scholarly journals Vegetation and Landscape Dynamics in Eastern Taranaki Hill Country

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Paul Michael Blaschke
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Hillslope Processes

<p>An ecological study of hill country landscapes in eastern Taranaki, New Zealand, was undertaken as part of a project concerning the implications of long-term soil mantle changes for sustainable land use. The study was undertaken in a 417 km2 area comprising uplifted and steeply dissected soft Tertiary sediments with a predominantly sandstone lithology. Rapid European settlement in the 1890s modified the natural vegetation cover greatly, so that most remaining forest in the study area occurs in patches surrounded by a matrix of pastoral land. Vegetational and successional patterns and environmental variation : The pattern of woody vegetation was investigated by extensive reconnaissance sampling incorporating semi-quantitative analysis of canopy cover, followed by intensive, environmentally stratified sampling. The vegetation was classified on a structural and floristic basis into 19 units of forest, treeland, scrub and shrubland. The effect of environmental variation on vegetation composition was investigated by reciprocal averaging ordination (DECORANA). The first ordination axis was correlated to vegetation structure and canopy height and was interpreted as a complex disturbance gradient relating to time since disturbance. The second and third axes were related to soil fertility and topographical gradients. Forest plots were dominated by Beilschmiedia tawa and Weinmannia racemosa and had basal area values of up to >250 m2/ha. Basal area, stem and seedling density varied greatly between vegetation structural groups. Regeneration of woody vegetation following various types of disturbance: The disturbance regime was comprehensively documented. Main factors of natural disturbance are landslide erosion and windthrow; main factors of cultural disturbance are direct clearance by felling and burning, and introduced animals. A chronology is presented of successional pathways for about 400 years following major disturbance. Succession proceeds through shrubland and scrub stages dominated by treeferns, Leptospermwn scoparium or other broadleaved woody shrubs, through treeland, to broadleaved forest dominated firstly by W. racemosa or Knightia excelsa, then by B. tawa. Podocarp trees are generally only prominent after a long period of uninterrupted succession. Seedling recruitment, mortality and growth were monitored for 2 years. Seedling dynamics varied considerably between and within sampling plots, some of which contained small exclosures that excluded possums and goats. The effects of introduced animals on seedling recruitment and vegetation growth is strongly modified by microtopography. Most dominant species showed continuous regeneration at the scale of the whole study area, despite local discontinuities. This pattern was consistent with a model of interrpted gap-phase regeneration, which may be widely applicable to New Zealand lowland forests. The vegetation turnover time is in the order of 150-250 years, a period consistent with comparable temperate forest ecosystems. The successional pathway is primarily dependent on topography, previous site history and location and area of disturbance. The existence of residual-soils on landslide scars, variations in plant propagule supply, and rapid loss of soil from steep slopes cleared for agriculture, all suggest that a rigid distinction between primary and secondary succession in the study area is not appropriate. Hillslope processes underlying vegetation and landscape change: Hillslope processes were studied in five 0.1 ha plots in which slope profiles were measured, vegetation and microtopography mapped in detail, vegetation age assessed and soil properties investigated. Ground surface age was assessed as an interpretation of the above data. Mean surface age was c. 450 years, but some swales had a surface age of several thousand years. There was a significant correlation between surface age and soil depth, soil depth increase being faster and continuing for much longer under forest than under pasture. Observations were made of near-surface erosion processes such as soil creep. A model of hillslope erosion is outlined, involving periodic evacuation of swales by landslides and refilling of swales by near-surface erosion. Evidence of past environments supports a fluvial origin for swales in an early Ohakean (glacial maximum) or pre-Ohakean period of high erosion. A concluding synthesis of vegetation, topography and soils emphasises the importance of selecting appropriate temporal and spatial scales at which to study landscape processes.</p>

scholarly journals Vegetation and Landscape Dynamics in Eastern Taranaki Hill Country

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Paul Michael Blaschke
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Hillslope Processes

