EARTHWORMS IN SOUTHERN NORTH ISLAND HILL PASTURES

Abstract

Earthworm populations were measured in hill pastures, near Woodville, which were rotationally grazed or set stocked by sheep, or rotationally grazed by cattle. For each grazing management there were two fertiliser treatments: high and low superphosphate application, and sampling sites were located within each of three slope and three aspect classes. Earthworm weight was greater in sheep-grazed than in cattle-grazed areas (91 vs 45 s/r+), was higher in high than in low fertiliser areas (93 vs 75 g/mz), and declined with increasing slope of measurement site. There was also a greater number of earthworms in sheep~grazed compared with cattle~grazed areas (645 vs 270/n+), earthworm numbers declined with slope, and aspect influenced earthworm numbers (SW