1120 Rockwood Road Field Day 4th May 2023

At this inspiring field day, hosted by Brent Isbister and Sue Coker, we introduced the physiographic approach to South Canterbury.

Physiographic factors (climate, soils and geology) are the dominant control of variation in water quality and greenhouse gases emissions. This means the risks of farming varies significantly from farm to farm and even from one part of a paddock to another.

One way of thinking about the physiographic approach is the journey water takes through the landscape as it moves from the land surface, through or across the soil, and into groundwater or surface water - the transfer pathway.

Contaminants such as nitrate, sediment, phosphorous and E.coli are substantially modified as they move along the pathway.

Return for effort is usually better, the nearer to the source an intervention is applied. For example, it can be much cheaper to minimise sediment loss through changes to cultivation practice, than trying to…