Publication Date
1989
Description
In recent years, New Zealand's grassland industry has been diversified by the farming of different livestock types, and by using a wider range of pasture species. Some of the latter have establishment and growth patterns very different from the herbage species perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.), used traditionally by New Zealand farmers. Successful seedling establishment is critical for subsequent successful performance in a pasture. Quality of herbage seed is judged by thousand seed weight, analytical purity, freedom from undesirable weed seed contamination, and high germination capacity. Internationally accepted procedures are used to measure these factors, including germination testing at temperatures optimum for the species. However, farmers often sow seeds when temperature and moisture are far from optimum, and this may greatly affect seedling establishment and subsequent performance. Several pasture species recently developed as cultivars in New Zealand were known to be more difficult to establish than L. perenne and T. repens. Investigation of germination performance of the species and cultivars used in New Zealand was therefore undertaken at temperatures more usually found during field sowing (Charlton et al., 1986; Hampton et al., 1987). This paper reviews the germination of several non-tra-ditional species at low temperature, to highlight the need for selection for this factor, to ensure more successful use by farmers.
Citation
Charlton, J.F L. and Hampton, J G., "Effects of Low Temperature on Germination of Herbage Species used in New Zealand" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 61.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session1/61
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effects of Low Temperature on Germination of Herbage Species used in New Zealand
In recent years, New Zealand's grassland industry has been diversified by the farming of different livestock types, and by using a wider range of pasture species. Some of the latter have establishment and growth patterns very different from the herbage species perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.), used traditionally by New Zealand farmers. Successful seedling establishment is critical for subsequent successful performance in a pasture. Quality of herbage seed is judged by thousand seed weight, analytical purity, freedom from undesirable weed seed contamination, and high germination capacity. Internationally accepted procedures are used to measure these factors, including germination testing at temperatures optimum for the species. However, farmers often sow seeds when temperature and moisture are far from optimum, and this may greatly affect seedling establishment and subsequent performance. Several pasture species recently developed as cultivars in New Zealand were known to be more difficult to establish than L. perenne and T. repens. Investigation of germination performance of the species and cultivars used in New Zealand was therefore undertaken at temperatures more usually found during field sowing (Charlton et al., 1986; Hampton et al., 1987). This paper reviews the germination of several non-tra-ditional species at low temperature, to highlight the need for selection for this factor, to ensure more successful use by farmers.
