TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Soil Structural Breakdown and Compaction in New Zealand Soils
A report prepared for
MAF Policy
by R J Haynes
August 1995
ISBN: 0-478-07404-2
ISSN: 1171-4662
Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate, the Ministry of Agriculture does not accept any responsibility or liability for error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion which may be present, nor for the consequences of any decision based on this information.
Reprinting of material from this report is welcomed (except for commercial use or on advertising or promotional material), provided proper acknowledgement is made to the source.
Comments on the contents of this paper, including errors of fact, omission and interpretation, would be appreciated and should be directed to:
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture
PO Box 2526
Wellington
Telephone (04) 894 0100
Facsimile (04) 474 4163
Requests for further copies should be directed to:
Manager
MAF Information Bureau
PO Box 2526
Wellington
Telephone (04) 894 0100
Facsimile (04) 894 0720
Keywords
Soil structure. Subsoil compaction. Pugging. Soil aeration. Impacts on farming.
Acknowledgements
This publication has been compiled by Dick Haynes of the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, Lincoln, Canterbury. Dr Haynes has been a soil scientist for 15 years and has worked on soil fertility research in many types of agricultural systems, including orchards, market gardens, arable crops and pastoral farming. Dr Haynes is well known internationally for his research, and has published over 100 research papers in international journals as well as many scientific reviews and extension articles.
Doug Hicks, Ecological Research Associates, and Graham Shepherd, Landcare Research, prepared the sections dealing with the economic impacts of structural breakdown and compaction on farming practice and prepared the maps of New Zealand showing soils susceptible to compaction. The section on the Manawatu region is based on a report by Graham Shepherd who provided access to extensive data and the detailed map of soils in that region.
Dr Haynes’ report was circulated to farmers, industry and consultancy groups throughout New Zealand for comment. Many of the helpful comments received have been worked into the test. MAF Policy acknowledges that, while emphasis is on arable soils, the text has application to all soil uses.
Contact for Enquiries
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