NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL PERENNIAL RYEGRASS RESULTS TO MARCH 2011

Transcription

1 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL PERENNIAL RYEGRASS RESULTS TO MARCH 2011 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL SYSTEM The New Zealand National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) system was set up by the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association Inc., a society established to promote plant breeding and research in New Zealand. The New Zealand National Forage Variety Trials commenced in 1991 in co-operation with AgResearch Grasslands, co-ordinated by NZPBRA. The results which are attached to this statement must be considered in their entirety as prepared by the Technical Committee of NZPBRA. Scientists from each member company make up the Technical Committee of NZPBRA who make every attempt to ensure that the statements made are fair and reasonable given the scientific data available. It must be realised that these trials have been carried out on limited sites within New Zealand over a limited period and cannot represent every situation. Trials are subject to varying management, climatic and site effects which may affect individual cultivar performance. Interpretation of results should take these factors into account. New Zealand Plant Breeding & Research Association accepts no responsibility for the use of these results. Furthermore the results have been prepared at the request of and for the purpose of individual participating companies only and the New Zealand Plant Breeding & Research Association Inc accepts no responsibility on any grounds whatever, including liability and negligence, to any other person. The results are subject to copyright: Copyright New Zealand Plant Breeding & Research Association Inc All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a data retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the permission of the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association Inc.

2 2 LIST OF TRIALS Species Year Trial Page Perennial ryegrass 1991 P391NOR : Normanby, Taranaki P391AOR : Palmerston North, Manawatu P391NZA : Courtenay, Canterbury P291KIM : Lincoln, Canterbury P392RUA : Ruakura, Waikato P292HOD : West Melton, Canterbury P293RUA : Ruakura, Waikato P293KIM : Lincoln, Canterbury P394NOR : Normanby, Taranaki P294PAL : Palmerston North, Manawatu P294HOD : West Melton, Canterbury P394GOR : Gore, Southland P395STP : St Peters School Dairyfarm, Waikato P295PGG : Prebbleton, Canterbury P295HOD : West Melton, Canterbury P396PAL : Palmerston North, Manawatu P296GOR : Gore, Southland P398STP : St Peters School Dairyfarm, Waikato P298 KIM : Lincoln, Canterbury P298PGG : Prebbleton, Canterbury P399RUA : Ruakura, Waikato P300MAN : Massey University, Manawatu P300FLE : Goings Dairy farm, Flemington, Canterbury P200DAR : Darfield, Canterbury P200WAN : Wanganui P201KIM : Lincoln, Canterbury P301GOR : Gore, Southland P301TAR : Hawera, Taranaki P201HER : Invergordon, Victoria, Australia P202KIM: Lincoln, Canterbury P202PGG: Prebbleton, Canterbury P202TEA: Te Awamutu, Waikato

3 3 LIST OF TRIALS Species Year Trial Page Perennial ryegrass Perennial ryegrass 2003 P203INV: Flora Road, Invercargill 190 P203HOR: Rockwood Road, Hororata P204DUN: Dunsandel, Canterbury 200 Perennial ryegrass Perennial ryegrass Perennial ryegrass Perennial ryegrass 2005 P205POU: Poukawa Research Farm, Hastings P205GOR: Beatties Road, Gore RD1 P205PGT: Prebbleton, Canterbury P205PGD: Prebbleton, Canterbury P205KIM: Lincoln, Canterbury 2006 P2006:WAI: Dexcel, Scott Farm, Newstead P206SOU: Winton A & P Farm, SH6, Southland P206KIM: Lincoln, Canterbury 2007 P207MAN: Jac Bos, Kairanga, Manawatu P207BUR: Roger Bates, Wards Road, Burnham 2008 P208KIM: Kimihia Research Centre, Canterbury P208WAI: Scott Farm, DairyNZ, Hamilton

4 4 TRIAL MANAGEMENT Trials in this report broadly simulate rotational grazing or mowing under high nutrient supply conditions Trials include a number of coded lines being evaluated. At time of publication none of these were named or on the market Trials usually run for 3 and a quarter years from autumn sowing Ryegrass variety type, whether perennial ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass, tetraploid or diploid is stated for each trial in the Cultivars in Trial section. Unless stated otherwise the variety will be a diploid perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrasses tested usually (not always) contained endophyte Neotyphodium lolii. Some hybrid ryegrasses contained this. Details are given for each trial in Cultivars in Trial section A protocol with the standard guidelines to how trials were run can be obtained from the NZPBRA SUMMARY OF NFVT TRIAL NAMES First character Species P = Perennial ryegrass C = Cocksfoot T = tall fescue W = white clover Second character Third/Fourth characters Trial stage 2 = 3 = 4 = Year of sowing Pure sward (ie single species) small plots with or without grazing Larger plots grazed trial sown as mixed swards (herbage dissections undertaken) Animal performance measured Fifth-Seventh characters Location AOR = Aorangi in Manawatu GOR = Gore in Southland HOD = Hodder & Tolley, Halkett, Canterbury KIM = Kimihia, Lincoln, Canterbury LIN = Lincoln, Canterbury MAN = Manawatu NOR = Normanby, Taranaki NZA = Agriseeds, Courtenay, Canterbury PAL = Palmerston North, Manawatu PGG = Pyne Gould Guinness, Canterbury RUA = Ruakura, Waikato

