Pasture responses to environment Professor Derrick Moot Photos: DJ Moot & WR Scott
Photo: WR Scott Lincoln University
Photo: WR Scott Lincoln University Lincoln University Dairy Farm
Photo: WR Scott Lincoln University Forest conversion 100 000 ha
Canterbury...sheep numbers 12 10 Sheep (millions) 8 6 4 2 0 Total sheep Lambing (tailed/marked) 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Year Source: Department of Statistics
Canterbury...deer & cattle numbers Stock numbers (millions) 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 Beef cattle Deer Dairy cattle 0.0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Year Source: Department of Statistics
Photo: WR Scott Lincoln University Water and nitrogen = ryegrass
The ryegrass continuum Most persistent Lowest winter growth Lowest nutritive value Perennial ryegrass Long rotation ryegrass Short rotation ryegrass Least persistent Highest winter growth Highest nutritive value Italian ryegrass Annual ryegrass
Heading date Heading = flowering time in spring. Early heading - higher early spring growth. Late heading - late spring quality. Source: www.agriseeds.co.nz
Photo: A Black Lincoln University Forage variety trials
Perennial ryegrass cultivars Source: National Forage Variety Trials (www.nzpbra.org)
Light - Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is in the visible range (400-700nm). - Conversion of PAR to DM ~2.5 g DM/MJ/m 2 for C3 plants ~3.8 g DM/MJ/m 2 for C4 plants
Clear sky global irradiance (W/m 2 ) Maximum daily PAR (MJ/m 2 /d) 15.8 Lincoln, December 16.8 Irradiance (W/m 2 ) 1250 1000 750 500 250 Lincoln, March Lincoln, June 9.3 2.8 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 Time of day (h)
Pasture production in Canterbury Growth rate (kg DM/ha/d) 250 200 150 100 50 0 Potential Actual J F M A M J J A S O N D Month
Photo: A Black Lincoln University Growing point
Nitrogen deficient pasture 1000 kg N/ha
Nitrogen fertiliser use 400 N applied (1000's of t) 300 200 100 0 1960/61 1965/66 1970/71 1975/66 1980/81 1985/86 1990/91 1995/96 2000/01 2005/06 Source: New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers' Research Association
Clover content & milksolids production Relative yield (grass = 100) 130 120 110 100 90 80 0 DM (kg/ha) MS (kg/ha) MS (kg/cow) 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
RG/Wc pastures Unsown species <5% in Year 1 >45% in Year 6 Spring Year 2 Summer Year 4 Annual grasses Taprooted dicot weeds
Objective Quantify the effect of temperature, moisture and nitrogen on cocksfoot yields. Photo: A Mills Lincoln University
Photo: A Mills Lincoln University Experiment site
Growth rates (2 year means) Growth rate (kg/ha/d) D-N 120 I +N 90 60 D+N I -N 21.9 t/ha 15.7 t/ha 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: Mills et al. 2006
Pasture Growth Rates 2 yr mean Mean daily growth rate (kg DM/ha/d) 140 I+N 120 I-N 100 80 60 40 21.9 t/ha 9.8 t/ha 20 0 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Month Source: Mills et al. 2006
Winter temperature response
The Nitrogen gap DM yield (t/ha) 30 20 10 I +N I N y = 7.0 kg DM/ha/ o Cd 21.9 t/ha 9.8 t/ha y = 3.3 kg DM/ha/ o Cd 0 0 1000 2000 3000 Thermal time ( Cd) Source: Mills et al. 2006
Summer moisture response
Soil moisture deficit 2003/04 Rainfall (mm) Deficit (mm) 100 50 0 0 50 100 150 D+N D-N Total rain = 520 mm 0 1000 2000 3000 Thermal time ( Cd) Source: Mills et al. 2006
Accumulated DM (t DM/ha) 25 20 15 10 5 2004/05 y = 7.0 kg DM/ha/ o Cd I+N D+N D-N 21 Nov 30 Jan 21.9 t/ha 15.7 t/ha 5.0 t/ha 0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Accumulated Tt ( o Cd) Source: Mills et al. 2006
Photo: DP Monks Lincoln University Nitrogen fixation 25 kg N/t DM
Spring WUE: legume = (nitrogen) Accumulated DM (t DM/ha) 6 4 2 Lucerne 30 kg DM/ha/mm grass/clover grass only 20 kg DM/ha/mm 13 kg DM/ha/mm 0 0 100 200 300 Water use (mm) Source: Moot et al. 2008
Biological N fixation Fixed N (kg N/ha) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 y = 28.0±0.66x (R 2 =0.96) White clover Sub clover 0 500 1000 1500 2000 Clover yield (kg DM/ha) Source: Lucas et al. 2010
Photo: DJ Moot Lincoln University By 2030 - Drier: Drought increased duration and frequency Annual and tap rooted dryland pasture species?
