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

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PLANT INDICATORSArea of bare ground Assess the area of bare ground in winter or early spring.Compare the surface of the soil with the three photographs opposite.If there is canopy closure, part the pasture with your h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> scoreat ground level. An assessment of an area of bare ground after a longdry period will show how much pasture has died from lack of moisture.IN ADDITION TO STOCK CAMPING <strong>and</strong> drought effects, bare groundis formed by the physical churning up of the soil from treading <strong>and</strong>pugging. This causes leaf <strong>and</strong> stem crushing, uprooting or burial ofplants, <strong>and</strong> root damage, which reduces pasture density <strong>and</strong> vigour.Weeds <strong>and</strong> less desirable pasture species can invade the resulting gaps,further reducing pasture production. Like surface relief, the area of bareground can be a good indicator of below-ground damage.76 VISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 1
FIGURE 10: Visual scoring (VS) of area of bare groundPOOR CONDITION VS = 0Large areas of bare ground occur becauseof treading damage <strong>and</strong> the subsequentreduction in the density <strong>and</strong> vigour ofpasture plants. White clover <strong>and</strong> lessdesirable pasture species <strong>and</strong> weeds mayhave invaded degraded <strong>and</strong> bare areasMODERATE CONDITION VS = 1Pasture shows significant areas of bareground <strong>and</strong> sporadic growth with theingression of weeds <strong>and</strong> white clovercaused by treading damageGOOD CONDITION VS = 2Pasture growth is vigorous <strong>and</strong> coversalmost the whole surface areaVISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 177
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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
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SCORE CARDVisual indicators for ass
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SOIL INDICATORSSoil structure <stro
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SOIL INDICATORSSoil porosity under
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SOIL INDICATORSSoil colour under <s
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SOIL INDICATORSNumber and</
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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 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 73 and 74: FIGURE 8: Visual scoring (VS) of pa
Page 75: FIGURE 9: Visual scoring (VS) of pa
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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