FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 120, 7 February 1940, Page 2

FARMING NOTES

(Continued from Monday) LARGEST DISTRICT 1 . Rangltaiki Plains: This area is by far the largest (list: Let devoted Li> dairying in the Fastern Bay of Plenty — -being some 80,000 acres in extent and producing approximately i,IOO tons of butter annually. It lies between Mntata and AYiuikatmnj ilorig I he same coast, and penetrates inland beyond the township of Etlgoeum.be. Originally a vast swamp lagoon, the suit of this area is somewhat variable in places, but in the main it consists of a mixture of peal and volcanic ash, the latter having eiflier washed down by rivers from Ihc hinterland and* distributed over Liu? lower b T ing country, or else directly distributed by past volcanic activity. The natural fertility of the average soil is fairly high, but, like most other soils of the North Island, it is definitely deficient in phosphoric acid. Accordingly, some form of phosphate is imperative to bring ihe level of this important element sufficiently high to permit the normal development of the better species of pasture plants, such as ryegrass and white clover. For this pur pose superphosphate, applied in the autumn at the rate of 3 cwts. per acre, has proved very satisfactory. Basic slag has also responded well at times, but seldom better than superphosphate. Furthermore, when the extra cost and added difficulty of handling is taken into consideration, it is doubtful whether its use

is warranted. Experiment With Lime. Lime has also been experimented with at the rate of one ton per acre as an initial dressing, followed by regular annual dressings of 5 cwts. For the most part the results have been very poor. What effect lime has under these conditions on animal health and productiveness, is, however, another matter; but, in

view of t lie fact that superphosphate and the other phospliatic fertilisers contain up to 50 per cent, and more of lime in some form,, it seems hardly likely that livestock will greatly benefit by additional applications where these are not shown to result, to at least some extent, in pasture improvement. Potash responses have also been poor, even after a number of years of regular topdressing at the rate of 2 ewts per acre. This being so, farmers will readily appreciate that lesser amounts than 2 ewts, applied more or less spasmodically, are not likely to do much good. To sum up, therefore, I would say, that from the viewpoint of general efficiency, there is no better fertiliser for topdressing purposes than superphosphate. Time and potash do not appear to be required at the present time, unless it can be definitely shown that animal health benefits as a result of their use. In the absence of carefully controlled experiments, however, this is difficult to prove. 2. Onepu: Tin's is a district that ;ies sou Mi of Edgeeumbe and Te Teko along the Whakatane-Rotorua road, and is typical of an extensive area of country yet to be developed. Its soil is mainly the product of tlie Tarawera eruption of 1886. The volcanic ash, of which it consists, is coarse and gravelly, definitely lacking in humus, and consequently poor, in moisture holding ability and essential plant food. Pastures do reasonably Ave 11 if suitably topdressed, and provided with a well distributed rainfall. However, they suffer severely during prolonged spells of dry weather such as that experienced in the last two years. Without phospliatic topdressing, grass establishment a.nd subsequent growth is very unsatisfactory, while clovers fail to grow at all. Since the clovers, principally white clover, provide nitrogen which is required by the grasses for normal development, it is essential that these plants be fully encouraged to make good to some extent the task of humus in the soil. For this purpose some form of phosphate is necessary. Topdressing experiments indicate that superphosphate" and-basic slag give almost an equal response on this soil type; but superphosphate, being cheaper to purchase, would be more economical. A satisfactory application is 3 ewts per acre applied in the autumn.

Lime gives practically no response, even when used at the rate ->r one ton per acre as an initial

.iressing, and 5 cwts per annum thereafter. It is extremely doubtful. therefore, whether expenditure :>n the small dressings applied by most farmers is justified. Potash, like lime, gives little or 110 increase in the quantitj r of heritage produced, nor does it alter the sward composition to any degree. Thus, it would appear that the use of potash is definitely not warranted on this particular soil type--at least for some time to come. liriei'y therefore, I consider that superphosphate, used at 3 cwts per acre, is eminently suitable for pumice soils of the Tarawera type where an adequate amount of humus is present. In th absensce of a ■ sufficiency of humus, however, coupled with a low rainfall no artificial fertiliser is of much avail.

3. Whakatane-Tancatua: Under this heading I have included all the territory lying between the townships of Wliakatane and Taneatua; the Opouriao Valley and Ruatoki. In all a considerable extent of country with soil types ranging from river silts to sub-aerially deposited pumice ash. Although essentially an important dairying district, there are also a few sheep {'arms "occupying parts of the hill country that runs up from the Wliakatane River Valley.

Generally speaking, the deeper hill country is low in fertility with the result that much of it has now gone out of use owing to the cost and difficulty of topdressing it. The easier, ploughable type of h;U county, however, such as at Ruatoki for instance, is used for dairying. Given reasonable management, it carries really excellent pastures cf high productivity. Phosphates arc the chief form of fertiliser required by this soil type. Once again, experiments have shown that superphosphate gives as good a response as anj r phosphate. Potash shows considerable promise of exerting a beneficial elfect on sward composition •'and growth, but experiments have not been going sufficiently long to enable a definite pronouncement to be made at this stage. Lime, on the other hand, has given no indication whatsoever of fulfilling a useful purpose on this class of country.

The river silt areas vary somewhat in quality according to the deposition of pumiceous silt and tlie amount of decomposed vegetable matter incorporated in it. In places the beds of river shingle are covered by only a few inches of silt, while in other places a silt-humus covering of several feet is not uncommon. Fortunately, the latter soil type occupies the major part of the area. On the soil type, both superphosphate and basic slag give very good results. However, the former, being the cheaper of the two, would more generally used. - On some of the older settled farms, lime appears to produce o slight improvement in the growth

of pastures, but on the newer country there is no indication that lime is be.ncficial. On the other hand, the position regarding potash is rather obscure at the moment. Further experimental work is necessary before advice can be tendered on this question.