Fertiliser and lime effects on some southern North Island hill pastures

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Abstract
Pasture responses to superphosphate, lime (fine-ground), Mo, and ‘other nutrients’ (ON) mixture (Cu, B, Zn, Mg, K) were assessed in a trial at Ballantrae Hill Country Research Station. Trial sites were on a steepland soil related to YBEs (Mangamahu), a YBE hill soil (Ngamoka), and a steepland soil related to YBE-YGE integrades (Taihape). Soils are from Tertiary sandy and silty parent materials. Olsen P values were low (7–10 μg/g dry soil). Pastures were dominated by low-fertility-tolerant grasses. Large responses in legume vigour occurred to lime and superphosphate, to Mo without lime, and to ON with lime. Response to lime and Mo (over the 15 month measurement period) appeared to be due to increased availability of soil Mo. Superphosphate increased soil Olsen P, soil Truog P, and legume herbage N and P, but decreased legume Cu. Lime increased soil pH and legume Mo, but decreased soil Olsen P and legume herbage Mg, Cu, and Mn. Legume vigour and soil Truog P showed a positive response to lower lime rates, then a small negative response to lime rates above c. 3500 kg/ha.

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