Native and low-input grasses - A New Zealand high country perspective

Native, naturalised, pasture, and new grass introductions are discussed in terms of concepts of moisture, temperature, fertility, and utilisation gradients; characteristics of the New Zealand high country environment; and their utility for introduction into low-input pastoral systems. The perennial, long-lived habit of native grass is mimicked in introduced grasses. Poa colensoi is the best native grass. but there is a need for wider evaluation of seral non-tussock species. There is a greater frequency of spreading habit and annuals in naturalised low-input species. The ''try it and see'' and genotype/environment analysis are advocated for screening new introductions.