Control of gorse (Ulex europaeus) in dryland pasture converted from Pinus radiata forest
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Date
2007-09-24
Type
Journal Article
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Abstract
The effect of crop sequence, pasture species mixture and nitrogen fertiliser
on gorse establishment was monitored over 23 months in land converted
from pine forest to a dryland sheep pasture. There were fewer gorse plants
in plots sown initially into the forage crop triticale and then into grass legume pasture than plots sown directly into grass or grass-legume pasture.
Once the triticale was grazed, under-sowing grass-legume pasture beneath
rape to establish clover rich pastures suppressed gorse more than sowing
grass-legume pasture directly. There was no effect of nitrogen fertiliser
applied at 150 kg N/ha/year on gorse plant density or cover. Appropriate
management tools to control gorse in forest to pasture conversions include
a combination of crop sequences where forage crops are followed by
pasture and the establishment of pasture legume rich herbage. This type
of pasture is preferred by livestock and results in high grazing intensity
of gorse seedlings growing in the pasture.
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© 2007 New Zealand Plant Protection Society (Inc.)