New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
A survey of soil physical properties on sheep and dairy farms in southern New
Zealand
J. J. DREWRY
AgResearch
C/- Soil and Physical Sciences Group
Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division
P.O. Box 84
Lincoln University
Canterbury, New Zealand
R. P. LITTLEJOHN
R. J. PATON
AgResearch
Invermay Agricultural Centre
Private Bag 50034
Mosgiel, New Zealand
Abstract The study compared soil macroporosity, bulk density,
air permeability, and hydraulic conductivity on 97 sheep and 87 dairy farm
sites surveyed in Southland and South Otago, New Zealand. Soil physical
properties of 4 soil groups (15 soils) were investigated. Soils on sheep farms
surveyed had significantly greater air permeability than soils on dairy farms,
averaged over 0-15 cm. Soils on sheep farms had significantly greater saturated
hydraulic conductivity (86 mm h-1 and 26 mm h-1) than
soils on dairy farms (32 mm h-1 and 10 mm h-1), at 0-5 cm
and 10-15 cm, respectively. Macroporosity decreased from 0-5 cm to 5-10 cm, at
a significantly greater rate on dairy farms (by 3.6% v/v) than sheep farms (by
1.5% v/v). Bulk density increased between 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm by a greater
amount for dairy farms (0.16 Mg m-3) than for sheep farms (0.12 Mg
m-3). Macroporosity on some Fragic Pallic Soils was considered
limiting for plant growth, while Firm Brown Soils were regarded as well
structured and most likely to resist treading damage.
Keywords compaction; treading; soil structure; pugging;
cattle; macropores
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 2000, Vol. 43: 251-258
0028-8233/00/4302-0251 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
2000
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (602K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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