Field Guide. cropping and pastoral grazing on flat to rolling country.

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SOIL INDICATORSSoil structure <strong>and</strong> consistence under pasture Remove a 20 cm cube of topsoil with a spade. Drop the soil sample a maximum of three times from a height of onemetre (waist height) onto the firm base in the plastic basin. If largeclods break away after the first or second drop, drop them individuallyagain once or twice. If a clod shatters into small (primary structural)units after the first or second drop, it does not need dropping again.Don’t drop any piece of soil more than three times. Separate each clod from enmeshing roots, <strong>and</strong> part it by h<strong>and</strong> alongany exposed fracture planes or fissures. Transfer the soil onto the large plastic bag. Move the coarsest fractions to one end <strong>and</strong> the finest to the other end.This provides a measure of the aggregate-size distribution. Comparethe resulting distribution of aggregates with the three photographsopposite.GOOD SOIL STRUCTURE is vital for growing good pastures. It regulatessoil aeration <strong>and</strong> gaseous exchange rates, the movement <strong>and</strong> storageof water, soil temperature, root penetration <strong>and</strong> development, nutrientcycling, <strong>and</strong> resistance to structural degradation. Good structure alsoincreases the number of days during the year when the soil will supportthe hoof pressure of heavy animals without pugging.56 VISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 1
FIGURE 1: Visual scoring (VS) of soil structure <strong>and</strong> consistence under pasturePOOR CONDITION VS = 0Soil dominated by extremely coarse, very firmclods with very few finer aggregatesMODERATE CONDITION VS = 1Soil contains significant proportions of bothcoarse firm clods <strong>and</strong> friable, fineaggregatesGOOD CONDITION VS = 2Good distribution of friable fineraggregates with no significant cloddingVISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 157
Page 1 and 2:
VISUAL SOILASSESSMENTCROPPED SOILPA
Page 3 and 4:
TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction 5Visu
Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCTIONTHE QUESTION - To profi
Page 7 and 8: The following examples illustrate t
Page 9 and 10: 2. Setting upIt is important to be
Page 11: VISUAL SOILASSESSMENTNO-TILLCONVENT
Page 14 and 15: SCORE CARDVisual indicators for ass
Page 16 and 17: SOIL INDICATORSSoil structure <stro
Page 18 and 19: SOIL INDICATORSSoil porosity under
Page 20 and 21: SOIL INDICATORSSoil colour under <s
Page 22 and 23: SOIL INDICATORSNumber and</
Page 24 and 25: SOIL INDICATORSEarthworm counts und
Page 26 and 27: SOIL INDICATORSPresence of a tillag
Page 28 and 29: SOIL INDICATORSDegree of clod devel
Page 30 and 31: SOIL INDICATORSSusceptibility to wi
Page 32 and 33: 32 VISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 1
Page 34 and 35: PLANT INDICATORSCrop emergence Asse
Page 36 and 37: PLANT INDICATORSCrop height at matu
Page 38 and 39: PLANT INDICATORSThe size an
Page 40 and 41: PLANT INDICATORSCrop yield Assess r
Page 42 and 43: PLANT INDICATORSRoot diseases Asses
Page 44 and 45: PLANT INDICATORSWeed infestation As
Page 46 and 47: PLANT INDICATORSSurface ponding und
Page 48 and 49: PLANT INDICATORSProduction costs As
Page 50 and 51: 50 VISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 1
Page 53 and 54: SCORE CARDVisual indicators for ass
Page 55: INSTRUCTIONS FORASSESSING SOIL QUAL
Page 59 and 60: FIGURE 2: Visual scoring (VS) of so
Page 61 and 62: FIGURE 3: Visual scoring (VS) of so
Page 63 and 64: FIGURE 4: Visual scoring (VS) of nu
Page 65 and 66: FIGURE 5: Visual scoring (VS) of ea
Page 67 and 68: FIGURE 6: Visual scoring (VS) of su
Page 69 and 70: INSTRUCTIONS FORASSESSING SOIL QUAL
Page 71 and 72: FIGURE 7: Visual scoring (VS) of pa
Page 77 and 78: FIGURE 10: Visual scoring (VS) of a
Page 79 and 80: FIGURE 11: Visual scoring (VS) of d
Page 81 and 82: FIGURE 12: Visual scoring (VS) of s
Page 83 and 84: FIGURE 13: Scoring of stock-carryin
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Field Guide. cropping and pastoral grazing on flat to rolling country.

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