Transformational change & Adaptation to climate change Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Hills Creek Station - 60 000 ha by one company - Source: Kearney et al. 2010
Doug and Fraser Avery Bonavaree 1100 ha 25% lucerne (55% of easier country)
Lucerne + cocksfoot
Lucerne + Prairie grass
Clay Downs South Canterbury
Growth in the field 20 month old plants grazed by sheep Source: Widdup et al. 2003 Photo: K Widdup AgResearch
Annual dry matter yields Yield (t DM/ha) 30 20 10 LSD Chicory Lucerne Red clover 0 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 Growth season Source: Brown et al. 2005
Persistence Botanical composition (%) 100 75 50 25 0 Lucerne Chicory Red clover LSD 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 Growth season Source: Brown et al. 2004
Caucasian clover
Leaf photosynthesis rate (μmol CO 2 /m 2 /s) 40 30 20 10 0 Caucasian vs. white clover 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Air temperature ( C) Cc Wc Source: Black et al. 2003
2 years after sowing Wc cm 20 40 Cc Photo: A Black Lincoln University 60
8 kg perennial RG 4 kg Caucasian clover 2 kg white clover Source: Hurst et al. 2000
9 year old pasture
Tall fescue/caucasian 90% cover, 60% clover DM on offer
Temporal separation
Olsen P <6
Olsen P >20
MaxClover Total DM Yields (to 30 March 2011) Total annual accumulated DM yield (t DM/ha/y) 20 15 10 5 0 Year 1 2002/03 Year 2 2003/04 17.8 13.0 10.5 Year 3 2004/05 13.1 10.4 8.4 Year 4 2005/06 18.5 11.1 10.1 Year 5 2006/07 Date Year 6 2007/08 11.5 11.2 10.0 10.0 9.1 9.4 8.8 Year 7 2008/09 Year 8 2009/10 Year 9 2010/11 Jan03 Jan04 Jan05 Jan06 Jan07 Jan08 Jan09 Jan10 Jan11 17.4 14.0 14.0 12.8 9.8 9.5 7.0 6.6 Luc CF/Sub RG/Wc 461 mm 493 mm 635 mm 601 mm 643 mm 651 mm 767 mm 612 mm +435 mm 12.1 6.7 5.7 Source: Moot 2012
Source: Costello and Costello 2003
Total DM yield 15 RG+AC CF+AC RG-AC CF-AC Total yield (t DM/ha) 10 5 0 S N J M M J S N J M M J S 2006 2007 2008 Source: Ates et al. 2010
Botanical composition 26 June 08 Botanical composition (%) 100 80 60 40 20 Grass Annual clover Cluster clover Weed Dead 0 RG+AC RG-AC CF+AC CF-AC Pasture Source: Ates et al. 2010
Photo: Persian clover Ashley Dene Balansa clover + annual forages
Bolta balansa clover: 25 th Sept 06 Photo: DP Monks Lincoln University 10 Oct 08
Flowering is essential in estab. year Photo: DP Monks Lincoln University 28 Oct
End of summer must have 50% bare Photo: DP Monks Lincoln University 21 Feb
Photo: DP Monks Lincoln University 21 Feb
Gland clover
Arrowleaf clover?????
