OK whats next? First steps
Deal with any factors that might have accelerated the decline of the old pasture.
Before renewing pasture it is essential to determine the factors behind the decline of the pasture to be replaced. These need to be rectified, either before establishing new pasture or as part of the management of the renewed pasture:
| Before renewal | |
| Poor drainage: | drainage [could also reduce flood risk] |
| Poor fertility: | soil testing & capital fertiliser application |
| Low soil pH: | addition of lime |
| Soil compaction: | aeration by subsoiling, cultivation |
| At renewal | |
| Insects: | seed treatment or granular insecticide |
| Slugs: | particularly with spray-drilling; monitor and apply molluscicide if required |
| After renewal | |
| Weed invasion: | herbicide application |
| Poor fertility: | soil testing & fertiliser application |
| Insects: | insecticide application |
| Environmental conditions Desirable plants die through a combination of stresses related to moisture extremes: |
|
| Dry/Drought: | plant hardship, increases insect pressure |
| Wet/Flood: | plant hardship, leading to weed invasion |
| Pugging: | damaging desirable plant population in wet conditions, leading to weed invasion |
| Overgrazing: | grazing plants close ground level in dry conditions, affecting their recovery and persistence |
| The natural conditions are impossible to control but it is possible to reduce their impact: | |
| Dry/Drought: | destocking, irrigation |
| Wet/Flood: | destocking, drainage |
| Pugging: | destocking polices, additional supplement on hand, sacrifice paddocks |
| Overgrazing: | remove/spread out stock in wet conditions, use of sacrifice paddock or feeding pad |