5 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL : P391NOR IMPORTANT POINTS The trial simulates intensive dairy grazing in Southern Taranaki 5 Some cultivars showed unusually high plant mortality during the first spring-summer period, possibly due to Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis). Because of this results must be taken with caution The trial was ended after two years (instead of three) as large cultivar differences existed and these were unlikely to change LOCATION: Dairy Research Corporation, Normanby, Taranaki TRIAL PERIOD: 15 April May 1993 CULTIVARS IN TRIAL Standards: Grasslands Nui (high endophyte), Yatsyn 1 AgResearch Grasslands: Grasslands Impact (high endophyte hybrid) Agricom: Grasslands Greenstone (tetraploid hybrid with Endosafe) Wrightsons Seeds: Grasslands Pacific Cropmark: Grasslands Marsden (high endophyte hybrid) Hodder & Tolley: Embassy, Banks Agriseeds: Vedette, NZ894, NZA912 Pyne Gould Guinness: PGP2, PG31 (tetraploid hybrid) TRIAL ENVIRONMENT Soil: Egmont Black loam Altitude: 122m a.s.l. Climate: 10 years readings from Normanby Research Farm: - Mean annual rainfall: 1058mm - Average daily min/max temperatures January: 11.7 C/21.2 C - Average daily min/max temperatures July: 4.5 C/12.1 C The summer of 1991/92 was typical of summer conditions in Taranaki with a short dry spell in January. 1992/93 saw a drier summer with 69mm of rain in January/February compared to a 15 year average of 147mm. Irrigation: None TRIAL DESIGN, METHOD AND ANALYSIS 4 replicate randomised complete block design with plot size: 5 x 10m. Mixed sward with approximately 50kg nitrogen/ha/yr applied to compensate for clippings removal. Phosphate, potassium & sulphur levels were high (soil test levels; P=43 K=13 S=25) with annual application of 60kgP/ha, 50kgK/ha, 6kgS/ha. Yield assessments taken using a rotary lawnmower mowing 5m² area approximately 4cm above ground level. This area was alternated on each side of the plot. Dry matter and botanical composition analysis taken at every cut. Trial was rotationally grazed with dairy cows over a 24 hour period. Post grazing the half of the plot to be next assessed for yield was trimmed to remove any excess clumpy growth and disperse manure. Under this double trim system measured yields are lower than actual yields. Yields were statistically analysed with the LSD test at the 5% level.

6 6 RESULTS: RYEGRASS YIELD Ryegrass accounted for 58% of total yield. This content varied greatly between cultivars from Impact at 74% perennial ryegrass to Greenstone at 45%. Table 1:P391NOR Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 2 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Yatsyn a 3100 a 2210 ab 1280 ac 7800 a Impact 1190 ab 2690 b 2470 a 1330 a 7680 a Nui HE 1020 ac 2570 bc 1930 b 1120 ad 6640 b Vedette 1140 ab 2580 bc 1480 c 1080 be 6280 b NZA ab 2250 cd 1500 c 1310 ab 6170 bc Banks 760 ef 2420 bd 1300 cd 930 df 5410 cd Embassy 990 bd 2060 d 1270 cd 1020 df 5340 cd NZA df 2140 d 1250 cd 1060 ce 5250 d Pacific 880 ce 2370 bd 1200 cd 800 f 5250 d Marsden 730 ef 2210 cd 1100 df 840 ef 4880 de PGP2 620 f 2320 bd 1110 de 810 f 4860 de Greenstone 680 ef 2160 d 810 ef 540 g 4190 e PG f 2200 cd 740 f 530 g 4130 e Significance *** *** *** *** *** LSD 5% CV % Trial mean Table 1a: P391NOR Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to Trial Mean = 100, mean of 2 Years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Yatsyn Impact Nui HE Vedette NZA Banks Embassy NZA Pacific Marsden PGP Greenstone PG

7 7 Table 2: P391NOR Ryegrass Yield by Year Entry Year One Entry Year Two Impact 8570 a Yatsyn a Yatsyn a Impact 6790 a Nui HE 7470 ab Nui HE 5790 b Vedette 6970 bc NZA b NZA bc Vedette 5570 bc NZA cd Pacific 5110 bd Embassy 6320 cd Banks 4630 ce Banks 6180 cd Marsden 4470 de Pacific 5400 de PGP de Marsden 5290 de Embassy 4350 df PGP de NZA df Greenstone 4980 e PG ef PG e Greenstone 3390 f Significance *** Significance *** LSD 5% 1136 LSD 5% 963 CV % 12.5 CV % Table 2a: P391NOR Ryegrass Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Entry Year One Entry Year Two Impact 135 Yatsyn Yatsyn Impact 135 Nui HE 118 Nui HE 115 Vedette 110 NZA NZA Vedette 111 NZA Pacific 102 Embassy 100 Banks 92 Banks 97 Marsden 89 Pacific 85 PGP2 88 Marsden 83 Embassy 87 PGP2 83 NZA Greenstone 79 PG31 76 PG31 70 Greenstone

8 8 RESULTS: WHITE CLOVER YIELD White clover increased in content during the trial to account for 25% of total yield Table 3: P391NOR Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 2 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Greenstone 350 a 500 ab 1920 a 580 a 3350 a Marsden 310 ac 490 ac 1710 ab 410 bd 2920 ab PG ad 500 ab 1590 ab 460 ac 2840 ac Pacific 220 cf 430 ae 1510 b 550 ab 2710 bc Embassy 250 be 520 a 1480 b 380 ce 2630 bc NZA ab 440 ae 1490 b 350 ce 2600 bc NZA ad 410 be 1530 b 320 ce 2550 bc Banks 240 be 410 be 1430 bc 400 be 2480 bc PGP2 240 be 460 ad 1410 bd 330 ce 2440 bc Vedette 250 be 370 de 1370 bd 350 ce 2340 cd Nui HE 200 df 390 ce 1020 de 280 de 1890 de Yatsyn f 340 e 1040 ce 250 e 1770 e Impact 170 ef 370 de 820 e 300 de 1660 e Significance *** *** *** *** *** LSD 5% CV % Trial Men Table 3a: P391NOR Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to = 100, Mean of 2 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Greenstone Marsden PG Pacific Embassy NZA NZA Banks PGP Vedette Nui HE Yatsyn Impact

9 9 Table 4: P391NOR Clover Yield by Year Entry Year One Entry Year Two Greenstone 2550 a Greenstone 4430 a Pacific 2190 ab Marsden 4170 ab Marsden 2150 ac PG ac PG ac NZA ad Embassy 1750 bd Embassy 3920 ad NZA bd NZA ad Vedette 1510 be PGP ad NZA be Banks 3660 bd Banks 1460 be Pacific 3480 ce PGP ce Vedette 3400 de Yatsyn de Impact 2860 ef Nui HE 1020 de Nui HE 2840 ef Impact 780 e Yatsyn f Significance *** Significance *** LSD 5% 738 LSD 5% 683 CV % 32.2 CV % Table 4a: P391NOR Clover Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Entry Year One Entry Year Two Greenstone 160 Greenstone 122 Pacific 137 Marsden 115 Marsden 135 PG PG NZA Embassy 110 Embassy 108 NZA NZA Vedette 94 PGP2 104 NZA Banks 101 Banks 91 Pacific 96 PGP2 82 Vedette 94 Yatsyn 1 64 Impact 79 Nui HE 64 Nui HE 78 Impact 49 Yatsyn