Build seed bank in first year Early flower late Sept Late flower mid Oct Seed maturing early Nov Mature seed late Nov
Acknowledgements Beef & Lamb NZ Ltd/ Pastoral21 Lincoln University MAF Sustainable Farming Fund
Water stress effect on yield 30 I+N 21.9 t/ha DM yield (t/ha) 20 10 0 D+N y = 7.0 kg DM/ha/ o Cd 15.7 t/ha 21 Nov 30 Jan 0 1000 2000 3000 Thermal time Source: Mills et al. 2006
References Ates, S., Tongel, M. O. and Moot, D. J. 2010. Annual herbage production increased 40% when subterranean clover was over-drilled into grass-dominant dryland pastures. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 72, 3-9. Black, A. D., Moot, D. J. and Lucas, R. J. 2003. Seasonal growth and development of Caucasian and white clover swards in irrigated and dryland conditions. Legumes for dryland pastures. Proceedings of a New Zealand Grassland Association (Inc.) Symposium held at Lincoln University, New Zealand, 18-19 November 2003, 11, 81-90. Brown, H. E. and 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. and 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/7/43/5084880571838b5084880571839ff5084880577514c5084880571830efc5084880522097d/novel%508 4880571820grazing%5084880571820management%5084880571820options.pdf. Costello, T. and Costello, A. 2003. Subterranean clover in North Canterbury sheep pastures. In: D. J. Moot (ed). Legumes for dryland pastures. Proceedings of a New Zealand Grassland Association (Inc.) Symposium held at Lincoln University, New Zealand, 18-19 November 2003. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Grassland Association. Grassland Research and Practice Series, Vol. 11, 189-192. Department of Statistics. 2009. Agricultural Production Statistics: June 2008 (provisional). Date Accessed: 10/2/2009. http://www.stats.govt.nz/. Last Updated: 10/2/2009. Hurst, R. G. M., Black, A. D., Lucas, R. J. and Moot, D. J. 2000. Sowing strategies for slow-establishing pasture species on a North Otago Dairy farm. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 62, 129-135. Kearney, J. K., Moot, D. J. and Pollock, K. M. 2010. Dryland lucerne production in Central Otago. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 72, 121-126. Lucas, R. J., Smith, M. C., Jarvis, P., Mills, A. and Moot, D. J. 2010. Nitrogen fixation by subterranean and white clovers in dryland cocksfoot pastures. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 72, 141-146. Mills, A., Moot, D. J. and McKenzie, B. A. 2006. Cocksfoot pasture production in relation to environmental variables. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 68, 89-94. Monks, D. P., Moot, D. J., Smith, M. C. and Lucas, R. J. 2008. 'Bolta' balansa clover persistence in a grazed cocksfoot pasture depended on spring and summer grazing management. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 70, 233-238. Moot, D. J. 2012. An overview of dryland legume research in New Zealand. Crop and Pasture Science, (In Press). Moot, D. J., Brown, H. E., Pollock, K. and Mills, A. 2008. Yield and water use of temperate pastures in summer dry environments. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 70, 51-57. New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers' Research Association. 2011. Annual update (New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers' Research Association). 15 pp. Date Accessed: 5/5/2011. http://www.fertresearch.org.nz/resource-centre/annual-updates. Last Updated: Dec 2009. Widdup, K. H., Hussain, S. W., Williams, W. M., Lowther, W. L., Pryor, H. N. and Sutherland, B. L. 2003. The development and plant characteristics of interspecific hybrids between white and caucasian clover. In. Legumes for dryland pastures. Proceedings of a New Zealand Grassland Association. Palmerston North New Zealand: New Zealand Grassland Association, 143-148.
Pasture responses to environment Professor Moot gave this presentation at: Lincoln University On: 24 June 2011 For the: Beef & Lamb New Zealand Science Day