Puna II Chicory

Sowing rate: 1 kg/acre with 14 kg grass and clover (2.5 + 35 kg/ha)

2.5-3 kg/acre (6.0-7.5 kg/ha) if sowing a pure stand

Sowing time: April to mid-August (if sown with grass), April-May (as pure stand)

Sowing depth: 10 mm

Sowing instructions: Sow chicory seed in well-drained soils. Control broad-leaved weeds before sowing. Cultivate to achieve a fine, firm seed bed. Ploughing will help level rough fields. Sow in good conditions (warm with rain forecast), no deeper than 10-15 mm. Roll well after sowing to ensure good soil/ seed contact. N, P and K fertiliser requirements are similar to that of grass. Ensure optimum soil pH, P and K indices.

After sowing chicory seed

• Graze when the crop reaches a height of 10-15 cm and when plants are resistant to uprooting. Generally ready for grazing eight weeks after sowing
• Rotationally graze for best results
• Avoid flower heads developing (except once in the autumn as this can aid persistency)
• Avoid damage to the crown as this will reduce yield and persistency (more likely with hard grazing in wet conditions)
• If chicory produces seed, grazing with cattle is preferable over topping. Topping can allow water to penetrate the hollow stem and this can kill the plant
• Ensure adequate N, P and K fertiliser is available to the plant