10 10 RESULTS: OTHER GRASS YIELD Other grasses made up 11% of total yield and comprised mainly Poa annua in winter and prairie grass in summer. Table 5: P391NOR Other Grass Yield by Year (kg DM/ha) Entry Year One Entry Year Two PGP a Nui HE 1530 NZA ab PGP Banks 1450 ab Greenstone 1310 NZA ab Banks 1280 Vedette 1390 ab NZA Yatsyn ac Pacific 1220 Marsden 1260 ac PG Nui HE 1260 ac Vedette 1190 Pacific 1130 bd Yatsyn Greenstone 1030 bd Marsden 1100 Embassy 990 bd Embassy 1100 PG cd NZA Impact 600 d Impact 860 Significance ** Significance NS LSD 5% 550 LSD 5% - CV % 31.6 CV % Table 5a: P391NOR Other Grass Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Entry Year One Entry Year Two PGP2 144 Nui HE 128 NZA PGP2 119 Banks 119 Greenstone 109 NZA Banks 107 Vedette 115 NZA Yatsyn Pacific 102 Marsden 104 PG Nui HE 104 Vedette 99 Pacific 93 Yatsyn 1 93 Greenstone 85 Marsden 92 Embassy 82 Embassy 92 PG31 61 NZA Impact 49 Impact

11 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL : P391AOR IMPORTANT POINTS 11 The trial represents well-drained Manawatu alluvial country under intensive rotational sheep grazing. The site experiences warm summers, mild winters and evenly spread reliable rainfall Over the trial period, rainfall was close to the long term mean. Maximum and minimum temperatures were about 1 C below the long term mean, in almost every three month period throughout the trial Clover was lost in the first year and had to be resown in spring 1992 (see method) LOCATION: Aorangi AgResearch Farm, 15 km from PalmerstonNorth TRIAL PERIOD: 21st March st May 1994 CULTIVARS IN TRIAL Standards: Grasslands Nui HE (high endophyte), Yatsyn 1 Agriseeds: Vedette, NZA894, NZA912 Agricom: Grasslands Greenstone (tetraploid hybrid with Endosafe) Wrightsons Seeds: Grasslands Pacific Cropmark: Grasslands Marsden (high endophyte hybrid) AgResearch Grasslands: Grasslands Impact (high endophyte hybrid) Hodder & Tolley: Embassy, Banks Pyne Gould Guinness: PGP2, PG31 (tetraploid hybrid) TRIAL ENVIRONMENT Soil: Intensively drained Kairanga silt loam Altitude: 15 m asl Latitude: Climate: - 868mm rainfall p.a. - Average daily min/max air temperatures January: 12.0 C/22.1 C - Average daily min/max air temperatures July: 3.8 C/12.9 C Rainfall distribution is good, but there is regular summer moisture stress. Some frosts occur, but cool season growth is good. TRIAL DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY A randomised complete block trial with 4 replicates and plots 10.75m x 4.6m. White clover was sown with the trial but was lost after treatment with Ethofumesate (8 1/ha, 200 g/l a.i.) in May 1992 to remove annual grasses, and clover contributed only 0.7% of first year yield. Grasslands Tahora white clover was oversown at 3.5 kg/ha immediately after grazing on 30th September, White clover contribution to the sward increased from this time, reaching 21% in year 3.

12 12 The trial was grazed to kgm/ha residual with about 1000 m_ture wethers/ha. The trial wasatopped dhen necessary to remove reproductive stems. At tll harvests, dry matter and herbage species composition were determined. An initial dressing of 200 kg/ha 30% potassic superphohphate was applied before sowing. Further fertiliser application was guided by regular soil tests. Because of the white clover failure, 100 kg/ha of N as urea was applied in May, 1992 and 34 kg/ha as DAP was applied in April In September 1993, estimated nutrient losses were replaced with 162 kg/ha Nitrophoska Blue TE. In winter 1993 some plots were severely affected with scald (Rhynchosporium orthosporum). Samples were taken at random from each plot and ten tillers taken from each sample were subsequently noted for the presence of lesions. Scores for the ten tillers were added, to give one value per plot. These values were analysed. There was some concern that hybrid ryegrasses Grasslands Greenstone and PG31 might have thinned out and been largely replaced by volunteer ryegrass. Samples were taken from plots and tested for ploidy. Results are presented in the following tables. Over the three years of the trial, perennial ryegrass averaged 71.4% of the total dry matter in the plots, white clover 8.1%, volunteer species (mostly grasses) 11.8% and dead matter 8.7%.

13 13 RESULTS: RYEGRASS YIELD Over the three years of the trial perennial ryegrass averaged 71.4% of total yield. Table 1: P391AOR Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact a a Yatsyn ab ab Vedette bd ac Pacific bf ad NZA be bd PGP bf bd NZA be bd Marsden bd bd Nui HE bf bd Embassy df bd Banks ef ce Greenstone cf de PG f e Significance ns ns ** ns ** LSD 5% CV % Trial mean Table 1a: P391AOR Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to Trial Mean = 100, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact Yatsyn Vedette Pacific NZA PGP NZA Marsden Nui HE Embassy Banks Greenstone PG Trial mean

14 14 Table 2: P391AOR Ryegrass Yield by Year Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Impact ab a Yatsyn a a Vedette ab 9622 b Pacific ab 9678 b NZA ab 9336 bc PGP ab 9180 bc NZA ab 9986 b Marsden ac 8106 cd Nui HE ab 9605 b Embassy bc 9365 bc Banks bc 8799 bd Greenstone bc 9050 bd PG c 7863 d Significance Ns * *** LSD 5% CV 5% Trial mean Table 2a: P391AOR Ryegrass Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Impact Yatsyn Vedette Pacific NZA PGP NZA Marsden Nui HE Embassy Banks Greenstone PG Trial mean

15 15 RESULTS: WHITE CLOVER YIELD Over the three years of the trial white clover averaged 8.1% of total yield. Table 3: P391AOR Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact Yatsyn Vedette Pacific NZA PGP NZA Marsden Nui HE Embassy Banks Greenstone PG Significance ns ns ns ns ns LSD 5% CV % Table 3a: P391AOR Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to = 100, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact Yatsyn Vedette Pacific NZA PGP NZA Marsden Nui HE Embassy Banks Greenstone PG