<p>An ecological study of hill country landscapes in eastern Taranaki, New Zealand, was undertaken as part of a project concerning the implications of long-term soil mantle changes for sustainable land use. The study was undertaken in a 417 km2 area comprising uplifted and steeply dissected soft Tertiary sediments with a predominantly sandstone lithology. Rapid European settlement in the 1890s modified the natural vegetation cover greatly, so that most remaining forest in the study area occurs in patches surrounded by a matrix of pastoral land. Vegetational and successional patterns and environmental variation : The pattern of woody vegetation was investigated by extensive reconnaissance sampling incorporating semi-quantitative analysis of canopy cover, followed by intensive, environmentally stratified sampling. The vegetation was classified on a structural and floristic basis into 19 units of forest, treeland, scrub and shrubland. The effect of environmental variation on vegetation composition was investigated by reciprocal averaging ordination (DECORANA). The first ordination axis was correlated to vegetation structure and canopy height and was interpreted as a complex disturbance gradient relating to time since disturbance. The second and third axes were related to soil fertility and topographical gradients. Forest plots were dominated by Beilschmiedia tawa and Weinmannia racemosa and had basal area values of up to >250 m2/ha. Basal area, stem and seedling density varied greatly between vegetation structural groups. Regeneration of woody vegetation following various types of disturbance: The disturbance regime was comprehensively documented. Main factors of natural disturbance are landslide erosion and windthrow; main factors of cultural disturbance are direct clearance by felling and burning, and introduced animals. A chronology is presented of successional pathways for about 400 years following major disturbance. Succession proceeds through shrubland and scrub stages dominated by treeferns, Leptospermwn scoparium or other broadleaved woody shrubs, through treeland, to broadleaved forest dominated firstly by W. racemosa or Knightia excelsa, then by B. tawa. Podocarp trees are generally only prominent after a long period of uninterrupted succession. Seedling recruitment, mortality and growth were monitored for 2 years. Seedling dynamics varied considerably between and within sampling plots, some of which contained small exclosures that excluded possums and goats. The effects of introduced animals on seedling recruitment and vegetation growth is strongly modified by microtopography. Most dominant species showed continuous regeneration at the scale of the whole study area, despite local discontinuities. This pattern was consistent with a model of interrpted gap-phase regeneration, which may be widely applicable to New Zealand lowland forests. The vegetation turnover time is in the order of 150-250 years, a period consistent with comparable temperate forest ecosystems. The successional pathway is primarily dependent on topography, previous site history and location and area of disturbance. The existence of residual-soils on landslide scars, variations in plant propagule supply, and rapid loss of soil from steep slopes cleared for agriculture, all suggest that a rigid distinction between primary and secondary succession in the study area is not appropriate. Hillslope processes underlying vegetation and landscape change: Hillslope processes were studied in five 0.1 ha plots in which slope profiles were measured, vegetation and microtopography mapped in detail, vegetation age assessed and soil properties investigated. Ground surface age was assessed as an interpretation of the above data. Mean surface age was c. 450 years, but some swales had a surface age of several thousand years. There was a significant correlation between surface age and soil depth, soil depth increase being faster and continuing for much longer under forest than under pasture. Observations were made of near-surface erosion processes such as soil creep. A model of hillslope erosion is outlined, involving periodic evacuation of swales by landslides and refilling of swales by near-surface erosion. Evidence of past environments supports a fluvial origin for swales in an early Ohakean (glacial maximum) or pre-Ohakean period of high erosion. A concluding synthesis of vegetation, topography and soils emphasises the importance of selecting appropriate temporal and spatial scales at which to study landscape processes.</p>

Cadmium distribution and inventories at a pre-European seabird breeding site on agricultural land, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Hawke
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Agricultural Site

Cadmium distribution was determined at a hill country agricultural site with no history of fertiliser application, but where pre-European seabird breeding occurred. Total Cd concentrations were measured in 2 depth profiles on the ridgeline, and in surface soil (0–15 cm; 15 ridgeline and 7 sideslope transects). Concentrations were low (range 0.04–0.13 mg/kg) for New Zealand agricultural soils. Concentrations were independent of stock camps (locations frequented by grazing animals), altitude, soil depth, organic matter, and N and P concentrations. Surface Cd concentrations on the sideslope were significantly higher than the ridgeline. Inventories from the 2 ridgeline profiles (29.9 ± 2.4 mg/m2; 18.4 ± 1.5 mg/m2) were higher than the 16 mg/m2 and 7 mg/m2, respectively, predicted from the loess and basalt parent material concentrations; surface soil concentrations also exceeded those predicted from parent materials. Together, these results suggest that agricultural activity has not significantly redistributed Cd, and that external sources have contributed a large proportion of soil Cd. Atmospheric input was too low to explain all of the observed enrichment. Instead, Cd distribution was consistent with seabird input concentrated in the deeper soils of the sideslope rather than the relatively thin soils of the ridgeline.

