Importance of Lime in Southland Farming

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 84, Issue 3, 15 March 1952, Page 203

Importance of Lime in Southland Farming

By

W. FAITHFUL,

Fields Instructor, Department of Agriculture Invercargill .

LIME is an extremely important factor in high pasture production in Southland; in fact, it is the pivot around which the farming practice of the district revolves. During recent years the number of fat lambs sent to freezing works has shown a steady increase, the total for 1949 being four times that for 1929. Extremely high average yields for oats and wheat are also a feature of farming in Southland. To assist in maintaining this production the 13 quarries in the province produce between 300,000 and 350,000 tons of lime a year. BECAUSE of the rigorous winters, when pasture growth is virtually dormant, a standard of farm husbandry probably higher than in any other part of the Dominion is required in Southland. Adequate winter feed and maintenance of pasture production depend on several important factors, but there are two fundamentals: First, efficient drainage; secondly, adequate applications. of lime. Topography, climate, and soil types are all linked, and each has a bearing on the others. The basic topography of Southland is shown on the map on page 206. To the west lies the great bulk of the mountains of Fiordland, and this mountainous country is continued into the north and north-west. From these mountain systems run the everwidening valleys of the main rivers, which flow approximately south into Foveaux Strait. Parallel with the rivers are the Longwood Range, the Taringaturas, and the Hokonui Hills; the last are of particular importance, as they exert an influence on climate and rainfall in various areas. Rainfall Rainfall, an important climate factor in connection with liming, varies from 45 to 49in. in the coastal areas to 30in. in inland districts. The prevailing winds are from the south-west, and the storm clouds striking the western side and southern tip of the Hokonui Hills are diverted, so that there is higher precipitation on the west side of these hills than on the east. The Winton and Dipton districts west of the hills have an average rainfall of from 32in. to 37in., while Wendon, on the eastern side, has approximately 30in. The average rainfall in the Gore district is 34in. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed through the year, though the period of lightest rainfall is often during winter.

. An inch of rainfall represents approximately 100 tons of water per acre. It will be realised therefore that in Southland lime is quite readily leached or washed out -by water and is drained away, as the average yearly rainfall totals already mentioned represent between 3000 and 5000 tons of water per acre every year.

Increase in Sown Pasture During th past 20 years there has been a fairly steady increase in the acreage of sown pasture land in Southland, and through greater use of improved strains of grasses and clovers and increased liming and topdressing there has also been an extension of the growth period of pastures. In the last 20 years there has been a marked decline in dairy farming in favour of sheep farming, with emphasis on -lamb production. The trend of farm practice is toward grassland farming and limiting the use of the plough, commensurate with provision of adequate supplementary lamb-fattening feed and winter keep for stock. This does not mean that the acreage ploughed is negligible or that farming is confined to fat-lamb production. Approximately 30,000 acres of greenfeed crops, 100,000 acres of root crops, and 35,000 acres of grain are grown each year. In addition a considerable acreage of hay is saved and in a normal season approximately a third of the small seeds exported from New Zealand are grown in Southland. Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 show in detail the acreages of sown grasslands, supplementary feed, hay saved, and grain grown and the trend toward fat-lamb farming.

TABLE I—INCREASE IN AREA OF PASTURE LAND Average of Total area Area of 5-year period occupied Unimproved sown pasture acres ' acres acres 1924-25 to 1928-29 .. 3,240,169 1,906,368 1,117,876 1934-35 to 1938-39 .. 3,269,744 1,956,164 1,157,854 1944-45 to 1948-49 .. 3,283,809 *1,880,932 1,236,273 Season 1948-49 .. 3,234,299 1,855,584 1,223,307 * 4-year average— not available for 1944-45. TABLE 2—ACREAGES OF SUPPLEMENTARY FEED Average of Turnips, swedes, Hay 5-year period Green fodder and mangolds and silage acres acres acres 1924-25 to 1928-29 .. 26,683 111,177 7,481 1934-35 to 1938-39 .. 21,783 *108,757 19,402 (944-45 to 1948-49 .. 28,018 *109,802 34,372 Season 1948-49 .. 30,464 *107,355 40,835 * 1934-1949 turnips, swedes, mangolds, and rape.

