The following pasture mixtures are a guide for various locations and soil types. Modifications may be necessary according to local conditions and requirements.
High Rainfall Areas (800mm + and above 800 m altitude)
Basalt soil |
Seed sowing rate |
Fescue
Phalaris
Perennial Ryegrass
White Clover
Options
Red clover, Chicory, Plantain, Lucerne
Birdsfoot trefoil |
8 – 10 kg/ha
2-3 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha |
Granite or Trap soil |
Seed sowing rate |
Fescue
Cocksfoot
Perennial Ryegrass
White Clover
Options
Red clover, plantain, lotus (above 900mm rainfall), sub clover, |
6-8 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha |
Medium Rainfall Areas (600 – 800mm and 700 – 800 m altitude)
Basalt soil |
Seed sowing rate |
Fescue
Phalaris
White Clover
Lucerne
Options
Sub Clover |
4-6 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha |
Granite or Trap soil |
Seed sowing rate |
Fescue
Cocksfoot
White Clover
Sub Clover
Options
Red clover, Biserrula |
4-6 kg/ha
2-3 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha |
Low Rainfall (less than 600mm and below 750 m altitude)
Low Fertility |
Seed sowing rate |
Digit grass
Rhodes grass
Options
Forest Bluegrass
Lovegrass (Consol)*
Biserrula
Sub Clover
White Clover
* in some local Council areas of the Northern Tablelands it is illegal to plant |
3-4 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha
4 kg/ha
0.5 kg/ha |
High Fertility |
Seed sowing rate |
Floren Bluegrass
Bambatsi Panic
Purple pigeon grass
Lucerne
Options
Panic
Vetch, Arrowleaf clover, white clover, sub clover, serradella |
2-4 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha |
High Rainfall (above 800mm and below 750m elevation)
Low to Medium Fertility |
Seed sowing rate |
Digit grass
Rhodes grass
Roundleaf Cassia
Options
Kikuyu
Atro, |
2-3 kg/ha
1-2 kg/ha |
Wet /swampy areas
|
Seed sowing rate |
Lotus (Maku may be unavailable)
Strawberry clover
Fescue
Options
Paspalum
Perennial ryegrass
White clover |
0.5-2 kg/ha
1-4 kg/ha
8-10 kg/ha |
Salty areas
|
Seed sowing rate |
Puccinellia
Options
Tall Wheat grass
Paspalum
Strawberry clover |
3 kg/ha
6-10 kg/ha
2-4 kg/ha |
Short Term Pasture (above 800 mm)
High Fertility |
Seed sowing rate |
Perennial Hybrids/ Italian type Ryegrass
Red Clover
Options
White Clover
Chicory |
10-15 kg/ha
4 kg/ha |