Hi everyone,
I am puzzled as to why the ryegrass in my district is so much slower to
reach 3 leaves than elsewhere.
I was at a seminar last week having the usual discussion before the meeting
started i.e. weather, calving, rotation length.
I was surprised to hear that in the MID 55 -60 day rotation has been the
average, as my pastures were taking 75 days to reach the same leaf stage
that was 2.5 leaves I am wondering why the difference ? I checked with a
neighbour and looked at one of his paddocks today which had been out for 85
days and we estimated it to be at 2.7 leaves which gives a winter rotation
of approx. 90 days.
I have at times said that the ryegrass here does not grow at the same rate
as elsewhere only to be told that I was wrong and to check it again. well
they are wrong! It does grow at different rates at different locations on
the same day of the year..
So the question is WHY?
What are the limiting factors to plant growth rate in order of priority?
Sunlight...temperature...?
What if I have 2 hours per day less sunlight than the MID or that as soon as
the sun drops below a hill the temperature drops 4 degrees in 15 minutes
then continued down do 0-2 degrees C. every night, could this have any
effect?
Noel Pattinson
Greenacres
Willung
Gippsland
Victoria
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