The increase in the acreage of supplementary feed is consistent with the trend in fat-lamb production and the fattening of lambs « on feed. The acreage of turnips has declined, due in some measure to the extended growth period of improved pasture plants and to liming and

topdressing of them.

TABLE 3—ACREAGE AND YIELDS OF WHEAT AND OATS , Oats Wheat For chaff, hay, or silage For threshing Average of tons bushels bushels 5-year period acres per acre ' acres per acre acres per acre 1924-25 to 1928-29 .. 36,382 1.72 22,468 46.30 3,714 35.39 1934-35 to 1938-39 .. 33,332 1.84 16,678 53.08 3,944 35.79 1944-45 to 1948-49 .. 14,945 2.16 17,421 67.15 8,328 47.51 Season 1948-49 10,252 2.18 18.214 63.44 11,192 49.88 TABLE TREND TOWARD SHEEP FARMING Average of Dairy cows in milk Total cattle Breeding ewes 5-year period (incl. boroughs) (incl. boroughs) at 30 April Lambs tailed 1924-25 to 1928-29 .. 67,747 161,352 1,125,035 995,984 1934-35 to 1938-39 .. 70,573 162,972 1,808,326 1,677,145 1944-45 to 1948-49 .. 50,557 153,721 *2,344,043 -' 2,388,114 Season 1948-49 .. .. 50,919 162,010 2,516,397 2,557,628 * 4-year average—figures not available for 1945-46.

These yields are among the highest in the Dominion; in fact, the world record yield for wheat, 112 bushels per acre, is credited to Southland, Yields of chaff of up to 5 tons per acre have been recorded and yields of upward of 100 bushels of oats per acre are not uncommon. . . . , „ 14.-/ m An increase in sheep .population (see Table 4) has accompanied the increase m area of sown pastures. Table 4 shows that dairy cow num- , bers have decreased by 17,190 (by 5-year averages), but total cattle, including dairy cows have been reduced by only . 7631. The significant .figures are the increases in breeding ewes and lambs. As the sheep population of the tussock land has remained fairly constant, the extra sheep have been carried on the sowngrass lands. The figures of slaughterings of lambs, ewes, and cattle at the three Southland freezing works are also of interest, as they are directly linked to the cycle of improvement initiated by the use of lime in Southland.

TABLE S—TOTAL LAMBS, SHEEP, AND CATTLE SLAUGHTERED AT 30 SEPTEMBER Average of 5-year period Lambs Sheep Cattle 1924-25 to 1928-29 372,883 45,943 4,408 1934-35 to 1938-39 1,109,131 135,260 4,149 1944-45 to 1948-49 1,673,129 256,724 9,662 Season 1949-50 2,015,020 294,581 12,453

In addition a considerable number of animals are sent to works outside of animals are sent to woixs outside ooutniand. The use of lime has been one of the main factors in the steady increase in nrimarv nrndiirtinn in 0 ■<-th 1 n v-, primary production m Southland. That Southland farmers are fully aware of the necessity for adequate liming is shown by the fact that most of the 300,000 tons of lime produced in Southland a year is used in the jj* c’+y’-j a Tvy -i Ann ii-iAvizx A district. Fn 1928 there were 4 works (with an output of about 47,000 tons) in the district.