Pathways ahead for New Zealand hill country farming

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.G. Scrimgeour
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
The Status ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Hill Farming ◽  
The Hill

This paper provides a stocktake of the status of hill country farming in New Zealand and addresses the challenges which will determine its future state and performance. It arises out of the Hill Country Symposium, held in Rotorua, New Zealand, 12-13 April 2016. This paper surveys people, policy, business and change, farming systems for hill country, soil nutrients and the environment, plants for hill country, animals, animal feeding and productivity, and strategies for achieving sustainable outcomes in the hill country. This paper concludes by identifying approaches to: support current and future hill country farmers and service providers, to effectively and efficiently deal with change; link hill farming businesses to effective value chains and new markets to achieve sufficient and stable profitability; reward farmers for the careful management of natural resources on their farm; ensure that new technologies which improve the efficient use of input resources are developed; and strategies to achieve vibrant rural communities which strengthen hill country farming businesses and their service providers. Keywords: farming systems, hill country, people, policy, productivity, profitability, sustainability

Plant mortality and seedling recruitment responses to flupropanate in grassland populations of Nassella trichotoma

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 160-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.W. Bourdôt ◽  
S. Jackman ◽  
D.J. Saville
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Sodium Salt ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Residual Activity ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Plant Mortality ◽  
Complete Control ◽  
Bio Synthesis

Flupropanate (sodium 2,2,3,3 tetrafluoropropanate), a slow-acting lipid bio- synthesis-inhibiting herbicide, was recently registered in New Zealand as Taskforce (745 g/L flupropanate as the sodium salt) for the selective and long-term control of Nassella trichotoma (nassella tussock) in pastures. In five dose-response experiments in permanent hill pastures in Canterbury, conducted between 2012 and 2016, we measured the efficacy of the herbicide against established plants of N. trichotoma and its residual activity against recruiting seedlings. Mortality, as an average across the five sites, was 93% 1.5 years after applying 1.49 kg flupropanate/ha (the label-recommended rate), and 100% at 2.98 kg/ha. This indicates that an application rate higher than the label rate will be necessary for complete control of a N. trichotoma infestation. The presence of 1,000 and 6,250 visible seedlings of N. trichotoma/ha in the autumn 3.2 and 2.1 years after applying 1.49 kg flupropanate/ha (at a Greta Valley and Scargill site respectively) indicates that the herbicide’s soil residues had decayed within 12 months to a concentration lower than necessary to kill the germinating seedlings of N. trichotoma.

scholarly journals Evolution in Configuration and Productivity of New Zealand Hill Country Sheep and Beef Cattle Systems

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 531
Author(s):  
Januarius Gobilik ◽  
Stephen Todd Morris ◽  
Cory Matthew
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Cattle Systems

Metabolic energy budgeting (MEB) was used to evaluate evolution over 30 years (1980–1981 to 2010–2011) in New Zealand southern North Island ‘hill country’ sheep and beef cattle systems. MEB calculates energy required by animals for body weight maintenance, weight gain or loss, pregnancy, and lactation to estimate the system feed demand and thereby provide a basis for calculating feed conversion efficiency. Historic production systems were reconstructed and modeled using averaged data from industry surveys and data from owners’ diaries of three case-study farms and reviewed for patterns of change over time. The modeling indicated that pasture productivity was 11% lower and herbage harvested was 14% lower in 2010–2011 than in the early 1980s. This productivity decline is attributable to warmer, drier summer weather in recent years. However, primarily through increased lambing percentage, feed conversion efficiency based on industry data improved over the study period from 25 to 19 kg feed consumed per kg lamb weaned, while meat production rose from 137 to 147 kg per ha per year. Similar improvements were observed for the three case farms. The New Zealand MEB model was found effective for analysis of tropical beef production systems in Sabah, Malaysia.

Distribution, transformations and recovery of urinary sulphur and sources of plant-available soil sulphur in irrigated pasture soil–plant systems treated with 35sulphur-labelled urine

1994 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Nguyen ◽  
K. M. Goh
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Hydriodic Acid ◽  
Rooting Zone ◽  
Pasture Soil ◽  
S Uptake ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
S Model

SUMMARYA field plot experiment of 271 days duration was conducted on New Zealand irrigated pastures, commencing in the summer (January) 1988, on a Templeton silt loam soil (Udic Ustochrept) by applying 35sulphur (35S)-labelled urine (250 μCi/g S with 1300 μg S/ml) to field plots (600 × 600 mm) at a rate equivalent to that normally occurring in sheep urine patches (150 ml/0·03 m2) to investigate the distribution, transformations and recovery of urinary S in pasture soil–plant systems and sources of plant-available soil S as influenced by the available soil moisture at the time of urine application and varying amounts of applied irrigation water. Results obtained showed that c. 55–90% of 35S-labelled urine was incorporated into soil sulphate (SO42−), ester SO42− and carbon (C)-bonded S fractions within the major plant rooting zone (0–300 mm), as early as 27 days after urine application. Hydriodic acid (Hl)-reducible and C-bonded soil S fractions showed no consistent trend of incorporation. On day 271, labelled-S was found in soil SO42−, Hl-reducible S and C-bonded S fractions to a soil depth of 500 mm, indicating that not only SO42− but also organic S fractions from soils and 35S-labelled urine were leached beyond the major rooting zone. A large proportion (c. 59–75%) of 35S-labelled urine was not recovered in pasture soil–plant systems over a 271-day period, presumably due to leaching losses beyond the 0–300 mm soil depth. This estimated leaching loss was comparable to that (75%) predicted using the S model developed by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture. The recovery of urinary S in soil–plant systems over a 271-day period was not affected by different amounts of irrigation water applied 7 days after urine application to soil at either 50 or 75% available water holding capacity (AWHC). However, significantly lower S recovery occurred when urinary S was applied to the soil at 25% AWHC than at field capacity, suggesting that urinary S applied at field capacity might not have sufficient time to be adsorbed by soil particles, enter soil micropores or be immobilized by soil micro-organisms. Both soil ester SO42− and calcium phosphate-extractable soil S in urine-treated soils were found to be major S sources for pasture S uptake. Labelled S from 35S-labelled urine accounted for c. 12–47% of total S in pasture herbage.