16 16 Table 4: P391AOR Clover Yield by Year Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Impact 94 be 268 c 3529 Yatsyn ac 286 bc 3051 Vedette 76 de 336 bc 3204 Pacific 173 ab 321 bc 3288 NZA ae 407 bc 1201 PGP2 88 ce 596 b 3658 NZA a 288 bc 3337 Marsden 43 e 160 c 4049 Nui HE 148 ad 170 c 3510 Embassy 112 ae 335 bc 3170 Banks 87 ce 282 c 3056 Greenstone 121 ae 398 bc 4033 PG31 74 de 943 a 3681 Significance * ** ns LSD 5% CV % Trial mean Table 4a: P391AOR Clover Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Impact Yatsyn Vedette Pacific NZA PGP NZA Marsden Nui HE Embassy Banks Greenstone PG Trial mean

17 17 RESULTS: VOLUNTEER SPECIES The mean content of volunteer species was 11.8% of total yield. Table 5: P391AOR Volunteer Species Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact e c Yatsyn ce bc Vedette ac ab Pacific ce bc NZA bd b PGP bd ab NZA a a Marsden de bc Nui HE bd ab Embassy ab a Banks ad ab Greenstone ac b PG ac b Significance ns ns ** ns * LSD 5% CV % Table 5a: P391AOR Volunteer Species Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to Trial Mean = 100, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact Yatsyn Vedette Pacific NZA PGP NZA Marsden Nui HE Embassy Banks Greenstone PG

18 18 Table 6: P391AOR - Volunteer Species Yield by Year (kg DM/ha) Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Impact 2299 b 1075 d 764 e Yatsyn ab 1429 bd 1145 de Vedette 2497 ab 1688 bd 1739 bd Pacific 2760 ab 1265 bd 1305 ce NZA b 1446 bd 1983 bc PGP ab 1647 bd 1747 bd NZA a 2399 a 1756 bd Marsden 2303 b 1108 cd 1955 bc Nui HE 2503 ab 1603 bd 1860 bd Embassy 2409 ab 1715 bc 2137 ab Banks 2208 b 1345 bd 2331 ab Greenstone 2142 b 1804 ab 1832 bd PG c 1628 bd 2808 a Significance ** * *** LSD 5% CV 5% Trial mean Table 6a: P391AOR Volunteer Species Yield by Year, relative to trial mean = 100 Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Impact Yatsyn Vedette Pacific NZA PGP NZA Marsden Nui HE Embassy Banks Greenstone PG Trial mean

19 19 Table 7: P391AOR Scald (Rhyncosporium orthosporum) Score June, = negligible damage, 1 = severely affected Entry Resistance to Scald (ranked mean scores) PG31 9 a Greenstone 7.9 ab Impact 7.8 ab Nui HE 7.4 ac PGP2 7.0 ac Yatsyn ac Vedette 6.6 ac NZA ac NZA bc Pacific 5.5 bc Marsden 5.0 c Banks 1.1 d Embassy 1.0 d LSD 5% 2.5 Trial mean 6.0 Table 8: Ploidy test for Grasslands Greenstone and PG31 June 1994 There was some concern that hybrid ryegrasses might have thinned out and been replaced by volunteer ryegrass. Samples were taken from plots and tested for ploidy. Entry Number tested Number % tetraploid tetraploid Greenstone PG The ploidy results indicate that after 3 years, 14% of ryegrass plants in the PG31 plots, and 38% of ryegrass plants in the Grasslands Greenstone plots were diploid volunteers.

20 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL : P391NZA IMPORTANT POINTS 20 The trial simulates irrigated farming in Canterbury under intensive rotational sheep grazing The trial experienced little summer moisture stress, especially over the 1992/93 and 1993/94 seasons which were unseasonably mild and wet, leading to small differences in persistence between cultivars Winter yields are low, limited by latitude and altitude LOCATION: Agriseeds Research Farm, Courtenay, Canterbury TRIAL PERIOD: 3rd April, May, 1995 (trial kept until for persistence measurement, see Table 6) CULTIVARS IN TRIAL Standards: Grasslands Nui (high endophyte), Yatsyn 1 Agriseeds: Vedette, Dobson, Grasslands Impact (high endophyte hybrid) NZA894, NZA912 Agricom: Grasslands Greenstone (tetraploid hybrid with Endosafe endophyte) Wrightsons Seeds: Grasslands Pacific, Banks Cropmark: Grasslands Marsden (high endophyte hybrid) Hodder & Tolley: Embassy Pyne Gould Guinness: PGP2, PG31 (tetraploid hybrid) TRIAL ENVIRONMENT Soil: Hatfield silt loam Altitude: 190m above sea level Climate: - Darfield Meteorological Station measurements (6km away) - 800mm rain p.a., 105 frosts p.a. - Average daily min/max air temperatures February: 12 C/24 C - Average daily min/max air temperatures July: 0 C/10 C Irrigation: Spray irrigated to supplement rainfall TRIAL DESIGN, METHOD AND ANALYSIS Replicated 5 times in a randomised complete block design, plot size 5 x 4.8m. 16 entry mixed sward trial sown with Huia white clover. Yield assessments were taken when the highest yielding entry reached 12-15cm in height. A 4.2m² yield strip was mown to approximately 4cm above ground level. This yield strip was rotated across three separate areas within each plot. Subsamples were taken for dry matter analysis and botanical composition every cut. After cutting the trial was mob stocked with sheep for hours and grazed to a residual of kgdm/ha. After grazing the trial was lightly mown to remove any clumps which were unacceptable to stock. An NPKS fertilizer was applied to balance for clippings removals and fertility transfer from stock (approximately 30kg/ha nitrogen was applied after every second grazing). Soil fertility was high. Point analysis was carried out with 100 points being recorded per plot. Results statistically analysed using least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% level. Yields followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other.