History of Liming Changes in farm practice in Southland have had a great influence on the use of lime there. When horses were used widely for draught extensive areas were used for the growing of oats for chaff. It was common for a number of consecutive crops to be taken and, though no artificial fertilisers or lime were used, good, payable yields were secured, but the virgin fertility of the land was quickly depleted. Some of the early settlers before they left for New Zealand had seen the benefit from liming land, but it was not until the adverse effects of grain cropping became evident that thought was given to the necessity for liming the newer land here. About 1880 a limeworks was started at Milburn, Otago, by Mr. James McDonald — was probably the first works in New Zealand the lime from this works was used in the Taieri district, Otago. The first record of lime being used in Southland was at Edendale in 1890. A report from “The New Zealand Journal of Agriculture” of 21 August 1916 reads: — The district of Southland and the adjoining districts of south Otago have been the pioneers in the use- of lime in connection with the agriculture of New Zealand. The first to use lime on an extensive scale in this country was the New Zealand and Australian Land Company on its Edendale Estate in Southland. The company made a beginning in 1890, during which year it limed about 200 acres. It continued the work until it disposed of the property in 1904, partly by sale and subdivision to settlers, and partly by sale to the Government for closer settlement. During these fourteen years the company limed about 6000 or 7000 acres with an average of about 2 tons of burnt lime per acre. The use of [burnt] lime on an extensive scale has been continued since 1904 by the settlers, and the Edendale and surrounding districts are now by far and away the best example of successful liming to be found in the Dominion. The credit for initiating and continuing this work belongs to the late Mr. Thomas Brydone, then superintendent in New Zealand for the Land

Company, and Mr. Donald Macdonald, who managed the Edendale Estate during the whole period that the company was using lime upon it. Burnt Lime and Carbonate of Lime The first lime used was burnt or “shell lime” as it was called; some of the earlier settlers had had previous experience of such lime and, furthermore, at this time the use of ground limestone or carbonate of lime was not known. The first limeworks in Southland to produce lime for agricultural purposes was started in 1883 at Limehills by the same James McDonald who opened the Milburn deposit. The Limehills kilns are still standing and were operated until a few years ago. Shortly after 1883 a small works was opened at Fairfax, where lime was being burnt by a Mr. Meek. The lime used on the New Zealand and Australian Land Company’s property at Edendale came from the Limehills works. In 1904 carbonate of lime was introduced to Southland farmers by J. E. Watson and Company Ltd., who opened a works at Forest Hill. This works was on the property of a Mr. Queale, who had had good results from spreading on his land limestone taken from the surface of the deposit. About the same time Mr. G. D. Mclndoe, an analytical chemist who had seen good results from the use of carbonate of lime in Great Britain, became keenly interested in the matter, . and he analysed many samples of limestone. However, development was slow. Farmers had become accustomed to the more spectacular response from the use of burnt lime and consequently were disappointed with the usually slower response from carbonate. Opposition to the use of carbonate of lime became marked; in fact, a product was the subject of litigation, which proved of intense local interest, as much expert opinion, which was by no means unanimous, was called. Though the case was won by the lime-producing company, the decision did little in helping to overcome opposition to the use of carbonate of lime.

An extensive campaign to foster the use of ground limestone was undertaken by Mr. Mclndoe, assisted by Mr. (later the Hon.) A. F. Hawke, and Mr. W. (later Sir William) Hunt. Mr. Hunt had not long returned from America, where carbonate of lime was being used successfully in agriculture.

Most of the meetings attended by the three enthusiasts were “very stormy”, and some were quite hostile, but they nevertheless paved the way for development. The works at Forest Hill were abandoned eventually, chiefly because lime had to be taken 5 miles over a rough bush tramway to the rail, but other works were opened. Development of Limeworks In 1901 the works at Limehills were taken over by J. G. Ward and Company Ltd., and a works at Browns was opened about 1912. (This works is now known as the Browns Lime Company.) In the same year a works was also opened at Clifden; it is now known as the Clifden Lime Company. . In 1917 Mr. J. Doherty, whose name is closely associated with the development of the use of lime in Southland and who had been keenly interested in the works at Browns, opened a quarry at Lady Barkly. Farmers in the various districts were not particularly interested in the opening of the works; in fact, large quantities of carbonate of lime (in total, hundreds of tons) were given to farmers to convince them of the good qualities of this form of lime. Another limeworks was opened by Mr. Doherty in 1919 at Centre Bush and is still operating. As farmers found that liming paid opposition to the use of carbonate of lime was steadily overcome and - works were opened up at Lady Barkly, Forest Hill, Fernhill, and Dipton, and another at Limehills. Land Classes and Lime Requirements Southland soils may be divided conveniently into two major classes, which correspond to a great extent with the topography of the farming land. In the river valleys is an alluvial deposit, which in the higher reaches of the

