An experiment was conducted on a fertile Wakanui
silt loam in 1991/1992 examining yield and water
use of five perennial pasture grass species, Grasslands
Hakari mountain brome (Bromus sirchensis),
Grasslands Wana cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata),
Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea),
Grasslands Marsden perennial ryegrass (Lolium
perenne x Lolium hybridum), Grasslands Maru
phalaris (Phalaris aquatica). From 8 November
1991 until 31 March 1992 the highest yields were
from Hakari and Maru at 11370 and 10870 kg/ha.
Marsden, Wana and Roa yielded 8960,875O and
8190 kg/ha respectively. From late January until
the end of March growth conditions were not
limited by water stress or nutrients. Pre-irrigation
yields, when rainfall limited growth were 3840,3570,
2720, 2520 and 2290 kg/ha for Hakari, Maru,
Marsden, Wana and Roa respectively. Total water
use was not significantly different between species
and averaged 400 mm. Water use efficiency (WUE)
was significantly higher for Hakari and Maru at
30.1 and 27.9 kg DM/ha/mm respectively. The
other three species had WUE’s less than 23 kg DM/
ha/mm of water. Neutron probe measurements
showed all species extracted soil water from a
depth of at least 110 cm.[Show full abstract]
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