21 21 RESULTS: PERENNIAL RYEGRASS YIELD Ryegrass was the major sward component accounting for 72% of Total Yield. Table 1: P391 NZA Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 4 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Dobson 685 bd 3562 a 3220 a 1847 ab 9313 a Impact 738 bc 3177 cd 3201 a 1907 a 9023 ab NZA df 3575 a 3077 a 1715 bc 8966 ac Vedette 849 a 3457 ab 2919 ac 1691 bd 8917 ac Yatsyn df 3422 ab 3004 ab 1652 cd 8690 ad NZA bc 3321 bc 2893 ac 1692 bd 8627 ad Pacific 651 ce 3421 ab 2905 ac 1627 cd 8603 ad Banks 715 bc 3365 ac 2917 ac 1588 cd 8584 ad Nui HE 601 df 3360 ac 2917 ac 1671 bd 8549 bd Marsden 666 bd 3224 bd 2896 ac 1614 cd 8401 bd Embassy 762 ab 3024 de 2853 ac 1609 cd 8248 cd PGP2 548 f 3314 bc 2589 c 1511 d 7962 de Greenstone 564 ef 2888 e 2631 bc 1227 e 7310 e PG g 2512 f 2190 d 1090 e 6207 f Significance *** *** *** *** *** CV % Table 1a: P391 NZA Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to Trial Mean = 100, Mean of 4 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Dobson Impact NZA Vedette Yatsyn NZA Pacific Banks Nui HE Marsden Embassy PGP Greenstone PG

22 22 Table 2: P 391 NZA Ryegrass Yield by Year Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Dobson 7551 a Dobson a NZA a Dobson 9173 a Impact 7347 ab Impact ab NZA a Impact 8847 ab Banks 7226 ab Vedette ab Pacific ab Yatsyn ab Vedette 6891 ab NZA ab Dobson 9855 ac NZA ab NZA ab NZA ab Yatsyn ac Vedette 8537 ab Marsden 6566 ab Nui HE ab Nui HE 9798 ac Nui HE 8494 ab Pacific 6446 ab Banks ab Vedette 9677 ac Embassy 8357 ac Yatsyn ac Pacific ab Impact 9546 ac NZA bd Embassy 6267 ac Yatsyn ab Banks 9472 bd Pacific 8000 bd PGP ac PGP ab Marsden 9301 be Marsden 8000 bd NZA ac Marsden ab Embassy 9275 ce Banks 7608 ce Nui HE 5906 bc Embassy bc Greenstone 8738 de Greenstone 7243 de Greenstone 4908 cd Greenstone 9575 cd PGP e PGP e PG d PG d PG f PG f Significance *** Significance *** Significance *** Significance *** CV % 18 CV % 12 CV % 6 CV % Table 2a P391NZA Ryegrass Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Dobson 118 Dobson 109 NZA Dobson 113 Impact 115 Impact 106 NZA Impact 109 Banks 113 Vedette 106 Pacific 105 Yatsyn Vedette 107 NZA Dobson 103 NZA NZA NZA Yatsyn Vedette 105 Marsden 102 Nui HE 101 Nui HE 102 Nui HE 105 Pacific 100 Banks 101 Vedette 101 Embassy 103 Yatsyn 1 98 Pacific 100 Impact 100 NZA Embassy 98 Yatsyn Banks 99 Pacific 99 PGP2 97 PGP2 100 Marsden 97 Marsden 99 NZA Marsden 98 Embassy 97 Banks 94 Nui HE 92 Embassy 93 Greenstone 91 Greenstone 89 Greenstone 77 Greenstone 83 PGP2 90 PGP2 87 PG31 65 PG31 74 PG31 79 PG

23 23 RESULTS: WHITE CLOVER YIELD White clover accounted for 25% of total yield Table 3: P391NZA Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 4 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Embassy 301 ab a 553 ad 3078 a Vedette 345 a a 558 ad 3013 ab NZA bc a 544 bd 3005 ab Nui HE 254 bc a 587 ac 2975 ab Yatsyn bc a 611 ab 2966 ab Marsden 285 bc a 506 ce 2940 ab Banks 275 bc a 537 bd 2898 ab Dobson 238 cd a 573 ad 2845 ab Impact 265 bc a 645 a 2826 ab Pacific 268 bc a 543 bd 2817 ab Greenstone 276 bc a 428 ef 2794 ab NZA bc a 545 bd 2781 ab PGP2 197 de a 485 de 2729 b PG e b 356 f 2156 c Significance *** ns ** *** *** CV % Trial Men Table 3a: P391NZA Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to = 100, Mean of 4 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Embassy Vedette NZA Nui HE Yatsyn Marsden Banks Dobson Impact Pacific Greenstone NZA PGP PG

24 24 Table 4: P391NZA Clover Yield by Year Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Nui HE 2650 Vedette 2502 Marsden 2298 Greenstone 3738 Vedette 2599 Embassy 2482 PGP Nui HE 3609 Greenstone 2566 Marsden 2458 Banks 2058 Pacific 3562 Yatsyn Yatsyn NZA PGP Pacific 2250 Banks 2368 Pacific 1987 Banks 3476 NZA NZA Embassy 1955 Embassy 3412 PGP Pacific 2268 NZA NZA Embassy 2064 Greenstone 2239 Yatsyn Yatsyn NZA PGP Vedette 1776 Dobson 3213 Impact 2027 NZA Dobson 1737 Vedette 3162 Dobson 1985 Nui HE 1963 Greenstone 1707 Impact 3102 Marsden 1939 Impact 1951 Nui HE 1689 Marsden 3010 Banks 1848 Dobson 1869 PG PG PG PG Impact 1539 NZA Significance ns Significance ns Significance ns Significance ns CV % 25 CV % 19 CV % 18 CV % Table 4a: P391NZA Clover Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Entry Yield Nui HE 118 Vedette 114 Marsden 121 Greenstone 113 Vedette 116 Embassy 113 PGP2 116 Nui HE 109 Greenstone 115 Marsden 112 Banks 109 Pacific 107 Yatsyn Yatsyn NZA PGP2 106 Pacific 101 Banks 108 Pacific 105 Banks 105 NZA NZA Embassy 103 Embassy 103 PGP2 99 Pacific 103 NZA NZA Embassy 92 Greenstone 102 Yatsyn 1 96 Yatsyn 1 97 NZA PGP2 100 Vedette 94 Dobson 97 Impact 91 NZA Dobson 92 Vedette 95 Dobson 89 Nui HE 89 Greenstone 90 Impact 94 Marsden 87 Impact 89 Nui HE 89 Marsden 91 Banks 83 Dobson 85 PG31 87 PG31 87 PG31 78 PG31 78 Impact 81 NZA

25 25 OTHER YIELD COMPONENTS Other grasses, weeds, dirt and dead matter combined only comprised 3% of Total Yield and are not presented. Table 5: P391NZA Scald Score Table 6: P391NZA Point Analysis of Ryegrass (Rhychosporium orthosporum) as percentage 4 years after sowing ( ) & = no infection, 6 years after sowing (3.4.97) 1 severely affected Entry Resistance to Scald Entry Ryegrass % Ryegrass % Impact 8.4 a Impact 54 a 62 a NZA ab Yatsyn 1 53 a 58 ab Yatsyn ab Dobson 54 a 57 ab Dobson 7.8 ab Pacific 52 a 56 ab NZA ab PGP2 55 a 56 ab Vedette 7.6 bc NZA ac 54 ab PGP2 7.6 bc NZA a 53 ab Nui HE 7.6 bc Marsden 54 a 53 ab Pacific 7.0 cd Vedette 51 a 52 ac PG de Nui HE 49 ab 47 bd Greenstone 6.8 de Embassy 43 bc n.m* Marsden 6.2 e Banks 42 bc 40 ce Embassy 6.2 e Greenstone 39 cd 39 de Banks 5.4 f PG31 25 d 30 e Significance *** Significance *** *** CV % 7.1 CV % (%) n.m* : not measured (withdrawn from trial) Actual point analysis figures vary from trial to trial depending on how soon after grazing they are taken.