rivers is light and shingly and on the lower levels and toward the coastal area is a rich, deep, sandy loam. The second soil is a silt loam, which occurs on most of the rolling country. The texture of this loam varies considerably, from a medium, fairly free-work-ing soil to a very moisture-retentive type with a greater admixture of clay. The subsoil of the rolling country is generally compacted and can be mole drained successfully. Irrespective of their texture Southland soils all show response to liming. The silt loams of the rolling country, particularly those which are moisture retaining, generally require more lime than do the alluvial soils of the river valleys. On rolling country an application of 2j to 4g tons of carbonate of lime per acre from time of breaking up to sowing down has been found not only advantageous but necessary if best results are to be obtained from the sown pastures. Improvement of Downs Country An example of the improvement that has been made, and where this improvement has been closely linked with the use of lime, is a fairly extensive area of downs country of the Wai-mumu-Te Tipua district. This area is bounded on the east by the terrace of the Mataura River valley between Gore and Edendale and on the west by the Hokonui Hills. The soil is fairly light silt loam overlying a very

moisture-retentive subsoil; the original cover was red tussock. In the early days this land was held in extensive blocks and was used for the grazing of black poll cattle. After the' land had been subdivided the tussock was ploughed and sown in turnips, and this crop was followed by ryegrass for seed. Ryegrass usually did exceedingly well, yields of seed were heavy (50 bushels per acre was not uncommon), and the seed harvested was generally very clean; it sold at about 2s. 6d. to 3s. per bushel ex mill. As there was no clover bottom, the ryegrass quickly “went out” and was replaced by a vigorous growth of browntop, seed from which then became a source of income.

Farmers found that with application of lime white clover growth was greatly stimulated and consequently pastures lasted longer, which permitted an increase in the sheep-carry-ing capacity of the farms. More lime was applied, topdressing with artificial fertiliser and more lime followed, and carrying capacity was steadily built up until much of this land which was clothed in red tussock only a comparatively few years ago is now carrying between 2 and 3 ewes per acre.

A 400-acre farm in this district, where more than 3000 tons of lime

were used in about 14 years, may be quoted as an example of the progress made. The lime was applied at the rate of 4J tons per acre during the.first 3 years (2J tons per acre on the first furrow and a further 1 ton per acre in each of the following two seasons). Pasture was sown down during the final year and thereafter it was topdressed with 1 bag of superphosphate and scwt. of lime per acre each year. , Thp farm wb ,_ b w _„ takpn nvpr ._ -,norP e larm > wnicn was taKen over in 1935, was carrying about 350 sheep and was dominantly browntop and red tussock. . At present the 400 acres and the original homestead block, also of 400 acres, are carrying more than 2500 ewes, approximately 700 ewe hoggets, and about 80 head of cattle. All lambs other than ewe lambs kept for flock replacements are fattened, usually about 3000 per year.

Development in Wendonside District Another example where lime has played an important part in development is a farm in the Wendonside district. The soil on this farm, in contrast to that of the Waimumu farm quoted, is light, shingly terrace land. The farm of 960 acres was taken over in 1928 in a badly run-out condition; 300 acres had been extensively cropped and sown out in chewings fescue and the remainder was tussock. In the first year 200 ewes were purchased, but as the farm would not carry them, they were sold. A bare living was made from chewings fescue seed and the sale of summer grazing. In 1936 a plan of improvement was put into effect. Blocks were ploughed and fallowed for 1 year. One ton of carbonate of lime was then applied before sowing swedes and a further ton per acre before sowing grain the next season. The next ' year pasture was sown out and another ton of lime per acre applied; the pasture land has since been topdressed every second year with Bcwt. of lime and 2cwt. of superphosphate per acre. At present the farm is carrying 1500 ewes and 600 dry . sheep and is producing good crops of white clover seed. The two farms quoted are examples only of Southland farm practice. Similar though perhaps less spectacular results have been achieved by most Southland farmers from the use of lime. The lime requirement of the alluvial soils is not generally as high as is that of the downs country, and applications of 1 to 1| tons of lime on the first

