Relationships between soil biota, nitrogen and phosphorus availability, and pasture growth under organic and conventional management

Legume-based pastures generally rely on soil biological activity to provide nitrogen (N) for plants. This study examined seasonal pasture growth in nine adjacent hill pastures, under sheep or beef, with different long-term managements, including certified organic, no fertilizer, and conventional fertilizer application, that formed a soil-fertility sequence. We determined relationships between net N mineralization, as a measure of soil biological activity and N availability, and microbial biomass, soil organic matter, and fauna. Net N mineralization generally explained differences in pasture production (r = 0.87). On an areal basis, net N mineralization was strongly related (r = 0.93) to total soil N (0–200 mm depth) and negatively related (r = −0.92) to soil C:N ratio, but not to soil C. Total N and C:N ratios were related to soil phosphorus (P) status and probably past N fixation by legumes. Where labile P was low, the N:P ratios of both soil microbes and enchytraeids were wide, and the organisms appeared to be P limited, possibly competing with plants for P. Faunal grazing on soil micro-organisms appeared to release P. We could find no convincing evidence that net N mineralization, pasture growth or soil biological diversity increased under organic farming. Rather, the data from organic pastures followed similar trend lines to data from pastures under conventional management.