Publication Date

1997

Description

An experiment was carried at Armidale, NSW, Australia, to test the hypothesis that pastures dominated by the perennial grass phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) together with white clover (Trifolium repens) can optimize nutrient cycling and minimize nutrient leakage in comparison with one where the perennial grass has been lost through prior overgrazing (‘degraded’). The concentrations of mineral nitrogen present as ammonium and nitrate indicated limited opportunities for N leaching under either perennial or ‘degraded’ pastures in this environment. The high S content in the 40-60 cm soil layer indicates some movement of S under both ‘degraded’ and perennial pastures.

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Monitoring the Movement of N and S Through the Soil Plant Animal System Under Degraded and Perennial Pastures

An experiment was carried at Armidale, NSW, Australia, to test the hypothesis that pastures dominated by the perennial grass phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) together with white clover (Trifolium repens) can optimize nutrient cycling and minimize nutrient leakage in comparison with one where the perennial grass has been lost through prior overgrazing (‘degraded’). The concentrations of mineral nitrogen present as ammonium and nitrate indicated limited opportunities for N leaching under either perennial or ‘degraded’ pastures in this environment. The high S content in the 40-60 cm soil layer indicates some movement of S under both ‘degraded’ and perennial pastures.