Studies on the management of snow‐tussock grassland

The effects of burning snow‐tussock ( Chionochloa rigida (Raoul) Zotov) in early spring were studied at 2,300 ft a.s.l. in South Canterbury during the period 1958 to 1960. Leaf length comparisons between burnt and unburnt tussocks were made at several dates. Weight of herbage grown during 15 months after burning was recorded, and burnt and unburnt tussocks were compared, 27 months after burning, in number, length, and weight of leaves and in tillering and flowering. Burning resulted in increased flowering and tillering. The length and weight of leaves of burnt snow‐tussocks approached after 27 months the values recorded for unburnt iussocks. Comparisons were also drawn between burning and cutting to simulate burning in their effect on subsequent leaf length but no differences were detected. Cutting of unburnt tussocks promoted flowering but cutting of tussocks burnt 15 months previously was found to reduce flowering in the season of cutting to a level similar to that in unburnt tussocks. No direct influences of sulphur or phosphate manuring on narrowleaved snow‐tussock were observed. The significance of these findings to objectives of soil conservation and pastoral management is discussed.