Influence of some soil and pasture components on the growth of hill country pastures 1. Winter and spring production

Abstract

Aspect and land slope have a major influence on winter and spring pasture growth. Possible physiographic, soil, and plant factors contributing directly to this influence were examined across a range of microsites in steep North Island hill country. As land slope increased, organic and inorganic nitrogen in the soil decreased. Similarly, organic carbon decreased and this was associated with a decline in soil water-holding capacity. Soil water potentials were high during winter and spring and showed little effect of aspect. Pasture growth was greater on warmer, north-facing than on colder, south-facing aspects, the difference being less for ryegrass-dominant sites than for browntop associations. Where long-term site conditions (e.g., slope, fertility, moisture) allow the development and maintenance of perennial rye grass populations, greater winter and spring growth rates were recorded. The importance of developing an effective N cycle based on stable legume populations for improving soil N status, ryegrass content, and cool-season pasture production in hill country is highlighted.

Bio-efficacy of Organic Formulations on Crop Production-A Review

“…Ramachandrudu and Thangam (2007) ( McNaught, 1961). Ledgard, et al, (1982) in New Zealand, evaluated the effects of cow urine and equivalent nitrogen, potassium, and sulphur treatments on pasture yield, botanical composition, herbage chemical composition and N fixation by clovers during winter and spring. They noticed that urine caused a large increase in ryegrass yield, entirely due to its N content.…”

Effect of soil slip erosion on Wairoa hill pasture production and composition

“…In particular, Olsen P values were generally higher than those recorded on slip scars in the Wairarapa (Lambert et aI. 1984) and on steep hill country at Whatawhata (Ledgard et al 1982(Ledgard et al , 1983 and Ballantrae (Luscombe 1980(Luscombe , 1981. Additional support for generally satisfactory fertility levels, at least on pre-I 942 and 1970 scars, was provided by the foliar nutrient analyses.…”

“…(I) Higher· soil fertility levels, particularly on accumulation zones which are derived mainly from superficial material removed during slip erosion which is often more fertile and organic. (2) Reduced slope angle (Ledgard et al 1982). (3) Improved soil moisture holding capacity (Jackson 1967).…”

“…Erosion directly influences slope and soil depth which, together with aspect, influence one or more of several factors such as microclimate, stock grazing behaviour, and soil fertility (Suckling 1959a, b;Gillingham 1974;Grant & Brock 1974;Radcliffe & Lefever 1981;Ledgard et al 1982;Sheath 1983).…”

Effect of landslide erosion on Taranaki hill pasture production and composition

“…Many factors contribute to declining production on steeper landforms. For example, Ledgard et al (1982) suggested that variation in organic C and total N can cause large differences in production on hill country pastures, and this variation declined with increasing slope at Whatawhata Research Station. They also suggested that nutrient transfer from steep sites to camp sites by grazing animals can cause large differences in total N and subsequent pasture production.…”