Dryland pastures
- agronomy and grazing management
Dr Derrick Moot
Professor of Plant Science
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Photo: A. Mills,
Lincoln University
Growth rate (kg/ha/d)
Growth rates (2 year means)
D-N
I +N
120
21.9 t/ha
D+N
I -N
90
15.7 t/ha
60
9.8 t/ha
30
6.3 t/ha
0
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
Month
Source: modified from Mills et al. 2006
Mean daily growth rate (kg DM/ha/d)
Pasture Growth Rates – 2 yr mean
140
I+N
I-N
120
100
21.9 t/ha
80
60
9.8 t/ha
40
20
0
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Month
Source: modified from Mills et al. 2006
Photo: K. Pollock,
Lincoln University
Winter ⇒ temperature response
The Nitrogen gap
DM yield (t/ha)
30
I +N
I –N
21.9 t/ha
y = 7.0 kg DM/ha/oCd
20
9.8 t/ha
10
y = 3.3 kg DM/ha/oCd
0
0
1000
2000
3000
Thermal time (°Cd)
Source: Mills et al. 2009
Photo: A. Mills,
Lincoln University
Summer ⇒ moisture response
Rainfall (mm)
Soil moisture deficit 2003/04
100
Total rain = 520 mm
50
0
Deficit (mm)
0
D+N
D-N
50
100
150
0
1000
2000
3000
Thermal time (°Cd)
Source: modified from Mills 2007
Accumulated DM (t DM/ha)
The Nitrogen gap
25
2004/05
I+N
D+N
20
y = 7.0 kg DM/ha/oCd
21.9 t/ha
D-N
15.7 t/ha
15
10
21 Nov
5.0 t/ha
30 Jan
5
0
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
Accumulated Tt (°Cd)
Source: Mills et al. 2006
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Rg/Wc
Lucerne
CF/Sub
CF/Balansa
CF/Cc
CF/Wc
‘MaxClover’
‘MaxClover’ Total DM Yields
Total annual accumulated DM yield (t DM/ha/y)
(to 30 March 2011)
Year 1
2002/03
Year 2
2003/04
Year 3
2004/05
Year 4
2005/06
Year 5
2006/07
Year 7
2008/09
Year 6
2007/08
Year 8
2009/10
Year 9
2010/11
Luc
20
CF/Sub
RG/Wc
18.5
17.8
17.4
15
14.0
13.0
10.5
10
14.0
13.1
10.4
12.8
11.1
10.1
8.4
11.5
10.0
9.1
11.2
10.0
9.4
9.8
9.5
7.0
6.6
8.8
5
461 mm
493 mm
635 mm
Jan04
Jan05
601 mm
643 mm
651 mm
767 mm
612 mm
12.1
6.7
5.7
+435 mm
0
Jan03
Jan06
Jan07
Jan08
Jan09
Jan10
Jan11
Date
Source: Moot 2012
Photo: M. Smith
Lincoln University
Sub clover
Photo: M. Smith
Lincoln University
Balansa clover
Photo: unknown –
Supplied for use
Caucasian Clover
Seasonal clover growth
RG/Wc
CF/Sub
CF/Cc
Growth rate (kg/ha/d)
80
60
40
20
0
Jul-04
Jan-05
Jul-05
Jan-06
Source: modified from Brown et al. 2006
Growth rate (kg/ha/d)
Seasonal grass growth
60
Cocksfoot
Ryegrass
40
20
0
Jul-04
Jan-05
Jul-05
Jan-06
Source: Brown et al. 2006
RG/Wc pastures
Unsown species <5% in Year 1 ….…>45% in Year 6
Spring
Year 2
•Annual grasses
•Taprooted dicot weeds
Photo: A. Mills
Lincoln University
Photo: M. Smith,
Lincoln University
Summer
Year 4
Spring
Year 5
Photo: M. Smith,
Lincoln University
Spring
Year 7
Photo: A. Mills
Lincoln University
Lucerne pastures
Accumulated DM (t DM/ha)
Spring WUE: legume = (nitrogen)
Lucerne
6
28 kg DM/ha/mm
Ryegrass / clover
Ryegrass only
4
20 kg DM/ha/mm
13 kg DM/ha/mm
2
0
0
100
200
300
Water use (mm)
Source: Moot et al. 2008
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Nitrogen deficient pasture
1000 kg N/ha
Nitrogen fertiliser use
N applied (1000's of t)
400
300
200
100
0
19
/6
60
1
19
/6
65
6
19
/7
70
1
19
/6
75
6
19
/8
80
1
19
/8
85
6
19
/9
90
1
19
/9
95
6
20
/0
00
1
20
/0
05
6
Source: New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers' Research Association 2009
Photo: W.R> Scott
Lincoln University
Water and nitrogen = ryegrass
Relative yield (grass = 100)
Clover content & milksolids production
DM (kg/ha)
130
MS (kg/ha)
120
MS (kg/cow)
110
100
90
80
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Clover (%)
Source: Cosgrove, 2005
Photo: Jo Grigg, Tempello
Sheep prefer 70% legume, 30% grass
Daily lamb live weight gains in summer/autumn when intake was
maximised in experiments using ryegrass & white clover pastures as the
control.
