Seasonal differences in the soil water balance under perennial and annual pastures on an acid Sodosol in southeastern Australia

Abstract

SummaryReplacement of native deep‐rooted grasses by shallow‐rooted ones has resulted in greater losses of water and nitrogen by drainage. To counter this effect we have tested the hypothesis that liming, and the conversion of annual grass pastures to perennial grass pastures, could improve the sustainability of grazing systems in the high rainfall zone (> 600 mm per annum) in southeastern Australia, through better use of water and nitrogen. A field experiment consisting of sixteen 0.135 ha (30 m × 45 m) grazed paddocks representing four pasture combinations (annual pasture (mainly Lolium rigidum) without lime (AP–); annual pasture with lime (AP+); perennial pasture (mainly Phalaris aquatica) without lime (PP–), and perennial pasture with lime (PP+)) was carried out from 1994 to 1997 on an acid Sodosol (Aquic Hapludalf) in southern New South Wales, Australia. Measurements were made of surface runoff, subsurface flow (on top of the B horizon) and soil water content. The results showed that perennial grass pastures, especially PP+, extracted approximately 40 mm more soil water each year than the annual grass pastures. As a result, surface runoff, subsurface flow and deep drainage were at least 40 mm less from the perennial pastures. These measurements were further supported by a simulation of soil water deficit and deep drainage for AP– and PP+ paddocks, using 10 years' past meteorological records. Overall, the results suggested that well‐grown, phalaris‐based pastures could reduce recharge to groundwater and make pastoral systems more sustainable in the high rainfall zone.