Grazing management is linked to increased soil carbon in southern NSW

2016

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) Douglas Alcock (Graz Prophet Consulting)
Jason Condon (Charles Sturt University)
Mark Conyers (NSW DPI)
Richard Greene (Australian National University)
Stephen Morris (NSW DPI)
Brian Murphy (NSW Office of Environment)
Susan Orgill (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Berridale, NSW
Further information View external link
Grazing management is linked to increased soil carbon in southern NSW locations
Aims

This study compared OC and nitrogen (N) stocks at the conclusion of a five-year grazing trial on a fertilised native pasture in south-eastern Australia.

Key messages

• Grazing treatment had no influence on pasture sward composition when averaged over seasons.
• Grazing, rather than the type of grazing management, increased soil carbon under native pastures.
• Soil under cell-grazed pastures had a significantly greater carbon stock to 0.30 m compared with ungrazed pastures (32.9 t C/ha vs 25.6 t C/ha), however, there was no difference between cell and tactically grazed (29.5 t C/ha) pastures.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Monaro Research, Development and Demonstration of Sustainable Grassland Management Project 2005–10 for trial and pasture data. This paper was part of a PhD thesis through Charles Sturt University and is published in the journal: Land Degradation & Development. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2560.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Other crop: Grasses
Treatment type(s)
  • Grazing
  • Grazing: Type
  • Soil Properties: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Berridale 2016

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

The grazing treatments selected for this study were located within a high fertiliser treatment, with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) broadcast before grazing started. The high fertiliser treatment aimed to rapidly achieve the Colwell P target (>30 mg/kg) with 250 kg/ha of single superphosphate applied annually in autumn, after which the maintenance phosphorus (P) was applied based on the stocking rate. In 2006, gypsum (125 kg/ha) was applied to address sulphur (S) deficiencies.

Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Berridale, NSW Chromosol
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Berridale, NSW Tenosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Berridale NSW
2016 363.5mm
2015 347.8mm
2014 340.3mm
2013 316.1mm
2012 395.5mm
2011 366.5mm
2010 353.2mm
2009 268.1mm
2008 263.4mm
2007 295.0mm
2006 307.3mm
2005 356.7mm
2004 287.8mm
2003 253.4mm
2002 287.2mm
2001 330.0mm
2000 318.0mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Berridale NSW

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2016 trial report



Trial last modified: 07-06-2023 14:46pm AEST