renovating horse paddocks, what's involved?

Renovating Horse Paddocks

What’s involved?

Land Management Advisory Service

Andy Cole

Land Management Consultant

(16 Years Consulting for Small Landholders)

Contact: 0437 299 268

CONTENT

Steps to re-seeding pasture (renovation)

Soil testing & fertilisers

Weed control

Selecting pasture mixes

Are native pastures appropriate?

Preparing ground for sowing

After sowing

Grazing strategies and ground cover

STEPS TO RE-SEEDING

(RENOVATION)

ESTABLISHING NEW PASTURES

A two year program

Assess the quality of pasture before deciding.

Year 1

Soil test in Summer / control weeds / lime the following

Autumn if needed.

Control red-legged earthmites.

Year 2

Graze down pasture to 3cms in Autumn.

Spray with glyphosate and re-seed after opening rains.

Shut up paddock and wait for grasses to seed before grazing

SOIL TESTING AND

FERTILISERS

SOIL SAMPLING

Randomly sample the paddock and collect 400g of

soil for laboratory analysis

SOIL TEST - EXAMPLE Pasture in 750mm rainfall area, average stocking rate 10 DSE/ha, not

used for hay, unknown fertiliser/lime history. Sandy loam soil, no

major constraints to root depth.

Note: Phosphorus buffering index is used to more accurately determine phosphorus

requirements. PBI for this sample is 110 with a critical Colwell P value of 34mg/kg .

Result Interpretation Target level pastures

Recommendation

pHwater 5.6 Acidic

pHCaCl2 4.7 Acidic 5.2 – 5.5 Apply lime

Ext P 20 mg/kg Low 25 – 45 Apply P

Ext K 150 mg/kg Adequate 120 – 250

Ext S 9 mg/kg Marginal >10 Apply S

Ext Cu 0.4 mg/kg Low 1 – 2 Apply Cu

Ext Zn 1.5 mg/kg Adequate 1.2 – 2

Ext Mn 15 mg/kg adequate 10 - 50

FERTILISERS

Nutrient analysis “language”

Percentage of major nutrients: N : P : K : S

eg. DAP 18 : 20 : 0: 1.6

N = Nitrogen

P = Phosphorus

K = Potassium

S = Sulphur

TYPES OF FERTILISERS

Conventional - mostly water soluble, readily

available to plants

Base fertilisers N:P:K:S

eg. superphosphate 0:8.8:0:11

triple super 0:20:0:0

DAP 8:20:0:1.6

urea 46:0:0:0

sulphate of ammonia 21:0:0:23

muriate of potash 0:0:50:0

TYPES OF FERTILISERS

Organic

Examples:

Blood and bone 5:5:0:0

Fertico organic 3:4:2:3

Neutrog Rapid Raiser 4:3:1.5:2

Manures vary

TYPES OF FERTILISERS

N

P

K

S

Ca

Mg

Cu

Zn

Mn

%

%

%

%

%

%

ppm

ppm

ppm

SHEEP

1.70

0.80

0.63

0.24

2.74

0.58

25

286

144

COW

2.49

0.47

1.34

0.28

2.99

1.38

18

73

377

PIG

3.50

3.00

1.04

0.28

4.79

0.79

92

72

320

FOWL

6.10

2.24

1.40

0.45

8.30

0.77

42

371

367

Composition of manures (variable)

WEED CONTROL

BROADLEAF ANNUAL WEEDS

Capeweed Salvation Jane Geranium

If necessary spray with a selective herbicide in late May early June -

e.g. Tigrex or Agtryne MA

Capeweed sprayed with Tigrex in early June - clovers not damaged

Capeweed

BROADLEAF ANNUAL WEEDS

If recommended spray with a selective herbicide in Late July - August

e.g. Brushoff, Dicamba/MCPA

Catsear (Flatweed) Dock

BROADLEAF PERENNIAL WEEDS

ANNUAL GRASS WEEDS

Barley grass Silver Grass

Graze in Spring to avoid seed set. Could ‘Spraytop’ in spring or

‘Winterclean’ in autumn

PASTURE PESTS

Lucerne flea Lucerne flea damage

Redlegged earthmite

In severe cases chemical

control may be necessary.

