New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Effects of sheep treading on soil physical properties and pasture
yield of newly sown pastures
J. J. Drewry*
R. J. Paton
AgResearch
Invermay Agricultural Centre
Private Bag 50 034
Mosgiel, New Zealand
*Present address: Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management
Centre, Building 48A Linnaeus Way, The Australian National University,
Canberra ACT 0200, Australia.
Abstract The effects of intensity of treading by
sheep during winter (0, 900, and 1800 sheep ha–1) on soil
physical properties and pasture yield were studied for 3 years on a
newly sown ryegrass-white clover pasture in Southland. Intensive winter
treading in wet conditions caused considerable visual soil pugging and
pasture damage. Macroporosity (percentage of pores > 30 µm) at
0–5 cm was significantly reduced from 11.1% in the control to 10.2% and
9.4% in the 900 and 1800 sheep ha–1 treatments,
respectively. Winter treading reduced soil earthworm numbers at 0–5 cm,
but not at 0–20 cm. Soil macroporosity showed some improvement between
the post-winter-treading and summer periods from natural soil
rejuvenation processes. Soil macroporosity at 0–5 cm significantly
increased from 9.4% after the winter treading periods to 11.3% in the
summer periods. Macroporosity at 5–10 cm showed a decreasing trend
after sowing, while saturated hydraulic conductivity increased during
the 3-year period.
Keywords soil compaction; treading; macroporosity;
pugging
A03073; Received 8 December 2003; accepted 20 October 2004; Online
publication date 21 March 2005
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2005, Vol. 48:
39–46
0028–8233/05/4801–0039 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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