A survey of pasture composition in relation to soils and topography on a hill country farm in the southern Ruahine Range, New Zealand

Abstract

Results of a pasture survey conducted on the Grasslands Division, DSIR, hilI country property in the sou!hern Ruahine Range are presented. Relationships between pasture species frequency and soils, parent material, topography, aspect, and slope are discussed. In general the pastures were dominated by Agrostis tenuis and Anthoxanthum odoratum, with moderate frequencies of Trifolium repens, flatweeds, Cynosurus cristatus, Holcus lanatus, and moss. Most differences in pasture composition were related to topography through its influence on stock management, animal behaviour, and nutrient transfer. Differences due to soils were not great, except where they appeared to be related to differences in soil-moisture characteristics. e.g., soils of river flats and terraces compared with hilI country soils. Lolium perenne and T. repens were most frequent on flat to low slope areas as occurred on terraces adjacent to stock yards, in stock camps, and on ridge tops. Notodanthonia was most frequent on steeper, drier sites and Holcus lanatus, Lotus pedunculatus, rushes, and sedges occurred on wetter sites.