Black beetle (Heteronychus arator) was the major pest insect at almost all sites and populations were significantlydecreased by renewal (P<0.01). The root-knot (Meloidogyne) and cyst (Heterodera) clover-feeding nematodes were increased in renewed paddocks, probably in response to increased clover content. Earthworm populations were significantly reduced by renewal (P<0.05). The relationship between pasture performance and invertebrate populations is complex but critical to pasture establishment.