26 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL : P291KIM 26 IMPORTANT POINTS Simulates intensive rotational sheep grazing on a fertile, irrigated Canterbury environment Cultivar performance under set stocking, lax grazing, or cattle grazing could be different Yield estimates by pasture probe LOCATION: Kimihia Research Centre, Lincoln TRIAL PERIOD: 8 March May 1994 CULTIVARS IN TRIAL Standards: Grasslands SuperNui (high endophyte), Yatsyn 1 Agricom: Grasslands Greenstone (tetraploid hybrid withendosafe) Wrightson Seeds: Grasslands Pacific AgResearch: Grasslands Impact (hybrid) Cropmark: Grasslands Marsden (hybrid) Hodder & Tolley: Banks, Embassy Agriseeds: Vedette, NZA894, NZA912 Pyne Gould Guinness: Marathon, PGP2, PG31 (hybrid tetraploid) TRIAL ENVIRONMENT Soil: Templeton silt loam Altitude: 60m Climate: Readings taken from Lincoln Met Station 2km away: - Mean annual rainfall: 664mm - Average daily min/max temperatures January: 10.8/22.1 C - Average daily min/max temperatures July: 1.3/10.3 C The summers of 1992/93 and 1993/94 were unusually wet Irrigation: Spray irrigation as necessary during summer to avoid wilting TRIAL DESIGN, METHOD AND ANALYSIS 4 rep randomised complete block design with plot size: 3.6 x 0.75m. Pure sward. Defoliation: By hungry sheep to a low residual; defoliation over a hour period to limit grazing selection between different cultivars. Yield assessment by Design Electronics Pasture Probe V4. Residuals were assumed as a standard 800 kg DM/ha at every grazing. Topping post grazing was necessary only occasionally. Fertiliser was applied after every second or third grazing, in the form of either urea, ammonium sulphate or Nitrophoska Blue TE. This equated to about 25kg N/ha for every grazing. Dung and urine return was in proportion to DM on offer. Results were statistically analysed using the least significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% level. Yields followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other. Data from the establishment autumn is not included.

27 27 Table 1:P291KIM Ryegrass Seasonal and Total Yield(kg DM/ha) Mean of 3 Years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact Marsden NZA912 Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Super Nui Banks Pacific Vedette Embassy PGP2 Marathon Greenstone PG31 LSD 5% CV % 1855 a 1730 ad 1767 ac 1613 ce 1580 de 1672 be 1810 ab 1530 ef 1788 ab 1805 ab 1415 fg 1415 fg 1332 gh 1255 h bd 5567 a 5233 bd 5367 ac 5233 bd 5400 ab 5267 bd 5267 bd 5200 bd 5167 bd 5233 bd 5267 bd 5133 cd 5033 d a 5567 ab 5333 ac 5433 ac 5366 ac 5166 bd 4867 dg 5167 cd 5033 cf 4733 eh 4900 dg 4700 fh 4567 gh 4400 h a 2841 ab 2775 bc 2656 bd 2701 bd 2570 be 2637 bd 2530 ce 2351 ef 2489 de 2332 ef 2169 fg 2138 fg 1985 g a ab ac ac bc bc cd cd cd cd de ef ef f Table 1A: P291KIM Ryegrass Seasonal and total Yield, Relative to trial mean = 100, Mean of 3 Years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total Impact Marsden NZA912 Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Super Nui Banks Pacific Vedette Embassy PGP2 Marathon Greenstone PG

28 28 Table 2: P291KIM Ryegrass Yield by Year Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Impact Marsden NZA912 Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Super Nui Banks Pacific Vedette Embassy PGP2 Marathon Greenstone PG31 LSD 5% CV % ab a bc bc bd be ac be bd ac cf df f ef Table 2A: P291KIM Ryegrass only Yield by Year Relative to = a bc b bd be bd cf ce cg dg fg eg gh h a a ab a a a bd ac ac cd bd d de e Table 3: P291KIM Rust Score (Species Not Identified) Scored on 16 March 1994; 9 = no rust, 1 = very rusty Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Entry Resistance to Leaf Rust Impact Marsden NZA912 Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Super Nui Banks Pacific Vedette Embassy PGP2 Marathon Greenstone PG Marsden NZA912 Greenstone Marathon Impact NZA894 Pacific Vedette PGP2 PG31 Banks Embassy Yatsyn 1 Super Nui LSD 5% CV% 7 a 6.5 ab 6 ac 6 ac 5.5 ad 5.5 ad 5.5 ad 5.5 ad 5 bd 5 bd 4.5 ce 4 de 3 ef 1.5 f

29 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL : P392RUA IMPORTANT POINTS 29 This trial simulated intensive rotational dairy farming in the Waikato Ryegrass persistence at this site was poor only comprising 37% of ground cover by the end of the trial LOCATION: No. 5 Dairy, Dairying Research Corporation, Hamilton TRIAL PERIOD: 25 March May 1995 CULTIVARS IN TRIAL Standards: Agriseeds: Agricom: Hodder & Tolley: Pyne Gould Guinness: Wrightson Seeds: Yatsyn 1, Grasslands Nui (high endophyte) Uncertified Perennial* Vedette, Dobson, Grasslands Impact (high endophyte hybrid), NZA891, NZA894, NZA921, NZA922 Grasslands Greenstone (tetraploid hybrid with Endosafe) Embassy, Banks PG44 Grasslands Pacific, Jackaroo *The Uncertified Perennial was a line taken at random from uncertified lines available in commerce at the time the trial was sown. TRIAL ENVIRONMENT Soil: Te Kowhai silt loam Altitude: 40m above sea level Climate: Ruakura Climatological Station (1km northwest of the trial site) mm rain p.a., 56 frosts p.a. (10 year averages) - Average daily min/max temperatures over the trial period were 12.2/23.9 C in January and 4.6/13.4 C in July Autumn and Winter yields for 1994 were low, and were affected by above average rainfall from April to September TRIAL DESIGN, METHOD AND ANALYSIS 16 entry mixed sward trial, with plot size 5 x 10m. Replicated four times in a randomised complete block design. Initially sown with Kopu white clover. In June 1992 Nortron (ethofumesate) was sprayed to control Poa annua. This also caused clover death so Kopu white clover seed was broadcast in October 1992, followed by shallow drilling (less than 5mm) of Aran white clover in March An area of 5.08m² was mown to approximately 2cm in each plot half once the highest yielding cultivar had kgdm/ha estimated yield. Three successive cuts were made on one half (5x5m) of each plot before switching to the other. At each cut, samples were taken to assess botanical composition & dry matter yield.

