Earthworms in Southern North Island Hill Pastures

Lambert, M. G.

doi:10.33584/jnzg.1986.47.1740

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Soil (and associated C) losses through downslope movement of soil particles in surface runoff may have been greater during the experimental period than previously, as a result of the increased density of grazing livestock, and factors such as greater earthworm casting activity (Lambert 1986). However, annual losses of soil C in sediment in runoff water were only c. 80 kg ha" 1 (Lambert et al 1985), suggesting that this was not the major reason for soil C decline.…”

Section: Soil Carbon and Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 91%

Effects of fertiliser application on nutrient status and organic matter content of hill soils

Lambert

Clark²,

Mackay

et al. 2000

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Effects of two fertiliser treatments on soil characteristics were measured during 1972-87, within 10 grazed permanent-pasture "farmlets", on steep hill country in southern Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The low fertiliser (LF) treatment received 125 kg ha-1 superphosphate p.a., and the high fertiliser (HF) an average 625 kg ha-1 p.a. for 5 years then 375 kg ha-1 p.a. subsequently. Ground limestone was applied to HF in 1975 and 1979. Grazing pressure was the same across treatments. Soil fertility decreased with increasing slope of measurement site, and aspect had a less marked effect. Phosphorus initially accumulated mainly in inorganic forms, with organic P accumulating at a slower rate similar to that for organic S. Olsen P status reflected P application regime, although the responsiveness was lower than anticipated. Soil pH in the non-limed LF treatment increased slightly over time, probably as a consequence of the decline in soil organic C. Soil total N (0-75 mm depth) A99035

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Section: Soil Carbon and Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 91%

Effects of fertiliser application on nutrient status and organic matter content of hill soils

Lambert

Clark²,

Mackay

et al. 2000

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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“…The loss of Mg is associated with SO 4 -S leaching losses, which was found by Sakadevan et al (1993) to be 10 times higher than nitrate in drainage water below the 250 mm soil depth. Lambert (1986) reported earthworm numbers in 1979 of 526 and 644/m 2 , under LF and HF, respectively, with Aporrectodea caliginosa the dominant species. Earthworm mass was 24% higher in LF than HF, and at that time the LF and HF farmlets carried 9.9 and 13.3 sheep su/ha, respectively.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term changes in soil fertility and pasture production under no, low and high phosphorus fertiliser inputs

Mackay¹,

Lambert²

2011

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Many hill country farmers have struggled to maintain fertiliser inputs in recent years. The long-term fertiliser and sheep grazing farmlet study at the AgResearch Ballantrae Hill Country Research Station provides invaluable insights into the benefits of continued annual inputs of phosphorus (P) fertiliser on production levels and the farm business, and also the implications to the production system when fertiliser is withheld. Since detailed monitoring stopped in 1990, the fertiliser treatments have been maintained, along with nominal sheep stocking rates and grazing practices. Occasional measurements of soil fertility have also been made on the farmlets that have received either no fertiliser inputs for 30 years, a low annual fertiliser input (125 kg superphosphate (SSP)/ha/yr), or a high input (375 kg SSP/ha/yr) for 35 years. In this paper changes in sheep stocking rate and soil fertility are reported and compared with earlier published data from this longterm site. This field study provides a valuable resource for ongoing research into nutrient requirements and cycling in hill land environments, and a visual demonstration of the continued importance of fertiliser application as a driver of hill country production. Keywords: Livestock production, P fertiliser, Olsen P, long-term sites

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“…Reasons for accelerated losses in soil C (i.e, during the trial compared with pre-trial levels, and also the higher total loss under HF cf LF) most likely include greater activity of soil decomposers because of alleviation of P, S, and N limitations, and more rapid incorporation of surface litter into the soil through greater earthworm (Lambert 1986) and hoof action. Also, relative C partitioning to roots decreased (Saggar et al 1997), and utilisation of herbage grown was greater with intensification, leading to a greater proportion of C fixed by plants being ingested by grazing animals and lost to the atmosphere as CO2 and CH4 during rumen fermentation and respiration.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term fertiliser application and fertility of hill soils

Lambert¹,

Mackay²,

Costall³

1998

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Application of phosphatic fertiliser to legume/grass pastures, and increased stocking rate, is commonly assumed to increase soil organic matter (estimated from soil carbon) content, to lower soil pH, and to increase soil Olsen P status. Changes in these variables in soils derived from sedimentary parent material were monitored over 16 years, in a longterm grazing experiment on southern North Island hill country. There were 2 fertiliser treatments, principally high (capital applications followed by 375 kg/ha/year) and low (125 kg/ha/year) superphosphate application. There was a net loss of soil C of approximately 200 kg/ha/year in both treatments, although annual C inputs to the soil were greater (by 1000 kg/ha) in the high fertiliser soils. Soil pH increased slightly; and Olsen P status reflected P application, although it was less responsive to P application (13 kg P/ha applied above maintenance for 1 Olsen P unit increase) than has commonly been assumed is the case (4-7 kg P/ha per unit). The most likely reason for net loss of soil C is increased decomposer activity in the soil, and the greater proportion of plant-fixed C ingested by grazing animals as a result of intensification. The lack of a decline in soil pH may have been related to the declining soil organic matter level lowering hydrogen ion-supplying power. The lower-than-expected responsiveness of Olsen P to fertiliser P application was probably because the experimental area had a very poor fertiliser application history, in comparison with previous experiments against which Olsen P was calibrated. Keywords: carbon, fertiliser application, hill country, Olsen P, organic matter, pH, soils

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Earthworms in Southern North Island Hill Pastures

Cited by 10 publications

References 4 publications

Effects of fertiliser application on nutrient status and organic matter content of hill soils

Effects of fertiliser application on nutrient status and organic matter content of hill soils

Long-term changes in soil fertility and pasture production under no, low and high phosphorus fertiliser inputs

Long-term fertiliser application and fertility of hill soils

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