Soil physical quality under cattle grazing of a winter-fed brassica crop
J. J. Drewry A B and R. J. Paton AA Land and Environmental Management, AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Current address: Integrated Catchment and Management Centre, Building 48A Linnaeus Way, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Email: john.drewry@anu.edu.au
Australian Journal of Soil Research 43(4) 525-531 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR04122
Submitted: 12 August 2004 Accepted: 19 January 2005 Published: 30 June 2005
Abstract
This 2-year study investigated the effects of winter brassica forage crop grazing treatments on soil physical properties on a Fragic Pallic soil, susceptible to compaction, in South Otago, New Zealand. Soil physical measurements including bulk density, percentage of pores >300 μm, macroporosity (air-filled porosity; percentage of pores >30 μm), total porosity, air permeability, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) were taken 1.5 and 4 months after completion of winter grazing in year 1, and 2.5 months after grazing in year 2. Treatment main effects in year 1 for macroporosity were ungrazed crop (P < 0.05, 15.5%), established pasture (12.2%), crop on-off grazing (12.8%), crop grazed with back fence (9.6%), and current practice (strip grazing without a back-fence, 8.6%). During both winters the soil was generally more compact at 0.05–0.10 m depth than at 0.15–0.20 m, particularly for the current practice treatment, which may increase the risk of overland flow. Micro-topography differences between hump and hoof-hollow areas for the current practice treatment were also investigated during one sampling, with very low values of Ksat at 0–0.05 m in hoof-hollow areas (P < 0.05, 5 mm/h), compared with hump areas (129 mm/h). Overall, the crop on-off grazing treatment and, with some exceptions, the grazed with back fence treatment have some merit for reducing damage to soil physical properties compared with current practice.
Additional keywords: pugging, hydraulic conductivity, treading, soil compaction.
Acknowledgments
We thank R. P. Littlejohn for the statistical analyses and comments, P. D. Enright and A. Souness for field assistance, R. McDowell and R. Muirhead for general assistance, the farmer for providing access, and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology for financial support (contract C10X0017).
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