XII. Winchmore, Canterbury Plains dryland and irrigated pastures

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Abstract
Pasture growth rates are presented for dryland and irrigated pastures at the Winchmore Irrigation Research Station, Canterbury. Yields were obtained from grazed pasture cut by a standardised method using movable cages. The mean yield and standard error of individual samples over 13 years of measurement are given for standard dates at 14-day intervals. Growth rates on both dryland and irrigated pastures were low during winter (June–August), and contributed about 5–8% of the annual yield. Forty–seven percent of the annual dryland production was in spring, with a peak in October, corresponding to peak growth of the dominant legume Trifolium subterraneum. Summer production was highly variable, and contributed only 24% of the average annual yield of 5870 kg DM/ha. Growth on the irrigated pasture was distributed more evenly throughout the year, with 35% of the annual yield in spring and 42% in summer. Growth rates were highest in summer, corresponding to the maximum growth of T. repens, and were much less variable than the dryland pasture. Annual production was 10 160 kg DM/ha, 73% more than the dryland pasture. General climatological data, rainfall, and temperature during the pasture measurement periods are given.

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