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

FIGURE 11: Visual scoring (VS) of drought stress of pastures during dry periodsPOOR CONDITION VS = 0With the possible exception of droughttolerant species, pastures brown offcompletely <strong>and</strong> pasture growth stops duringdry periods. Pastures die off during times ofprolonged drought. With the exception ofsubterranean clover <strong>and</strong> drought-tolerantspecies such as phalaris, pastures take a longtime to come away in autumn. Soil structurebecomes brittle <strong>and</strong> turns to dust undertreadingMODERATE CONDITION VS = 1Non-drought tolerant pastures ‘brown off’significantly during dry summer months,although thin green patches are still presentclose to the ground. Dry matter production isvery low <strong>and</strong> pastures become dominatedduring drought by the more drought-resistantcocksfoot, tall fescue, phalaris, birdsfoot, Lotustrefoil, meadow rice-grass, rats tail <strong>and</strong> smallannual clovers. Deep rooted flat weeds suchas plantain <strong>and</strong> hawkbit may also be commonGOOD CONDITION VS = 2Pastures remain relatively green, <strong>and</strong> drymatter production is able to hold on,albeit at low levels, further into drysummers. Pasture composition isdominated by ryegrass <strong>and</strong> white cloverduring dry periodsVISUAL SOIL ASSESSMENT: Volume 179