Soil and pasture nutrient status on yellow-brown earth soils of the West Coast, South Island

Abstract

the West Coast of the South Island was carried out to assess the soil and pasture nutrient status. Significant but weak correlations were found between soil and pasture nutrient concentrations, previous applications of nutrients in fertiliser, and pasture fertility index. The results indicated the degree of nutrient deficiencies, and these are discussed in relation to current fertiliser practice. Concentrations of major and trace elements measured in mixed pasture samples were generally all above the minimum level for fattening lambs, except for cobalt where 22% of the samples were below. For lactating dairy cows, the proportion of samples below the minimum level was 21% for cobalt, 20% for zinc, 53% for magnesium, and 46% for phosphorus, but there was no field evidence that these low pasture nutrient concentrations were causing problems on the farms surveyed.