Some chemical properties of soils from areas of barley grass (Hordeum murinumL.) infestation

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Abstract
Chemical analyses of soils (0–1 in.) under pastures in the Hawke's Bay district showing heavy (H), moderate (M), or light (L) infestations of barley grass (Hordeum murinum L.) showed values for Truog P, organic C, total N, and exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and NH4, in the order H>M>L. Concentrations of total soluble salts were also in the cirder H>M > L, and the order of abundance of individual ions was: for cations, K+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+; for anions, HCO3 - > NO3 - > Cl- > S04 2-. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that invasion of pastures by barley grass is favoured by the development of saline areas of high nutrient content resulting from heavy accessions of animal dung and urine at sites where stock congregate. It is suggested that with continued camping of stock, sites in low-rainfall districts at present heavily infested with barley grass may eventually be superseded by bare ground because of increasing soil salinity. Seed counts on soils (sampled in March) gave Hordeum counts in the order H>M>L. Germination tests on the same soils showed seedling emergence for different species as follows : Hordeum murinum. H>M >L; other grasses, HM.

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