furrow, followed by a further ton at sowing down, is usually sufficient for the terrace land and the river flats. Over-liming The question of over-liming, particularly on farms situated within certain areas of the Southland. Plain and on farms where the sheep concentration is between 4 and 5 ewes per acre, has been raised recently. The build-up in carrying capacity has been brought about by application of lime, plus improvement in pastures and topdressing, linked with a system of pasture management based on set stocking of paddocks from lambing time to weaning. Soil samples from some of these farms have been analysed and analyses have in many instances shown that, though the soils have not been overlimed, further application of lime is not necessary at present and the build-up in lime status may be affecting the balance of other minerals in relation to the lime present. Recent experimental work at Invermay Agricultural Research Station (Taieri) and at South Hillend indicate that applications of 2Joz. of sodium molybdate give responses in line with those which have been obtained from heavy dressings of lime, and further work is being undertaken to investigate the relationship of heavy liming and molybdenum - deficiency. Arable Land The breaking up of lea land for swedes for winter feed is necessary, as club root is one of the problems of Southland. To minimise the likelihood or severity of club root attack lea is ploughed and a dressing of 1 ton of carbonate of lime per acre (or on some farms 1 ton of burnt lime per acre if this can be procured) is applied, usually just before the final discing. Some farmers make the lime application early in the cultivation, thereby giving the lime more time to take effect before ridging of the swedes. Others contend that if lime is applied early, it is worked down into the soil and the benefit from it is lost; but

where there is risk of the development of club root the early application of lime is advocated. . When swedes are sown the fertiliser used is either a mixture containing a percentage of lime, superphosphate and lime in equal quantities, or reverted superphosphate. Usually the next crop is grain; if, however, a second brassica crop is taken instead of grain or if brassicas follow grain, a further application of 1 ton of lime per acre may be made, and at sowing down almost all farmers apply 1 ton of carbonate of lime per acre.

Pastures

The introduction of improved strains of grasses and clovers has had a direct bearing on the increased use of lime on pasture land; and, conversely, the steadily increasing quantity of lime being applied is influencing the quantity of Certified seed being used. Southland farmers, have learned that if the best results are to be obtained from the use of Certified grass seed for pasture mixtures, it is essential to have a vigorous white clover growth. The use of lime is a basic factor in obtaining this necessary . clover growth and thereby starting the cycle of building up fertility and consequent high production per acre. Lime is therefore also applied in conjunction with topdressing (see Table 6).

TABLE ACREAGE OF GRASSLANDS TOPDRESSED WITH LIME With lime only With lime and Year acres fertilisers 928-29 .. 77,548 30,222 tons 1938-39 .. 46,534 194,067 acres 1948-49 .. 128,052 227,941 acres

*ln 1928-29 agricultural and pastoral statistics enumerated only under the single heading of area topdressed with lime. Lime Supplies There are 13 lime quarries in Southland, and 11 of these are in western Southland. Until a works was opened in the Balfour district in 1935 all lime for eastern Southland (except that coming from Otago works) had to be railed from the west. The opening of the Balfour works had the full support of the farmers in the district, and this handy source has had a very significant influence on the development of farms throughout eastern Southland. There is another small works in eastern Southland at Waimumu, near Gore. To assist in maintaining the quality of the lime that is sent to farmers

