Foreword
MAF’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme aims to encourage the adoption of sustainable resource management practices so that the agricultural and horticultural sectors make a long term contribution to New Zealand’s economic, social and environmental well-being.
As part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme, MAF is producing an information series under the banner "Towards Sustainable Agriculture". Publications so far available in this series address such issues as dairy shed waste water treatment and control of soil erosion on farmland. This report on soil structural breakdown and compaction is the latest addition to this series. Other reports in preparation are indicators of sustainable agriculture and leaching of nitrates.
In recent years, the goal of promoting sustainable farming practices has received increased prominence. One aspect of sustainability is the preservation of soil condition in a state where good crop growth occurs and the environment (particularly groundwater and atmosphere) is not adversely affected. The maintenance of good soil structure is a key to such sustainable soil management.
This report presents an overview of the extent of soil structural degradation and compaction in New Zealand. The main focus of the report is to provide a practical outline of how to identify, alleviate and prevent soil structural breakdown based on recent New Zealand and overseas scientific literature. The report covers soils used for arable, pastoral and horticultural production.
Structural decline and compaction are often considered to be problems primarily associated with soils under arable crop and market garden production where the land is worked and cultivated at least once a year. Even so, compaction may be a limiting factor in other forms of farming. On pastoral soils, compaction can occur through the treading action of grazing animals, particularly where the soil is wet and subject to high stocking rates. This has led to increased interest in the use of aerators (subsoilers) under intensive pastoral farming. Soil compaction down wheeltracks on orchard soils can also be a problem because of frequent movement of heavy equipment within the orchard.
From a practical viewpoint, the processes involved in soil structural degradation are well known. Methods of avoiding and/or alleviating soil structural problems are also well documented. Extension of this information to consultants, farmers and growers will be the most important step in improving the structural condition of New Zealand soils. This report constitutes a base document that can be used in such an extension role.
I urge you to study the report and to take part in local initiatives to increase skills in identifying the soil structure conditions of your land and processes that help to mitigate and relieve the problems of compaction.
Hon John Falloon
Minister of Agriculture
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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