New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Shallow mechanical loosening of a soil under dairy cattle grazing: Effects on
soil and pasture
C. P. BURGESS
R. CHAPMAN
Department of Earth Science
The University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton, New Zealand
P. L. SINGLETON
AgResearch
Ruakura Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
E. R. THOM*
Dairying Research Corporation
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
email: thome@drc.co.nz
Abstract Shallow mechanical loosening of soil to 22 cm deep
(aeration) was investigated as a method for ameliorating soil compaction caused
by dairy cattle treading. Soil physical and pasture measurements taken over 46
weeks compared plots grazed under normal grazing practice (non-aerated) with
plots under normal grazing practice where soil was mechanically loosened
(aerated). Aerated soil initially showed reduced (P < 0.05)
penetration resistance, degree of packing, and bulk density, and increased
(P < 0.05) hydraulic conductivity, total porosity, macroporosity, and
proportion of small aggregates, compared with non-aerated soil. However, after
40 weeks aerated soil showed some reversion back to a non-aerated state, and
only the most sensitive measurements (penetration resistance, degree of
packing, soil structure, and macroporosity) showed significant (P <
0.05) treatment differences. Pasture herbage yield, botanical composition, and
root length were unaffected (P < 0.05) by aeration, but aeration
increased (P < 0.05) root dry weight and decreased bare ground. This
work suggests that timing of aeration with regard to soil moisture and
atmospheric conditions is vital for optimal soil and pasture responses. The
need to use methods which sample large volumes of soil and pasture to detect
soil physical and pasture changes due to loosening is also stressed.
Keywords aeration; compaction; pasture; soil physical
properties; amelioration; intensive dairying
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 2000, Vol. 43: 279-290
0028-8233/00/4302-0279 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
2000
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1MB); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
