Evaluation of ‘Grasslands Matua’ prairie grass and ‘Grasslands Maru’ phalaris with and without lucerne in Canterbury

Abstract

Mixtures of Matua prame grass and Maru phalaris with Saranac lucerne, grown on silt loam and cut infrequently, were compared with pure sowings of lucerne, Matua, Maru, and ‘Grasslands Nui’ ryegrass. Major nutrients returned in fertiliser mixture were equivalent to their content in the cut herbage. Of the mixtures, Matua yielded the most dry matter (DM) over 2 years (19 000-22 4000 kglha/a, cf. 18 500-19 500 kglha/a for pure lucerne). Pure swards of Matua and Maru yielded more than Nui in all seasons, highest annual DM yields being 16 800, 13 200, and 8600 kg/ha respectively. In the second year of measurement, grass contributed 40% of the total yield of the Matua mixture, the contribution being at a minimum of 17% in summer, increasing to 46% in autumn. The Matua mixture yielded 1300 kglha of grass DM in winter, whereas the Maru mixture yielded only 500 kg/ha. Spring yields of grass in the mixtures were similar, but in summer Matua yielded more than Maru.

Keywords:

• Lucerne
• Medicago sativa L.
• ‘Grasslands Matua’ prairie grass
• Bromus willdenowii Kunth
• ‘Grasslands Maru’ phalaris
• Phalaris aquatica L.
• ‘Grasslands Nui’ ryegrass
• Lolium perenne L.