Forage
g/day
Range (No. expts)
Ryegrasses/ white clover
154
56 – 226 (10)
Herb/legume
246
246 – 247 (2)
Chicory
254
192 – 290 (3)
Plantain
214
207 – 222 (2)
Red clover
298
292 – 305 (2)
White clover
259
226 – 282 (3)
Lucerne
230
210 – 243 (3)
Birdsfoot trefoil
258
258
(1)
Leaf turnips
245
245
(1)
Mean
251
.
(Source: P. Kemp modified from Kemp et al. 2010)
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
• 65 – 437mm
• grazed in common,
6-7 times per year
• 7-10 day measurement interval
• 6 years
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Annual yield - irrigated
Chicory
Lucerne
Red clover
30
t DM/ha/y
25
20
15
10
5
0
97/98
98/99
99/00
00/01
01/02
Growth season
Source: Brown et al. 2005
Annual yields - dryland
Chicory
Lucerne
Red clover
Yield (t DM/ha)
30
LSD
20
10
0
97/98
98/99
99/00
00/01
Growth season
01/02
Source: Brown et al. 2005
Persistence
Botanical
composition (%)
LSD
100
75
50
25
Lucerne
Chicory
Red clover
0
97/98
98/99
99/00
00/01
01/02
Growth season
Source: modified from Brown & Moot 2004
Photo: H.E. Brown
Lincoln University
Ryegrass/clover vs. Lucerne
Resistance to Pests and Diseases
Cultivar
Dormancy BGA PA SAA BW SN PRR VW LD
Grasslands Kaituna
Grasslands Otaio
Grasslands Torlesse
P54Q53
P54V09
Runner
I
I
D
D
D
D
R
R
HR
MR
-
R
R
R
R
R
R
MR MR
HR
R
-
Wairau
SD
S
S
S
WL 325HQ
I
R
R
R
R
R
R
HR
HR
R
R
R
R
HR
HR
-
R
R
HR
HR
S
MR
S
MR
HR -
S
S
S
S
S
R
MR
R
-
-
BGA = Blue-green aphid
BW = Bacterial Wilt
VW = Verticillium wilt
PA = Pea aphid
SN = Stem nematode
LD = Leaf diseases
SAA = Spotted alfalfa aphid
PRR = Phytopthora root rot
D = Dormant
SD = Semi-dormant
HR = 50%+ resistant
MR = 16-30%
R = Resistant = (31-50%)
S = Susceptible
1. Lucerne establishment
Soils - deep free draining
- pH 6.0 – 7.0
- rg/wc fertility
Sowing
- inoculated
- 10-25 mm
- bare or coated 8-10 kg/ha
- spring or autumn (grass grub)
- cultivated or direct drilled
- after fallow?
Pre-development
- browntop
- hieracium
- sweet vernal
- <5% legume
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
• Low palatability
• Low production
• Low legume
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Lime and Fertiliser
Application
Lime
3-5 ton/ha
Fertiliser 250-500kg/ha
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Autumn Spraying
• Timing is Critical
• Most important tool
• Glyphosate, granstar, penetrant
Key Results
• Conserve soil moisture
• Kill mass root systems
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
2nd Spray – Spring
Glyphosate, insecticide, penetrant
Result from Autumn spray, photo taken 1 November 2010
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Drilling seed with fertiliser
Direct drilling = seed + fertiliser
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Lucerne root
Photo: D. Hollander
Lincoln University
~8 months after sowing
> 1.5 m length
Source: Mills et al. XXXX
Sown
21/11/2007
Photo taken
1/11/2010
Styx Station
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Pasture growth
Unimproved
Ryegrass/white clover
Lucerne
Yield (t DM/ha)
8
6
4
2
0
M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J
2008
2009
2010
Year and month
Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Photo: Doug Avery
Bonaveree
Photo: V. Fasi
Lincoln University
Source: Mills et al. XXXX
Seasonal grazing management
Spring
• 1st rotation aided by root reserves to
produce high quality vegetative forage.
