New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Effect of drill type on establishment of overdrilled lucerne
M. H. DOUGLAS
N. J. GEORGE
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food
Research Limited
Redbank Research Station
P. O. Box 42
Clyde, New Zealand
P. D. JOHNSTONE
Agresearch
Invermay Agricultural Centre
Private Bag 50034
Mosgiel, New Zealand
Abstract The effect of four drill types on the establishment
of overdrilled lucerne (Medicago sativa) in a 300-800 mm rainfall
tussock grassland environment in New Zealand was examined. The effect of
herbicide pre-treatment and oversowing on plant numbers was also investigated.
The highest initial seedling population count was 310 seedlings m-2,
but this number declined over three years. All drills established a plant
population greater than 56 plants m-2. A prototype roto-drill gave
the highest initial establishment without herbicide because it covered
vegetation between coulters and reduced competition, and the triple disc drill
had the highest establishment with herbicide. Herbicide pre-treatment provided
higher soil moisture during establishment, increased seedling production, and
produced a pure lucerne sward. Lucerne establishment by oversowing was only
successful on the herbicide-treated plots.
Keywords lucerne; Medicago sativa; drills;
overdrilling; herbicide; plant establishment number; production
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1998, Vol. 41: 161-170
0028-8233/98/4102-0161 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1998
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (757K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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