INFLUENCE OF RADIATA PINE-SEEDLINGS ON CHEMICAL-PROPERTIES OF SOME NEW-ZEALAND MONTANE GRASSLAND SOILS

Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) and cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata) were grown in small pots containing grassland soils collected from seven sites in the South Island montane zone. After one year the overall mean dry matter yield of pine exceeded that of grass by a factor of 2.6, and uptake of all nutrients by pine was substantially greater. Mean soil pH was 0.3 units lower after pine growth than after grass. Organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and organic phosphorus (P) levels were 15-19% lower after pine, while total P was 7% lower. Despite greater nutrient uptake by pine, mean mineralisable N and sulphate sulphur (S) levels in the soil were 500% and 200% higher respectively after pine growth than after grass. Inorganic and Bray-2 P levels were 10% and 20% higher respectively. Grass obtained almost all of its P from the inorganic pool, while pine obtained P from both inorganic and organic pools, though mostly from the latter. It is concluded that the differences observed in C, N, and P concentrations in soil indicate higher rates of mineralisation of soil organic matter in the presence of radiata pine than in the presence of cocksfoot grass. Possible implications for pastoral hill land use in New Zealand are discussed. It is suggested that pines incorporated into fanning systems either on a rotational basis, or in wide-spaced agroforestry regimes, may be able to increase the rate of mineralisation of organic P, and also of N and S, and increase their availability to pasture species.