• can graze before flowers appear (~1500
kg DM/ha) ideally ewes and lambs but
Never lamb on or set stock lucerne
Above ground growth rate
(kg DM/ha/d)
Vegetative growth
120
Jan
80
Spring
Feb
40
July
Autumn
0
0
8
12
Mean temperature (oC)
16
Source: Moot et al. 2003
Blocks
38 days resting
Block 4
4 days grazing
Block 3
Block 2
Block 1
L
S_L
L_S
S
L
L_S
S_L
S
S_L
S
L_S
L
S
L
S_L
L_S
18 m
Photo: Edmar Teixeira
Lincoln University
3.7 m lane
25 days resting
3 days grazing
17.5
Tap root dry weight (t/ha)
Partitioning to roots
42-day
3.5
28-day
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
A
S
O
N
D
Month
J
F
M
A
(Source: Moot et al. 2003)
Photo: Edmar Teixeira
Lincoln University
Photo: D.Avery
Bonaver ee
Doug and Fraser Avery “Bonavaree”
Seasonal grazing management
Spring/summer (Nov-Jan)
• Priority is stock production (lamb/beef/deer)
• graze 8-12 weeks solely on lucerne
• 5-6 paddock rotation stocked (7-10 days on)
• 10-12 ewes plus twin lambs per hectare
Resident pasture
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
Lucerne mixture
‘Bonaveree’ Marlborough
July 2010
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
‘Bonaveree’ Marlborough
July 2010
Photo: D Avery
Bonaveree
Maximize reliable spring growth – high priority stock
Photo: M. Smith
Lincoln University
Rotation 1 Pre-graze
Plot 1 (21/9/07)
2.3 t DM/ha
20-25 cm tall
Photo: M. Smith
Lincoln University
Rotation 2 Pre-graze
Plot 1 (2/11/07, 38 d)
2.9 t DM/ha
35-40 cm tall
Grazing Rotations at Lincoln University
400
5
4
4
6
1
DM Yield (t/ha)
5
4
3
2
1
6
300
3
2 45
12
3
3
2
6
2
23
4
1
0
Jul07
6
1
Sep07
Nov07
Jan08
Date
1 3
200
4
5
5
6
100
Monthly rainfall (mm)
5
1
245
6
Mar08
May08
0
Jul08
Source: Moot & Smith, 2012
Estimating yield from height
Yield (t DM/ha)
6
350-450 stems/m²
600-850 stems/m²
4
3t
2
y = 79.7x
r2 = 0.84
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Canopy height (cm)
Source: Moot unpublished
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
5th September 2011 – Cave Sth Canterbury
Metabolisable energy of lucerne
ME (MJ/kg DM)
16
Leaves
12
Stem
8
4
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Yield (t DM /ha)
Source: Brown & Moot 2004
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Utilization of lucerne herbage
Utilization (%)
100
80
Protein
Energy
60
DM
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Yield (t DM/ha)
Source: modified from Brown & Moot 2004
Photo: M. Smith
Lincoln University
Rotation 4 Pre-graze
Plot 6 (28/2/08) 2.0 t DM/ha produced in 51 d
Post-graze (4/3/08) 0.6 t DM/ha
UTILISATION = 70%
Creating a net of opportunity
Photo: D. Avery,
Bonaveree
Any autumn rain grows high quality feed
Seasonal grazing management
Late autumn/winter (May-July)
• hard grazing once growth stops (frost)
⇒ decrease aphid population
• spray for weeds 10-14 days after winter graze
- grazing/spraying early July
- nodes developing at low temperatures
3. Animal health
• Redgut: problem on high quality feeds – fibre
• Bloat: cattle more than sheep – capsules
• Na def. (0.03%): salt licks/fence-line weeds/pasture
• Require 0.11% Na - sheep/beef/dairy (13%)
3. Animal health (cont’d)
• Clostridial bacteria: vaccinate with 10 in 1
• Cobalt: vitamin B12 injection
• Worm haven: Camping on small area – river edge?
• Leaf spot in autumn: avoid flushing on older lucerne
- new regrowth or tops only are O.K.
Forest conversion 100 000 ha
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
Photo: J &N. Peter
Pleasant Point
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
Ewe hoggets grown on lucerne 54 kg ave
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
Corriedale 2th flushed on wilting lucerne
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
Lucerne (is not grass!!!)
