Wind erosion of a soil in north Canterbury

Abstract

Abstract Measurements were made of soil loss from an overdrilled and heavy-rolled paddock supporting lucerne on a Glasnevin soil in north Canterbury during strong north-westerly winds on 17 and 18 April 1981. Seventy t/ha of topsoil was transported and deposited in the lee of a windbreak on the downwind side of the source paddock. Soil was deposited in a band extending 3 ✖ tree height on the windward side of the windbreak and 7 × tree height on the leeward side. Sand-sized aggregates and particles made up the bulk of this material. The wind-blown soil contained high levels of plant nutrients including available P equivalent to 73 kg of superphosphate/ha.