Abstract The effects of intensity of treading by sheep during winter (0, 900, and 1800 sheep ha–1) on soil physical properties and pasture yield were studied for 3 years on a newly sown ryegrass‐white clover pasture in Southland. Intensive winter treading in wet conditions caused considerable visual soil pugging and pasture damage. Macroporosity (percentage of pores > 30 μm) at 0–5 cm was significantly reduced from 11.1% in the control to 10.2% and 9.4% in the 900 and 1800 sheep ha–1 treatments, respectively. Winter treading reduced soil earthworm numbers at 0–5 cm, but not at 0–20 cm. Soil macroporosity showed some improvement between the post‐winter‐treading and summer periods from natural soil rejuvenation processes. Soil macroporosity at 0–5 cm significantly increased from 9.4% after the winter treading periods to 11.3% in the summer periods. Macroporosity at 5–10 cm showed a decreasing trend after sowing, while saturated hydraulic conductivity increased during the 3‐year period.
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