- flushing at Bonaveree
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
4. Fertilizer
• Higher requirement from cutting than grazing
– 2% K = 20 kg/ha/t DM removed
• 50% K super = 80 kg/ha/t DM removed
Or
• KCL = 40 kg/ha/t DM removed + P and S from
super
Photo: D. Moot
Lincoln University
5. Weed Control
Bad weeds = grasses and tap rooted flat weeds
Never set stock in spring
⇒ stand open for summer annual invasion control:
herbicide before July 1
K super if conserving (soil K > 6)
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
‘Bonaveree’ Marlborough
July 2010
Waterlogged
Photo: D Avery
Bonaveree
Photo: D. Avery
Bonaveree
Redrill poorly established areas
Photo: D Avery
Bonaveree
Close up of a prairie grass and lucerne mixture
‘Bonaveree’ Marlborough
July 2010
Photo: D Avery
Bonaveree
‘Tama’ annual ryegrass overdrilled into runout lucerne (12 yrs)
Photo: D Avery
Bonaveree
‘Tama’ annual ryegrass overdrilled into runout lucerne (12 yrs)
- Close up -
Photo: Q. Khumalo
Lincoln University
Lucerne + cocksfoot – Haka Valley
Photo: supplied to Derrick Moot
Lincoln University
Lucerne + Prairie grass
Photo: D Avery
Bonaveree
Diverse drought-proofed landscape
SI Farmer of the Year 2010
Conclusions
• Aim to transform farms to be economically, environmentally
and socially resilient.
• Require regionally specific technical solutions and
ongoing extension.
• Nitrogen from legumes is the key to improve pastoral
water use efficiency.
• Lucerne and herbs have a key role to play in pastoral farming
for deer, beef, and sheep.
Acknowledgements
• Beef & Lamb NZ Ltd/ Pastoral21
• Lincoln University
• MAF Sustainable Farming Fund
References
Brown, H.E.; Moot, D.J. 2004. Quality and quantity of chicory, lucerne and red clover production under irrigation. Proceedings of the New
Zealand Grassland Association 66: 257-264.
Brown, H.E.; Moot, D.J.; Lucas, R.J.; Smith, M. 2006. Sub clover, cocksfoot and lucerne combine to improve dryland stock production.
Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 68: 109-115.
Brown, H.E.; Moot, D.J.; Pollock, K.M. 2005. Herbage production, persistence, nutritive characteristics and water use of perennial forages grown
over 6 years on a Wakanui silt loam. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 48: 423-429.
Cosgrove, G. 2005. Novel grazing management: Making better use of white clover. Proceedings of the 2005 SIDE Conference.
Online:http://www.side.org.nz/IM_Custom/ContentStore/Assets/7/43/5084880571838b9ff7514c0efc22097d/Novel%20grazing%20managem
ent%20options.pdf
Kemp, P.D., Kenyon, P.R., Morris, S.T. 2010. The use of legume and herb forage species to create high performance pastures for sheep and cattle
grazing systems . Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia (Special Supplement) 39: 169-174. Online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S151635982010001300019
Mills, A. 2007. Understanding constraints to cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) based pasture production. PhD thesis, Lincoln University,
Canterbury. Online: http://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/dspace/bitstream/10182/32/1/mills_phd.pdf . 202 pp.
Mills, A.; Moot, D.J.; Jamieson, P.D. 2009. Quantifying the effect of nitrogen of productivity of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) pastures.
European Journal of Agronomy 30: 63-69.
Mills, A.; Moot, D.J.; McKenzie, B.A. 2006. Cocksfoot pasture production in relation to environmental variables. Proceedings of the New Zealand
Grassland Association 68: 89-94.
Moot, D.J. 2012. An Overview of Dryland Legume Research in New Zealand. Crop & Pasture Science (In Press).
Moot, D.J.; Brown, H.E.; Teixeira, E.I.; Pollock, K.M. 2003. Crop growth and development affect seasonal priorities for lucerne management. pp.
201-208. In: Legumes for dryland pastures. Proceedings of a New Zealand Grassland Association Inc Symposium held at Lincoln University,
18-19 November, 2003. (Ed. Moot, D.J.). Grassland Research and Practice Series No. 11.
Moot, D.J., Smith, M.C. 2012. Practical lucerne grazing management. In: Dryland Pasture Research. Report Online:
http://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/dspace/bitstream/10182/4152/1/Dryland_Pasture_Research.pdf
New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers' Research Association 2009 (Dec 2009). Annual update (New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers' Research
Association). 15 pp. Fert Research, Auckland. Accessed: 5/5/2011. Online: http://www.fertresearch.org.nz/resource-centre/annual-updates