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

PLANT INDICATORSPasture growth <strong>and</strong> regrowth rates Assess pasture growth <strong>and</strong> regrowth rates since the last <strong>grazing</strong> bypasture probe, rising plate or herbage cut measurements.If this information is not available, use visual approximations of drymatter production levels.For a reliable comparison, make assessments at the same time ofyear, preferably in early spring.HIGH PASTURE GROWTH RATES depend on good soil structure <strong>and</strong>fertility, <strong>and</strong> on the season <strong>and</strong> seasonal weather conditions, to allowthe movement of water <strong>and</strong> air in the soil. Treading damage oncompacted moist soils can reduce pasture production by up to 27percent, but on pugged (deformed) wet soils, the reduction can be asmuch as 45 percent. Pasture regrowth rates on wet soils can be reducedby 20–30 percent. Good dry matter production from quality pastures isneeded for good dairy production. For cows to be also in good conditionat calving, an adequate pasture cover of 2000 kg DM/ha is needed,<strong>and</strong> pastures need to be capable of rapid regrowth.72 VISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 1