Publication Date
1989
Description
Most lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in New Zealand is grazed at some time during the year. In the growing season it is recommended that the grazing duration be short, 2-4 days, although it can be extended to 14 days without much effect. However during the dormant season, normally mid June to late July in Canterbury, using lucerne stands as a run-off or for feeding hay for extended periods has been recommended. Lobb (1967) showed that feeding hay to sheep on dormant lucerne significantly reduced perennial weed invasion especially on irrigated stands. Throught and Kain (1977) showed that winter grazing controlled blue-green lucerne aphids ( Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji) and delayed their spring build-up. However, Close et al. (1982) suggested that intensive winter grazing caused damage which allowed the entry of crown rot pathogens, although Jensen, Skivington and Bohman (1981) in Nevada showed that dormant season grazing had no effect on crown rot or plant numbers. The objective of the work described in this paper was to measure the effects of winter mob stocking, and the consequential treading by sheep on lucerne.
Citation
Wynn-Williams, R B.; Rea, M B.; Purves, R G.; and Hawthorne, B T., "Influence of Winter Treading on Lucerne" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 5.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session9/5
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Influence of Winter Treading on Lucerne
Most lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in New Zealand is grazed at some time during the year. In the growing season it is recommended that the grazing duration be short, 2-4 days, although it can be extended to 14 days without much effect. However during the dormant season, normally mid June to late July in Canterbury, using lucerne stands as a run-off or for feeding hay for extended periods has been recommended. Lobb (1967) showed that feeding hay to sheep on dormant lucerne significantly reduced perennial weed invasion especially on irrigated stands. Throught and Kain (1977) showed that winter grazing controlled blue-green lucerne aphids ( Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji) and delayed their spring build-up. However, Close et al. (1982) suggested that intensive winter grazing caused damage which allowed the entry of crown rot pathogens, although Jensen, Skivington and Bohman (1981) in Nevada showed that dormant season grazing had no effect on crown rot or plant numbers. The objective of the work described in this paper was to measure the effects of winter mob stocking, and the consequential treading by sheep on lucerne.