IMPROVEMENT OF: HILL COUNTRY PASTURES IN THE WELLINGTON PROVINCE

1949 ◽  
pp. 89-117
Author(s):  
F.E.T. Suckling
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Secondary Growth ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Sheep Population ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
National Importance ◽  
Tussock Grassland ◽  
Sown Area

Of the 5 1/4 million acres of total occupied land in the Wellington district nearly 4 million acres are in sown pasture, the remainder being bush, natural tussock grassland, scrub and secondary growth. Of this sown area a large proportion comprises hill-country farms running sheep and beef cattle and carrying an average of 1 to 2 sheep per acre. From the sheepfarming point of view the Wellington district is of major national importance, contributing nearly 22 per cent. of the total sheep population and almost 19 per cent. of the total beef cattle. The region as a whole carries the heaviest concentration of stock of all New Zealand.

scholarly journals Evaluation of air–soil temperature relationships simulated by land surface models during winter across the permafrost region

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1721-1737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenli Wang ◽  
Annette Rinke ◽  
John C. Moore ◽  
Duoying Ji ◽  
Xuefeng Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Permafrost Region ◽  
Simple Relationship ◽  
Land Surface Models ◽  
Cross Model ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Surface Models

Abstract. A realistic simulation of snow cover and its thermal properties are important for accurate modelling of permafrost. We analyse simulated relationships between air and near-surface (20 cm) soil temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere permafrost region during winter, with a particular focus on snow insulation effects in nine land surface models, and compare them with observations from 268 Russian stations. There are large cross-model differences in the simulated differences between near-surface soil and air temperatures (ΔT; 3 to 14 °C), in the sensitivity of soil-to-air temperature (0.13 to 0.96 °C °C−1), and in the relationship between ΔT and snow depth. The observed relationship between ΔT and snow depth can be used as a metric to evaluate the effects of each model's representation of snow insulation, hence guide improvements to the model's conceptual structure and process parameterisations. Models with better performance apply multilayer snow schemes and consider complex snow processes. Some models show poor performance in representing snow insulation due to underestimation of snow depth and/or overestimation of snow conductivity. Generally, models identified as most acceptable with respect to snow insulation simulate reasonable areas of near-surface permafrost (13.19 to 15.77 million km2). However, there is not a simple relationship between the sophistication of the snow insulation in the acceptable models and the simulated area of Northern Hemisphere near-surface permafrost, because several other factors, such as soil depth used in the models, the treatment of soil organic matter content, hydrology and vegetation cover, also affect the simulated permafrost distribution.

Surface erosion assessment in the South-Canterbury downlands, New Zealand using 137Cs distribution

Soil Research ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 787 ◽  
Author(s):  
LR Basher ◽  
KM Matthews ◽  
L Zhi
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
The South ◽  
Erosion And Deposition ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Radionuclide Tracer

Redistribution of the radionuclide tracer 137Cs was used to examine the pattern of erosion and deposition at two sites with contrasting long-term land uses (pasture and cropping) in the South Canterbury downlands, New Zealand. There were clear differences between the two land use types in variation in 137Cs concentrations and areal activity, erosion rates and topsoil depth variability. Erosion and deposition have resulted in greater variability and lower mean levels of 137Cs areal activity under cropping (46.3 mBq cm-2) than pasture (55.0 mBq cm-2). At the cropping site, erosion and deposition roughly balanced with the mean value over all sampling sites, suggesting no net soil loss, but considerable redistribution of soil within paddocks. At the pasture site results suggested slight net deposition. There was evidence for both sheet/rill and wind erosion being important in soil redistribution. While there was no difference in mean topsoil depth between pasture and cropping, there were significant differences with slope position. At the pasture site, there was little variation of topsoil depth with slope position, except for swales which tended to be deeper, whereas at the cropping site there was considerable variation in topsoil depth with slope position. Topsoil depth was a poor indicator of erosion status.

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