The effect of sowing date on the late-winter forage yields and growth characteristics of Wairoa brassica, York Globe turnips and Makuru oats

Abstract

A field experiment was designed and conducted to study late winter forage yields and growth characteristics from different sowing times of Wairoa brassica, York Globe turnips and Makuru oats. In this experiment, which was of randomised block design, three sowing times at three week intervals from 23 February were studied throughout the winter of 1978 on Wakanui soils at Lincoln. Dry Matter (D.M.) yields, leaf areas and "leaf:stem (bulb)" ratios were measured throughout the experiment. Wairoa brassica and turnips were found to have similar late-winter D.M. yields if sown by mid March, out yielding oats. From later sowing dates, Wairoa brassica and turnips were out-yielded by oats, probably ascribable through differences in leaf structure comparing oat and brassica crops, with oats having higher ceiling LAI values and possibly higher NAR in low light intensity environmental conditions. Wairoa brassica exhibited poor growth from late sowing in comparison to turnips, with late sown turnips showing fast mid-winter bulb growth rates.