official samples are drawn from each works at regular intervals. These samples are analysed for lime content and tested for fineness of grinding. The present cost of lime in Southland is 19s. per ton ex works. Transport and Distribution Improved facilities for transport and distribution are other factors which have had a great influence on increased use of lime in Southland. Southland is well served with rail transport, but the fact that 8 of the limeworks are fairly close to one another tends to create a bottleneck, particularly at periods of peak demand. Free railage on lime was abolished in 1947 and was replaced by a lime transport subsidy whereby the farmer was required to pay the full railage for the first 15 miles and was thereafter entitled to a 50 per cent, subsidy on railage. At the same time a subsidy on transport of lime by road was introduced, under which the farmer received 4d. per ton per mile after the first 3 miles. A revision in 1949 increased the rail subsidy to 75 per cent, after the first 15 miles and that on road haulage from 4d. to 6d. per ton per mile for parts of long road hauls. Because of the subsidy on road transport, the proportion of the total output of Southland limeworks that was conveyed by rail has dropped very substantially during the last few years; for example, in 1946 just over twothirds went by rail, but for the first 5 months of 1950 under one third was railed. B With lorry transport and a heavy truck fitted with a lime-sowing attachment 70 acres per day can be limed, using bagged lime, at the rate of 1 ton per acre, if the supply of lime is kept up to the spreader. Even if both carting and spreading are done by one lorry, it is possible for 3 men to cart and spread 30 tons of lime per day where the distance from source to paddock is 7 miles and an 8-ton load is taken at each trip.

In recent years rapid progress has been made in Southland with bulk spreading. The use of specially designed vehicles eliminates the need for bagging and these units, which are loaded in a few minutes at the works, can each cart 20 miles and spread 40 tons per day; on short hauls 100 tons per day can be exceeded. There is no handling and only a lorry driver is required. The cost of spreading is

between 3s. 6d. and 4s. per ton per acre on grassland and ss. per ton per acre on ploughed land. These vehicles can handle dried and undried lime, but damp lime tends to pack down hard during a long haul. Future Trends The peak periods of demand for lime are between October and December, when most of the crop and pastures are sown, and in 'May when lime is required for pasture topdressing. Production at the works must be carried on throughout the year; bin storage at the limeworks is limited and it is necessary therefore to devise means of securing more uniform production and distribution, thus lowering per ton production costs and making better use of road and rail transport. Stockpiling of lime has been tried successfully in parts of the North and South Islands, but has not been attempted on an extensive scale in Southland. Small stockpiles of dried lime have been made and the material has been spread successfully, a bulklime spreader with spinner distributor being used, even after being subjected to periods of wet weather. The development of stockpiling of undried lime in Southland depends on the suitability of the material for this purpose; a prerequisite for successful stockpiling is suitable lime and equipment. Most limes apparently can be stockpiled satisfactorily. The exception is material containing clay-like impurities, which become sticky and unmanageable when wet.

If stockpiling of Southland lime proves practicable, the cost of drying it (about 3s. per ton) would be eliminated and the problem of distribution throughout the year would be solved, but there are technical difficulties to overcome. Some of the works have been experimenting with stockpiling of undried lime; the chief difficulty is satisfactory pulverising and screening of this lime to conform with the fineness of grinding required. A further difficulty is that the organisation of most of the Southland works is such that the lime moves from the primary crusher to the drier and then in to the pulveriser, so that if the problems of pulverising and screening of undried lime are solved, extensive alterations will be required at these works to facilitate the production and loading of dried lime.

Though there have been great increases in the quantity of lime produced and used and though much of the flat and undulating country in Southland is now being adequately limed, there are still considerable areas to be brought up to the highest production. In these districts, generally the more hilly parts, there are areas with a high potential production. All Southland soils have benefited by liming in the past, and these “backblock” areas will also reauire adequate applications before their production can be raised substantially. The development of stockpiling and bulk sowing will probably play an important part in bringing this land up to the standard necessary for maximum production from it. Acknowledgments Thanks are expressed to Mr. J. McDonald, - Otikerama, Mr. J. Doherty, Winton, and to lime companies and mercantile firms for their assistance in supplying information, and to the Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Company Ltd. for the figures in Table 5.