SFF Project Summary
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Latest update
Updated:
20 November 2009
Final report [PDF 31KB]
KAG Nitrogen to establish over-sown new grass: results from April-October 2008 [PDF 61KB]
KAG Nitrogen to Change Pasture Species Project [PDF 69KB]
KAG Breeding Cow Project [PDF 129KB]
The benefits of controlling kikuyu with breeding cows on mulching [PDF 1.24MB]
Kikuyu - Dominant and ryegrass pasture compared [PDF 660KB]
Nitrogen on kikuyu-based pasture during late autumn [PDF 981KB]
Northland Kikuyu Action Group Newsletter September 2009 [PDF 298KB]
Northland Kikuyu Action Group Newsletter, July 2008 [PDF 324KB]
Project description
Northland Kikuyu Action (KAG) group is a farmer driven group that started in 1999 to identify methods for maximising pasture production of kikuyu dominant pasture. Interest by farmers in the work of the group continues to be high.
The issue/opportunity
Kikuyu is among the four most important pasture species in Northland. It continues to spread both within in Northland and in other areas of New Zealand, including the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki - indeed farmers as far south as Nelson are now finding Kikuyu growing. This situation that will only be exacerbated by current climatic trends. Loss of production from poorly managed kikuyu pasture on sheep and beef farms is becoming more significant each year. Increasingly farmers are ‘trying' management options on steep kikuyu pasture – but in the absence of properly designed and monitored trials, these remain anecdotal at best. They may in fact lead to pasture production decreases and environmental damage.
At present Northland farmers don't have any trialled information on options for maximising production from a kikuyu dominant pasture that don't rely on the use of a tractor.
The context/background
As demonstrated by previous Kikuyu Action Group trials poor autumn kikuyu management impacts significantly on subsequent winter and spring production. Effective management of kikuyu dominant pasture relies on control of kikuyu during the autumn period to enable ryegrass and other species to compete and continue producing during the winter/spring period. But achieving this control by grazing alone can be challenging at best, and impossible to achieve is some seasons. For many Northland farmers current control options are not practical or cost effective on some or all of their property. These farmers are desperate for practical solutions which would allow them to control kikuyu in the autumn, leading to better productivity and profitability from the farms during the spring.
Given that the majority of Northlands sheep and beef production occurs during the late winter and early spring period, and this also coincides with premium payments for stock, any method of producing more pasture through the winter and spring period will produce additional income for farmers.
Provision of practical options for effective management of kikuyu pasture in the autumn on non-tractorable country will therefore lead to direct economic benefits.
Methods
There are 4 components to this project:
- Strategic use of nitrogen in late autumn/early winter as a tool to change pasture composition and increase pasture growth in the spring
- Enhanced grass establishment and animal performance through the spring using strategic application of nitrogen to overcome the potential immobilisation of nitrogen by rotting kikuyu residue.
- Re-evaluate the role of the breeding cow in managing kikuyu relative to other classes of stock. This trial will look at both the animal and pasture impact of using breeding cows as a tool.
- Initial analysis of the data collected over the past year on pasture growth and quality at Jaggers, followed by a further years collection of data and final analysis. It will provide valuable information comparing seasonal performance of kikuyu and ryegrass pasture. This information will help demonstrate to farmers the importance of correctly managing kikuyu on sheep and beef farms
All these trials will be run on commercial sheep and beef farms throughout Northland.
