ADVANCES IN PUMICE LAND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Field experiments, conducted mainly on the severely phosphorus deficient pumice soils of the Rangitaiki Plateau, have shown tha: pasture and lucerne will establish rapidly and grow vigorously, provided: (1) The legume seed is inoculated and, preferably, coated. (2) The seed is sown very early in spring, into a consolidated seedbed. (3) A heady rate omf superphosphate is applied, 10 cwt/ac for pasure, and up to 20cwt/ac for lucerne. Drilling of some phosphate fertilizer with the seed is desirable. (4) Potassium and magnesium fertilizers are applied where neces sary. (5) The seedbed for lucerne is prepared with 1 ton/at lime. The base fertilizer for this crop should include copper and boron, and the seed should be drilled with 3 cwt/ac lime.