Identification Features:
Emerald green colour
Ribbed upper leaf surface, shiny or waxy under surface
Folded emerging leaf, red colour at tiller base
Seed head: compact spike with no awns
Growth Form and Function:
Temperate C3 grass
Prostrate, densely tillered; tiller population of 5000 to 25,000/m²
New tillers formed year-round, fastest development in late spring and early summer
Compact base with growing point close to soil allows continuous leaf formation
Long-day flowering plant; flowers in spring after chilling (vernalisation)
Seed head emergence typically around 20th October in New Zealand
Yield and Nutritive Value:
Faster seed establishment due to larger seeds (2-2.5 mg)
Typical DM yield in ideal conditions: 20-25 t/ha
Nutritional value: 10-11 MJ/kg DM for green leaf, 8-9 MJ/kg for reproductive stem, 6-7 MJ/kg for dead material
Crude protein (CP) content ranges from 12%-25% DM based on nitrogen availability
Management Requirements:
Requires rotational grazing to prevent damage to growing points
Can be improved with endophyte for pest resistance
Identification Features:
Dull blue-green leaf colour, very folded tiller
Presence of ligule at leaf collar
Seed head: spreading panicle, seeds (0.9 mg) have no awns
Growth Form and Function:
Temperate C3 grass
Larger, less dense tillers compared to perennial ryegrass (5000 to 15,000/m²)
Adapts growth form based on grazing; can grow taller with lax management or smaller under close grazing
Maintains 4-5 live leaves per tiller, allowing for greater herbage mass accumulation
Long-day flowering plant; seed heads emerge mid-October to early November
Yield and Nutritive Value:
Annual DM yield in ideal conditions: 20-25 t/ha
More productive than perennial ryegrass under low moisture and fertility constraints (5-6 t DM/ha in dry conditions)
Can increase to 21 t DM/ha with irrigation and nitrogen
Management Requirements:
Requires rotational grazing, especially in spring to prevent reproductive phase which decreases digestibility
Tolerant of set stocking but management of growth and grazing is crucial
Features:
Most commonly sown legume, suitable for various New Zealand regions
Hairless trifoliate leaves with stems (petioles) from stolons o - Flowers in late spring/summer
Deep network roots, shallow (20 cm) which limits drought tolerance
Growth Form:
Stolons allow for spreading and forming clonal plants
Highly palatable and nutritious; contributes nitrogen to the soil (25 kg N per 1000 kg of DM)
Benefits from rotational grazing and can tolerate set stocking in spring
Yield:
Typical clover content in mixed pastures: 10-20% of total DM, yield ranges from 7-15 t DM/ha
Features:
Considered short-lived perennial (2-4 years)
Hairy trifoliate leaves, larger and more oval than white clover, erect flowering stems
Growth Form:
Deep taproot allows better drought tolerance compared to white clover, less spreading ability
Requires recovery period between defoliation
Yield:
Higher initial clover content in the first few years of mixed swards (20-30% of total DM)
Nutritional profile similar to white clover (high ME and CP content) but declines faster over years
Features:
Long narrow leaves forming a rosette
Compact seed heads on fibrous stem when flowering
Survival:
Short-lived (3-5 years); sensitive to over-grazing due to crown damage
Features:
Bigger, paler leaves with distinct mid-rib, slightly serrated edges
Deep tap root (up to 1.5 m)
Survival:
Generally survives 1-3 years, also sensitive to harsh defoliation
Aspect:
North facing slopes are warmer, promoting early spring production and later autumn production.
South facing slopes retain moisture better but face colder temperatures and more frosts.
Rainfall and Temperature:
Rainfall patterns and temperature significantly affect pasture growth rates and species composition.
Dargaville experiences frequent rainfall, high pasture production, while Canterbury’s evapotranspiration leads to significant moisture deficits.
Growth Pattern Differences:
Winton has a uniform rainfall pattern, high dry matter yield (12,000 kg DM/ha)
Canterbury experiences low total pasture production (5800 kg DM/ha) due to high ET rates and low soil moisture
Lifecycle Overview:
Winter annual; seeds burrow underground during dry summer.
Germinates in autumn following rain; requires light grazing to ensure seedling survival.
Management Practices:
Light grazing post-emergence to ensure reproductive success and accumulate seed for following years.
Requires minimal grazing to allow for high yields in subsequent years (optimal growth in milder winters, drier summers).
Early Autumn Rainfall is crucial for maximizing DM yields. This influences the plant's ability to close the canopy and intercept light effectively.
Delayed rainfall leads to lower yield due to prolonged lag phases and poor light interception during critical growth stages.