TROPICAL PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT .8. MANAGEMENT OF ESTABLISHING PASTURES

Pasture sowing can be expensive and efforts to ensure survival and ear ly productivity have large financial benefits. Grazing and fertiliser application have only minor effects during germination and emergence o f sown pasture because of the overwhelming influence of seed and seedb ed characteristics and soil moisture supply. Thereafter, and until pas ture survival is assured, root competition is the major influence on s eedling growth and survival, with limited capacity for management to m oderate that competition. We suggest some grazing management and ferti liser application guidelines but conclude that regular care and attent ion to new pasture is the most important role for management.