Land Management
Water, soils and wallowing
Deer have specific natural needs and behaviours and if incorrectly managed, deer can threaten the quality of water and soil, cause erosion, compaction and pugging of soils, and the consequent runoff of nutrient, sediment and coliforms will result in contamination of waterways with undesirable behaviour including excessive pacing, wallowing, and digging in soils.
PROVIDER
DINZ
BallanceEx - Soil Health
YouTube video - Ballance nutrient science manager Sheree Balvert and Waikato University professor Louis Schipper on soil health
PROVIDER
BallanceEx - Soil Health
Pugging and Soil Compaction - What Influences Pugging?
What causes pugging and soil compaction? What effect does this soil damage have on pasture production and the environment?
Soil Characteristics Important to Management
Farmers should be familiar with several soil characteristics if they are to manage their soil effectively. Key soil attributes include texture, structure, porosity, water-holding capacity, drainage class and organic matter content, as well as chemical fertility and fertiliser management, and plant nutrient requirements
A guide to soil health and visual soil assessment
Agricultural production on the land is dependent upon what is taking place underground. Even though it’s not apparent to the human eye, healthy soil is a dynamic, living ecosystem that is swarming with macro and micro-organisms cycling through nutrients.
PROVIDER
Environment Southland
Soil health management
There are around 170 soil types in Southland. When the physical, chemical and biological performance of soils is optimised, they are able to soak up rain and contaminants. But even if the structure is good, soil that is not well managed threatens agricultural productivity and water quality.
PROVIDER
Environment Southland
Soil Info Sheets
This site has links to information about each of the soil types found in Southland. Find out about the physical and fertility properties of the soils of your farm
PROVIDER
Environment Southland
How to: DIY Mini Soil Visual Assessment (VSA)
Maintaining soil quality supports soil productivity and crop profitability. Soil changes over the rotation are important indicators of how management decisions are impacting soil quality.
PROVIDER
FAR - Foundation for Arable Research
Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) field guide
The VSA Field Guide contains all the information necessary to carry out VSA on your land. The Field Guide is self-explanatory and its use does not require special training or technical skills.
PROVIDER
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Soil Quality on Southland Cropping Farms
This 2004 report is the product of a Sustainable Farming Fund programme and was written by staff at Crop & Food Research (now Plant & Food Research). It describes a version of the soil quality management system (SQMS) that was developed specifically for use on Southland arable and mixed cropping farms. FAR - Foundation for Arable Research
PROVIDER
FAR - Foundation for Arable Research
25 Don Street,
Invercargill 9810
PO Box 648,
Invercargill 9840