30 30 After yield assessment the trial was grazed by dairy cows and then trimmed to even up any remaining clumps. After each cut Nitrophoska Blue TE (NPKS = 12:5:14:3) was applied at 200 kg/ha. Following the last cut (cut 29) point analysis was undertaken to estimate plant persistence (see Table 6). Numbers of ryegrass pulls (regardless of clump size and tiller numbers) were estimated in each plot-half post-grazing from March 1993 (see Table 7). Data from the establishment autumn is not included. Results were statistically analysed using the least significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% level. Yields followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other.

31 31 RESULTS: PERENNIAL RYEGRASS YIELD Perennial ryegrass accounted for 73% of the total yield Table 1: P392RUA Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total NZA ab 4814 a 3173 a 2695 a a Dobson 2099 ab 4667 ac 3019 ad 2671 a ab NZA ab 4678 ac 3106 ab 2450 ac ab Vedette 2042 ac 4716 ab 2964 ae 2399 ac ab Embassy 2026 ac 4247 bd 3069 ab 2661 a ac Banks 2028 ac 4343 ad 3031 ac 2517 ab ac Yatsyn a 4510 ac 2633 eg 2374 ac ac NZA ac 4335 ad 2701 cf 2647 a bd Pacific 2038 ac 4515 ac 2687 cf 2257 bd bd NZA ac 4632 ac 2663 dg 2160 bd bd PG ac 4404 ad 2788 bf 2169 bd bd Impact 1897 bd 3950 de 2899 af 2124 cd cd Nui 1835 bd 4165 ce 2551 fg 1970 d d Jackaroo 1781 cd 4511 ac 2323 g 1901 de d Greenstone 1600 de 3691 e 1944 h 1541 e 8775 e Uncert Perenn 1350 e 2841 f 1140 i 805 f 6135 f Significance LSD 5% CV % *** *** *** *** Table 1a: P392RUA Ryegrass Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to Trial Mean = 100, Mean of 3 years *** Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total NZA Dobson NZA Vedette Embassy Banks Yatsyn NZA Pacific NZA PG Impact Nui Jackaroo Greenstone Uncert Perenn

32 32 Table 2: P392RUA Ryegrass Yield by Year Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 NZA921 Dobson NZA922 Vedette Embassy Banks Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Pacific NZA891 PG44 Impact Nui Jackaroo Greenstone Uncert Perenn Significance LSD 5% CV % ab ac a cd ac ac ac ac cd ac ac ac bc ac d 9909 e *** a ab ac ac ac bd bc ac ac 9790 cd bd 8643 de 9584 cd 9751 cd 7337 e 5479 f *** ab ab ad a ac ad ac 9198 ef be ae 9388 df 9630 cf 8436 fg 7708 gh 7036 h 3018 i *** Table 2a: P392RUA Ryegrass Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 NZA921 Dobson NZA922 Vedette Embassy Banks Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Pacific NZA891 PG44 Impact Nui Jackaroo Greenstone Uncert Perenn

33 33 RESULTS: WHITE CLOVER YIELD White clover accounted for 18% of the total yield Table 3: P392RUA Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Mean of 3 years Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total NZA921 Dobson NZA922 Vedette Embassy Banks Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Pacific NZA891 PG44 Impact Nui Jackaroo Greenstone Uncert Perenn Significance LSD 5% CV % 183 bd 208 bd 233 bc 254 bd 225 bd 287 ac 99 d 198 bd 210 bd 168 cd 275 ac 218 bd 210 bd 330 ab 418 a 296 ac NS de 514 e 679 de 604 de 688 de 704 de 820 bd 690 de 698 de 726 de 908 bd 1109 bc 901 bd 873 bd 1170 ab 1439 a *** de 1093 bd 861 ce 598 e 809 ce 874 ce 857 ce 1012 be 972 be 1047 bd 1182 bc 1158 bd 1157 bd 1109 bd 1315 ab 1700 a ** cd 775 bd 690 bd 597 cd 625 bd 640 bd 596 cd 574 d 648 bd 689 bd 853 ac 883 ab 740 bd 753 bd 849 ad 1062 a * ef 2589 cf 2463 cf 2053 f 2347 df 2505 cf 2372 df 2473 cf 2527 cf 2629 cf 3217 bd 3369 bc 3009 be 3064 be 3753 ab 4497 a *** Table 3a: P392RUA Clover Yield Divided Seasonally, Relative to = 100, Mean of 3 years 2817 Entry Winter Spring Summer Autumn Total NZA921 Dobson NZA922 Vedette Embassy Banks Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Pacific NZA891 PG44 Impact Nui Jackaroo Greenstone Uncert Perenn

34 34 Table 4: P392RUA Clover Yield by Year Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 NZA921 Dobson NZA922 Vedette Embassy Banks Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Pacific NZA891 PG44 Impact Nui Jackaroo Greenstone Uncert Perenn Significance LSD 5% CV % 27 c 42 bc 44 bc 24 c 64 bc 32 c 27 c 21 c 33 c 29 c 49 bc 65 bc 31 c 23 c 88 b 136 a *** e 3550 de 3377 de 2658 e 3272 de 3305 de 3264 de 2967 de 3186 de 3974 be 4359 bd 5236 bc 3929 be 3768 ce 5500 ab 7142 a *** cf 4177 cf 3967 cf 3477 f 3704 ef 4177 cf 3825 df 4432 bf 4364 bf 3885 df 5242 ad 4805 af 5065 ae 5400 ac 5669 ab 6212 a * Table 4a: P392RUA Clover Yield by Year, Relative to = 100 Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 NZA921 Dobson NZA922 Vedette Embassy Banks Yatsyn 1 NZA894 Pacific NZA891 PG44 Impact Nui Jackaroo Greenstone Uncert Perenn

