Pasture seed-mixtures for districts of low rainfall

Abstract

The low rainfall districts of New Zealand grow poor pastures of low carrying capacity. They are situated in Canterbury, Central Otago, Marlborough, Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay, a total area of several million acres. to low, i.e., Although precipitation may be moderate to low, i.e. below 30 inches per annum the distribution is often erratic and uncertain. Very dry periods and droughts occur usually, sometimes between spring and autumn. Pastures are frequently eaten bare during these dry times, and often for want of other feed sheep have to be kept on these bare pastures nibbling any available herbage still closer, It is in these dry or drought periods that the effects of a low rainfall are severe. On shallow shingle soils the dryness is felt more quickly and severely than on loam or clay loam soils. The problem of suitably grassing these areas is further complicated by the occurrence of several soil types even within any low rainfall district. The aim of nearly every farmer in these districts is to secure high producing, good quality and more permanent pastures. As the life and production of the pasture is dependent greatly upon the mixture sown the choice of a suitable seed mixture becomes an important farm management consideration.