Effects of treading pasture in summer under different soil moisture levels

Abstract

A pasture of short-rotation ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. × L. multiflorum Lam.}, white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and cowgrass (broad red clover) (T. pratense L.) growing on Kairanga silt loam was trodden in the summer of 1956–7, using mature Romney sheep and an experimental treading technique. Different soil moisture conditions were produced by spray irrigation.

Treading reduced herbage yield, particularly where the soil was moist and the treading intensity high, but even in dry soil conditions treading produced some effect. There were also changes in the botanical composition of the pasture,short-rotation ryegrass and red clover being more susceptible to treading than white clover.