Dimethoate and Le-mat are

options.

Timerite website

(http://www.timerite.com.au).

In severe cases chemical

control may be necessary.

Fastac duo is one option.

May - June best time to use.

Pasture cockchafer Pasture cockchafer damage

Pasture cockchafer tunnel

PASTURE PESTS

SELECTING

PASTURE MIXES

Annual Brome

(March)

Phalaris - perennial

(March)

ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS

Cocksfoot Perennial ryegrass

PERENNIAL PASTURE PLANTS

Phalaris

PERENNIAL PASTURE PLANTS

Veldt Grass – Kangarilla

PERENNIAL PASTURE PLANTS

White clover

PERENNIAL PASTURE PLANTS

Subterranean Clover

ANNUAL PASTURE PLANTS

Subterranean clover burrs and seeds

ANNUAL PASTURE PLANTS

Short term Italian Ryegrasses are commonly sown with a

medic in low rainfall area < 450mm p.a.

ANNUAL PASTURE PLANTS

Tetrone Italian Ryegrass Barrel Medic

Example: Non Irrigated Perennial Pasture (650+mm p.a.)

On heavier soils such as loams or clay loams, a mixture of

perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot and subterranean clover is

traditionally used.

The following pasture is suitable for high rainfall areas of the Mt

Lofty Ranges:

- Perennial ryegrass @ 15kg/ha (Ausvic, Bronsyn AR1,

Avalon AR1),

- Cocksfoot @ 5kg/ha (Porto)

- Subterranean clover @ 5kg/ha

(Goulburn, Trikkala, Denmark, and Seaton Park).

PERENNIAL PASTURE - HIGH RAINFALL

There are a range of different mixes. The following are

examples to sow.

Example 1

Oats – Wallaroo 40kg/ha

Tetrone ryegrass – 17kg/ha

Medics (Parabinga, Parragio and Caliph) – 5kg/ha

Example 2

Oats – Wallaroo 40kg/ha

Tetrone ryegrass – 17kg/ha

Clover –Balansa – 3kg/ha

ANNUAL PASTURES

(LOW RAINFALL 350 - 450MM)

Example 3

Annual ryegrass (e.g. Tetrone or New Tetila) – 20kg/ha

Clover – Balansa – 5kg/ha

Example 4 (self regenerating ryegrass)

Annual ryegrass 10 to 15kg/ha (Safeguard)

Medics 5kg/ha

Lucerne 2kg/ha

ANNUAL PASTURES

(LOW RAINFALL 350 - 450MM)

‘Safeguard’ annual ryegrass is recommended as a self

regenerating vigorous variety which is resistant to annual

ryegrass toxicity (ARGT).

Safeguard ryegrass will crossbreed with the local ryegrass

species such as Wimmera, to produce ARGT resistant seeds

which germinate the following year.

This has been developed for the drier regions of South Australia

and has excellent winter pasture production and is resistant to

the root disease Take-all.

SAFEGUARD ANNUAL RYEGRASS

(LOW RAINFALL 350 - 450MM)

On small horse properties kikuyu is a suitable pasture provided

it is managed well. Some irrigation over Summer is beneficial.

Late Spring, Summer and early Autumn are the main growing

season. It will tolerate a range of soil types (both alkaline and

acid), and can be established by runners. Best established by

seed sown in Spring. A suitable sowing rate is 2kg/ha. If a

legume is required use Balansa clover or Strawberry clover.

KIKUYU FOR SMALL PROPERTIES

Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides)

Is a highly-competitive C3 species (winter

active) that responds well to increased

fertility and moderate-to-heavy grazing.

Production: 1.7 to 7.4 t/ha.

Crude protein 10 to 27%.

Wallaby Grass (Rytidosperma spp.

- previously Austrodanthonia spp.).

Wallaby grasses are amongst the most

valuable C3 grasses due to its persistence

and productivity. Production: 1.8 to 7.8

t/ha. Crude protein 10 to 25%. Digestibility 45 to 82%.

