Cranston, who graduated this week with a PhD in plant science, investigated a new herb and legume mix containing chicory, plantain, red clover, and white clover. She found in a glasshouse environment chicory and plantain withstood dry conditions better than ryegrass and clover.
Better tolerance to dry conditions meant pasture could continue to grow through the drier summer months, giving a longer season of grazing, bigger animals, and ultimately more profit for the farmer.
Chicory is particularly tolerant because of its extensive tap-root, which can grow down deeper into the soil and access deeper water sources.
A separate study found that including high-quality plants like chicory resulted in sheep putting on more weight as they got more energy out of the feed, and the herbs and legumes broke down faster in the rumen, meaning they could eat more.
“In NZ we’re so reliant on ryegrass and white clover as our pasture,” Cranston said.
“Thinking into the future, we’ve got to have alternative options and definitely the results of my study show that both chicory and plantain are good at displaying drought tolerance and continuing to grow under those dry conditions.
"When you combine that with my colleagues’ findings that the food combination is better for growth, the benefits are really compelling.”
Farmers from across the country, apart from the colder parts of the South Island, will potentially be able to reap the benefits of the mix, because “it’s pretty suitable to a range of places. Anywhere that potentially has a dry summer but doesn't get too cold in winter.”
