Publication Date
1989
Description
Dorycnium is one of several Mediterranean plant species that have been under evaluation for soil conservation purposes in New Zealand since the 1970's. In the dry South Island hill country, particular problems exist in relation to drought-prone, wind and frost affected, low to moderate fertility soils. In many cases these areas can provide for stock wintering and lambing, but in a semi-arid climate they produce little stock forage and provide an ideal habitat for rabbits. The two Dorycnium species described in this paper are nitrogen fixing, leguminous plants which have shown considerable promise for revegetation in drought-prone and semi-arid areas of the South Island and in sandy North Island soils. It is, however, virtually unknown agronomically, therefore we still have much to learn about establishment and management procedures for it under appropriate climatic and edaphic conditions in New Zealand. Sanguisorba minor has been under investigation for a similar period of time and is now used on many farms in dry land pastoral areas of the South Island. Its use for a broad range of revegetation applications is now widely accepted and nutritional benefits are also perceived. The shrub species, Atriplex halimus and Chamaecytisus palmensis have been investigated for their value in providing low shelter for slow growing herbaceous plants, the soil binding ability of their roots, their ability to grow under adverse growing conditions and to provide a source of stock forage as required.
Citation
Wills, B J.; Begg, J.S C.; and Sheppard, J S.S, "Dorycnium and Other Mediterranean Species - Their use for Forage and Soil Conservation in Semi-arid Environments of New Zealand" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 13.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session13b/13
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Dorycnium and Other Mediterranean Species - Their use for Forage and Soil Conservation in Semi-arid Environments of New Zealand
Dorycnium is one of several Mediterranean plant species that have been under evaluation for soil conservation purposes in New Zealand since the 1970's. In the dry South Island hill country, particular problems exist in relation to drought-prone, wind and frost affected, low to moderate fertility soils. In many cases these areas can provide for stock wintering and lambing, but in a semi-arid climate they produce little stock forage and provide an ideal habitat for rabbits. The two Dorycnium species described in this paper are nitrogen fixing, leguminous plants which have shown considerable promise for revegetation in drought-prone and semi-arid areas of the South Island and in sandy North Island soils. It is, however, virtually unknown agronomically, therefore we still have much to learn about establishment and management procedures for it under appropriate climatic and edaphic conditions in New Zealand. Sanguisorba minor has been under investigation for a similar period of time and is now used on many farms in dry land pastoral areas of the South Island. Its use for a broad range of revegetation applications is now widely accepted and nutritional benefits are also perceived. The shrub species, Atriplex halimus and Chamaecytisus palmensis have been investigated for their value in providing low shelter for slow growing herbaceous plants, the soil binding ability of their roots, their ability to grow under adverse growing conditions and to provide a source of stock forage as required.
