The establishment of pasture on yellow-brown loams near Te Anau

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Abstract
The effect of time of sowing and herbage cover on the establishment and survival of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and crested dogstail (Cynosurus cristatus L.), oversown into stunted fern (Pteridium esculentum (Forst, f.) Diels), was investigated on Te Anau brown loam. Good establishment of cocksfoot, timothy, and crested dogstail was obtained at the three times of sowing, but perennial ryegrass establishment was only fair. With the four species, time of sowing had no marked effect on the number of plants surviving two years after sowing, although with November sowings herbage cover proved of vital importance for survival, and except for cocksfoot few plants survived in the absence of cover. The effects of lime, phosphorus, and nitrogen on establishment and survival of cocksfoot and ryegrass in the presence and absence of cover were also investigated. Establishment was aided by lime, high phosphate, and nitrogen, particularly in the absence of cover. Plant vigour was greater in the presence of cover. Cocksfoot was considered the best grass in both trials.

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