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

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SOIL INDICATORSEarthworm counts under pasture Sort carefully through the soil sample used to assess soil structure,<strong>and</strong> count the earthworms found in a 5 minute search. Pay particularattention to the turf mat. Earthworms vary in size <strong>and</strong> numberdepending on the season, so for year-to-year comparison, earthwormcounts must be made at the same time of year, <strong>and</strong> preferably duringthe winter. The class limits for earthworm numbers given oppositeare based on the probability that you will find only two thirds of theworms present during a 5-minute search.(Earthworm numbers are commonly reported on a square-metre basis.A 20 cm cube sample is equivalent to 1/25 square metre <strong>and</strong> so thenumber of earthworms counted should be multiplied by 25 to convertto a square metre basis. If your sample depth is only 0-10cm, thesame class limits <strong>and</strong> conversion factors apply, because commonearthworks are most abundant in the upper topsoil.)EARTHWORMS play a major role, through their burrowing, feeding <strong>and</strong>casting, in decomposing <strong>and</strong> cycling organic matter, <strong>and</strong> in supplyingnutrients. They can also improve soil porosity <strong>and</strong> aeration, waterinfiltration <strong>and</strong> conductivity, aggregate size <strong>and</strong> stability, root growth<strong>and</strong> subsequent pasture productivity. Earthworm numbers can decline(3-fold) under severe pugging <strong>and</strong> can have adverse long-term effectson nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, soil structure <strong>and</strong>porosity.64 VISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 1
FIGURE 5: Visual scoring (VS) of earthworm counts under pastureVisual score Earthworm counts(VS)(per 20 cm cube of soil)2 >201 10–200
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VISUAL SOILASSESSMENTCROPPED SOILPA
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TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction 5Visu
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INTRODUCTIONTHE QUESTION - To profi
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The following examples illustrate t
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2. Setting upIt is important to be
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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 and 56: INSTRUCTIONS FORASSESSING SOIL QUAL
Page 57 and 58: FIGURE 1: Visual scoring (VS) of so
Page 63: FIGURE 4: Visual scoring (VS) of nu
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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