35 35 Table 5: P392RUA Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata) Scores, 22 February = no rust, 1 = very rusty Entry Rust Resistance Score Rust Resistance Score Mean (Currently mown & grazed) (Grazed only) Impact Banks Embassy NZA894 Dobson Vedette NZA922 NZA891 NZA921 Yatsyn 1 Pacific Greenstone PG44 Jackaroo Nui Uncert Peren Significance LSD 5% CV % 7.8 a 7.3 ab 6.8 bd 7.0 bc 7.0 bc 6.3 df 6.5 ce 6.0 ef 6.3 df 5.8 fg 5.3 g 5.3 g 5.8 fg 4.5 h 4.5 h 2.5 i *** a 6.5 b 6.0 bc 5.5 cd 5.5 cd 5.5 cd 5.0 de 5.0 de 4.8 de 4.3 e 4.5 de 4.5 de 4.0 ef 3.3 fg 3.0 g 2.0 h *** a 6.9 b 6.4 bc 6.3 bc 6.3 bc 5.9 cd 5.8 cd 5.5 de 5.5 de 5.0 e 4.9 e 4.9 e 4.9 e 3.9 f 3.8 f 2.3 g *** As there was a greater incidence of rust infection in the grazed halves (due to greater stress) compared to the plot halves currently grazed and mown, they were scored separately. Table 6: P392RUA Ryegrass Point Analysis as percentage, 8 June 1995 Entry Ryegrass % Yatsyn 1 NZA891 Vedette Dobson NZA921 NZA922 Jackaroo Banks Impact Embassy PG44 Pacific NZA894 Nui Greenstone Uncert Peren Significance LSD 5% CV % Mean Ryegrass (%) 46 a 45 a 45 a 41 ab 41 ab 41 ab 39 ab 38 ab 36 ab 36 ab 36 ab 34 ab 32 ab 32 ab 30 ab 23 b NS Method: This measurement was taken at the end of the trial. The point analysis frame was located at random at five positions on a diagonal across each plot-half. At each position, three needles were lowered until they touched a plant or soil. Hits on ryegrass were recorded.

36 36 Table 7: P392RUA Ryegrass Plant Pulling Measurement Method: Number of ryegrass pulls was counted in each plot without regard to clump size and tiller number, following each grazing. These results must be considered in conjunction with the point analysis data (a less densely populated plot will have less opportunity for ryegrass pulling). The pulling data were averaged for each year of the trial, and then across the three years. It should be noted that collection of these data began in March 1993, so the first year excludes effects prior to this date. Entry Year One Year Two Year Three Mean of 3 Years Jackaroo NZA891 Yatsyn 1 Uncert Perenn Banks Vedette Nui PG44 Pacific Embassy Greenstone NZA922 Impact Dobson NZA921 NZA894 Significance LSR 5% CV % 3 a 3 ab 3 ab 8 ce 5 bd 5 bd 5 bd 5 ac 7 cd 10 ce 7 ce 10 de 10 ce 11 de 10 ce 15 e *** ad 2 ab 1 a 5 de 4 be 2 ab 3 be 3 ad 2 ac 5 ce 2 ac 5 ce 4 ce 3 ad 7 ef 14 f *** ab 20 bc 21 bd 14 a 19 ac 20 bc 24 cf 25 cf 25 cf 22 be 26 cf 26 cf 30 eg 29 dg 33 fg 38 g *** a 8 ab 9 ac 9 ac 9 ac 10 ac 11 bd 12 bd 12 bd 12 ce 12 ce 14 de 15 de 15 de 17 ef 24 f *** The data were analysed on a log 10 scale to stabilise the variance and then were transformed back to the original scale for presentation. Least Significant Ratio (LSR) (P<0.05)=e 2S where s = SED of log transformed means. In comparing treatment means, if the ratio of the larger to smaller exceeds the stated LSR a significant difference exists between cultivar means.

37 NATIONAL FORAGE VARIETY TRIAL : P292HOD IMPORTANT POINTS Pure sward perennial ryegrass mowing trial in a fertile irrigated Canterbury environment 37 LOCATION: Hodder and Tolley Research, West Melton Canterbury TRIAL PERIOD: 4 March May 1995 CULTIVARS IN TRIAL Standards: Grasslands SuperNui (high endophyte), Yatsyn 1 AgResearch: Grasslands Samson, Grasslands Impact (hybrid) Hodder and Tolley: Banks, Embassy, C5, C6 Pyne Gould Guiness: PG31 (tetraploid hybrid) Wrightsons: CSLH86-1 (hybrid), Grasslands Pacific Agriseeds: Vedette TRIAL ENVIRONMENT Soil: Templeton silt loam Altitude: 80m above sea level Climate: Readings taken from Christchurch Airport: - Mean annual rainfall: 622mm - Annual number of days with 1mm or more of rain: 83 - Average daily min/max temperatures January: 12.1/22.3 o C - Average daily min/max temperatures July: 0.7/7.0 o C During the trial period annual rainfall was similar to the long term mean. Distribution was not typical with Spring 1993 and Summer 1993/94 above average. Rainfall for Summer 1994/95, Autumn, 1995 and the months of July 1993, October 1993 and August 1994 was below normal. Irrigation: Trial spray irrigated to field capacity approximately every 3 to 4 weeks during the summer months. TRIAL DESIGN, METHOD AND ANALYSIS A randomised complete block trial with 4 replicates and plot size 8.0m by 1.2m. Pure sward. Yield assessments were taken when the highest yield of the trial reached kgDM/ha. The assessments were made using a sickle bar mower with an attached tray, to mow each entire plot to approximately 4cm. All cut forage was weighed, and a subsample analyzed for dry matter content. After each cut the trial was topped to remove any uneveness resulting from cutting with the sickle bar mower. Fertiliser was applied after every cut as Nitrophoska Blue TE (NPKS =12:5:14:3). The rate related to the forage removed, with N applied at 3% of the trial mean yield. Herbicides were applied when necessary to control broadleaf weeds. Results were statistically analysed using the least significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% level. Yields followed by the same letter are not significantly different. Data from the establishment autumn is not included.