The nutritional status of a sequence of Southland Plains soils of various fertility levels : A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Lincoln College University, Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

The study undertaken by the author deals with a soil sequence over a narrow range of soils, southern yellow brown earths, on the Southland Plains. The soil sets in this sequence are Mataura, Gore, Edendale, Waikiwi and Mokotua. On each of these soil sets, soils have been collected from three different situations namely:- 1. Unimproved 2. Ex farm with medium fertilizer and lime usage in the past. 3. Ex farm with high fertilizer and lime usage in the past. However, with the Mokotua and Mataura soil sets, no sites could be found with a history of medium fertilizer and lime usage. These soils were included in a pot experiment, where the lime, phosphorus, potassium and molydenum requirements of white clover were investigated.