COMMON NATIVE GRASS SPECIES

Wheat grass (Elymus scaber)

This is a tussocky cool-season C3

perennial grass which grows early

in spring and is generally a minor

component of most pastures.

Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra)

This grass is one of Australia’s most

widespread C4 species (summer active).

A drought-resistant, deep-rooted,

warm-season perennial grass. Production:

1.6 to 8.3 t/ha. Crude protein 5% (winter)

to 17% (summer). Digestibility 45 to 75%.

COMMON NATIVE GRASS SPECIES

Red Grass (Bothriochloa macra)

Red grass is a warm-season C4 perennial

grass that forms a prostrate tuft of basal

leaves with numerous wiry stems. Leaves

are usually reddish or purplish in colour.

Highly nutritious leaves are readily eaten

when green.

Windmill grass (Chloris truncata)

Windmill grass is a short lived (2 to 3 years)

C4 perennial grass which makes good

growth in spring and responds well to

improved soil fertility and grazing.

COMMON NATIVE GRASS SPECIES

Wallaby grass and Windmill grass pasture.

December 2015 Pt Augusta

COMMON NATIVE GRASS SPECIES

Most native grasses will respond to fertiliser applications.

Do not over fertilise.

Often, application rates can be half the rate recommended for

introduced pastures.

Soil test to determine actual requirements.

Most of the evidence to date suggests that liming is NOT cost

beneficial .

NATIVE GRASS FERTILISER REQUIREMENTS

PREPARING

GROUND FOR

SOWING

Use a non selective herbicide after the opening rains in autumn to

kill the old pasture. For example glyphosate.

ESTABLISHING NEW PASTURES

Prepare a clean seed bed before sowing a new pasture

ESTABLISHING NEW PASTURES

DIRECT SEED NEW PASTURES

Minimum disturbance

DIRECT SEED NEW PASTURES

Minimum disturbance

NEW PASTURES CAN BE HAND SEEDED

With small paddocks it is possible to hand seed.

Clean paddock of high grass and thatch.

Spray out weeds in autumn.

Lightly harrow to disturb surface few mm of soil. Use a chain

or old gate etc.

Hand spread seed and fertiliser.

Drag chain or weldmesh sheet behind a four wheel drive.

AFTER SOWING

AFTER SOWING

Shut the paddock up and do not graze horses.

A light mow at strategic times will help to thicken

pasture.

Alternatively graze sheep for a short time.

Allow perennial grasses to flower and set seed before

grazing (or slashing).

Do not cut hay from a first year pasture.

Cocksfoot – January after sowing

ALLOW PERENNIAL GRASSES TO SEED

INTEGRATED CONTROL OF WEEDS

Use a number of management techniques and don’t just rely on

chemicals:

- soil test & add fertilizer and lime acid soils

- rotationally graze (12cms to 5cms)

- do not overgraze (avoid bare patches)

- oversow with pasture grasses & legumes

- rotate hay paddocks to avoid a build up of annual grasses

- use low toxicity herbicides if necessary

GRAZING

STRATEGIES AND

GROUND COVER

AT ALL TIMES TRY TO KEEP 100%

GROUND COVER OF AT LEAST 4 to 5 CMS

HEIGHT.

COVER SHOULD NOT FALL BELOW 70%

& 4 to 5 CMS IN HEIGHT AT ANY TIME.

GROUND COVER

70% cover will minimise the risk of erosion and soil loss.

GROUND COVER

ROTATIONAL GRAZING MEANS PADDOCKS

ARE RESTED

Overgrazed plants take longer to recover and do not maximise production

At 12cms

GRAZE

At 4 to 5 cms

REST

12cms

STRIP GRAZING

Strip grazing is ideal using electric tape

CUTTING HAY

CUTTING HAY

Soil test in summer.

Control annual weeds in autumn.

Remove horses in late August.

Apply nitrogen and potassium fertiliser as required

(refer to soil test). Usually 20kg/ha of nitrogen is

beneficial.

Cut and bale in late October early November

depending on the season.

Andy Cole - Consultant

Land Management Advisory Service

M: 0437 299 268