Soil conditions on tracked hillside pastures

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Abstract
Properties in the top 7.5 cm of soil on steep hillsides under pasture were studied at four sites on Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand. At each site a comparison was made of physical and chemical soil conditions in terracettes (or sheep tracks), which follow hillside contours, and in the slopes between adjacent tracks. Studies were conducted on north and south aspects of tracked hillsides on Takahe and Stewart-Summit soil types. On all sites the soils of the tracks were wetter than those of the slopes. They also contained more organic C and total N, and slightly more quick test P and K. Within each site the track and slope soils had similar porosities and bulk densities. Hillside ledges or benches made by sheep and used by them as resting places contained considerably more organic C and quick test P and K than tracks located below the benches. Bare parts of benches and tracks had similar total N values. On each soil type the soils on south aspects were colder, wetter, and more porous than soils on north aspects. They also contained more organic C and total N, and less quick test P and K.