Key Points
- Soils under continuous maize silage production tend to maintain better soil quality (soil structural stability and carbon content) than soils under continuous maize grain production in the Waikato.
- The production of winter grass following maize silage appears to be important in maintaining soil quality over that in winter fallow maize grain systems.
- In Gisborne, soil quality (structural stability and carbon content) in maize/squash rotations followed by winter cover crops (grass or mixes) is equal to or better than winter fallow maize/squash rotations managed with controlled trafficking.
- Long-term use of controlled trafficking with strip tillage may yield soil quality benefits.