Download Leaching losses from diverse pasture following conversion from lucerne

The objective was to compare leaching losses of N and P from diverse pastures, consisting of 5-8 species, with losses from traditional ryegrass-white clover at two sites, near Lincoln, Canterbury and Tihoi, Waikato. Large-scale lysimeters were employed to directly measure leaching for a range of management intensities and across different soil types over four years. The results did not show a consistent difference in leaching between the two pasture types. However, pasture establishment was variable across the sites, with high losses recorded during drainage events that occurred when pasture establishment was incomplete. These results suggest timing of management activities, such as cultivation and irrigation, is likely more important than pasture species composition for reducing leaching losses.