Mats of unincorporated organic matter under irrigated pastures

Abstract

A mat of partially decomposed organic matter which forms on the surface of solls carrying irrigated pastures is described. It was found under both annual and perennial irrigated pastures on soil types ranging from sandy loams and loams (red-brown earths) to heavy clays (grey and brown soils of heavy texture).

Mat weights ranged from 8 000 to 92 000 lb/acre, and the amounts of nitrogen held in them from 85 to 1 240 lb/acre, for 8- to 15-year-old pastures. Age of pasture was not significantly correlated with either mat weight or mat nitrogen content, but it was significantly correlated with the total nitrogen content of the mat and surface soil. The distribution of accumulated nitrogen between the mat and surface soil varied considerably under annual pastures on heavy-textured soils.

Carbon/nitrogen ratios indicate considerable decomposition of the organic matter In the mat, and up to 0.60 in, of water available to the pasture was retained in this layer after irrigation. The significance of the mat under irrigated pastures is discussed in terms of water and nitrogen relationships.