Week 11 Climate Flashcards
Describe the climate limitations to pasture growth in coastal NSW
Equiseaonal rainfall Not overly hot, not overly cold Water Deficit over summer Used to be dairy, now more beef Compete with tourism, forestry, lifestyle blocks
Outline positive traits for using kikuyu as a pasture
High production (12-30T/Ha) Summer dominate C4 species (PSN is different to other temperate species as concerntrate co2 and deliver it to where required, Dec. N, inc. growth and inc. temp
Tolerant of trampling and treading
Persistant
High water use efficiency - double growth to rye per unit of water
Outline negative traits for using kikuyu as a pasture
Invasive/weed Intensive management Large winter feed gap Costly to apply P and N Low in Na, Ca, P, Mg Lower Quality Kikuyu poisoning- every few yrs
Describe the keys to growing highly productive kikuyu pasture
Phosphorus -30-40kg/ha/yr
Nitrogen 150-200kg N/Ha during growing phase (NOV-MAR)
50kh every second grazing
Water- alleviate deficit in summer
Describe the grazing management for kikuyu and describe the reasons it is important to graze at this stage
Graze at 4.5 leaves per tiller
16 days after grazing - ME at 9, CP 20%, decreases after this
Dies off after 4.5
Intensive rotation
Need to now the leaf emergence rate = tells you when to regraze
Grazing Kikuyu too early
Mg and Ca and Sugar too Low
N and P too high
Grazing Kikuyu too late
% leaf dec, stem % inc,
Dec. palatibility due to fungus
Outline management techniques for improving kikuyu quality after the 4.5 leaf stage
Hard Gaze with dry cows
Silage production
Mowing/mulching down to 2.5cm
Describe management options for filling the winter feed gap in a kikuyu pasture
Oversow Kikuyu Use winter active temeprate secies- Rye - sow every autumn hite clover - few yrs persistaence Oats Mow to 2 cm, maybe graze twice
Autumn sow when temp is below 15 degrees
