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.[Show full abstract]
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