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New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

Soil nutrient distribution in pastures flood-irrigated by the border strip method

D. J. SAVILLE1
R. A. MOSS2
A. R. BRAY1
R. B. HANNAGAN3

1AgResearch
P. O. Box 60
Lincoln, New Zealand
2AgResearch
Winchmore Research Station
Private Bag
Ashburton, New Zealand

3AgResearch
Invermay Agricultural Centre
Private Bag
Mosgiel, New Zealand

Abstract  Two studies of the distribution of the levels of the nutrients phosphate, sulphate, potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and of pH levels, were carried out in sheep pastures that were flood-irrigated by the border strip method in mid Canterbury, New Zealand. The border strips had been formed by grading the land to a gently sloping plane surface, then creating c. 12 m-wide, 200-300 m long strips by raising "borders" c. 1.8 m wide and c. 12 m apart, with strips aligned with the direction of maximum fall. The first study involved four 30-year-old border-strip pastures at Winchmore Research Station, whereas the second study involved 20 border-strip pastures of varying age on nine commercial farms in Ashburton County. In both instances 75 mm-deep soil samples were taken from the tops of the irrigation borders and from the border crutches and strips, at varying positions up and down the length of the border-strip systems. In both studies nutrient levels were in general lowest in the strips, highest in the crutches, and intermediate on the borders. These differences are presumed to have been caused by stock camping on the borders and in the crutches, and the movement of faeces by irrigation water. A practical outcome of the study is the conclusion that fertiliser and lime applications can be restricted to the strips.

Keywords  phosphate; sulphur; potassium; magnesium; sodium; calcium; pH; soil samples; nutrient cycling; nutrient distribution; borders; irrigated; sheep; pastures; camping; fertiliser

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1997, Vol. 40: 99-110

0028-8233/97/4001-0099 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1997

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (880K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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