This 2004 report is the product of a Sustainable Farming Fund programme and was written by staff at Crop & Food Research (now Plant & Food Research).
It describes a version of the soil quality management system (SQMS) that was developed specifically for use on Southland arable and mixed cropping farms. It also contains a set of Best Management Practice Recommendations aimed at helping farmers to maintain soil quality within the optimum range to ensure the production of high yielding crops with minimal impact on the wider environment.
Southland SQMS addresses:- surface compaction
- subsurface compaction
- soil porosity and aeration
- soil aggregate stability
- soil chemical fertility
- biological health