title: Phosphorus Distribution In Relation To Soil Landscape Groups In Steep North Island Hill Country In New Zealand

authors: Arrowsmith, Max

subjects: Phosphorus

abstract: Phosphorus fertiliser is necessary to maintain the production of New Zealand hill country pastures. Technological advances in GIS and GPS have given aerial fertiliser applicators more precision than ever before.  The key question is; to what extent do soil chemical properties vary within hill country landscapes, and is a knowledge of the variability able to be used to differentially apply fertiliser, maximise P fertiliser use efficiency, and minimise P loss to waterways? The objective of this thesis was to quantify the phosphorus variability on Blue Duck Station, a summer-moist hill-country farm located in the Central North Island of New Zealand. The soil comprised Allophanic Soil (Andisols) on the flat to low slopes with Brown Soil (Inceptisols) on the steeper hills.
Blue Duck Station was delineated into six soil-landscape groups (north facing medium slopes, north facing steep slopes, south facing steep slopes, south facing medium slopes, flat ridge tops, and flat valley floors, based on slope, aspect, and elevation using GIS. Three replicate units were randomly selected from each of the six soil-landscape groups, which gave 18 study-sites in total. For each study site, one transect sample and five grid samples were collected. Olsen P, Anion Storage Capacity, pH, Sulphate-sulphur and Cations (Mg, Na, K, Ca) were determined.
The Olsen P ranged from a mean of 6.8 in the south facing medium slopes to 21.2 in the north facing medium slopes. North facing medium slopes and valley low floors had higher mean Olsen P values than all other landscape groups (P<0.01) and also had the greatest variability in Olsen P values. The majority of Olsen P values were considered ‘low’ or ‘very low’. Soil pH was consistent, ranging between 5 and 5.4, whilst anion storage capacity (ASC) levels ranged from 35% to 85%. High ASC levels indicated soils of volcanic origin, containing tephra, whereas low ASC levels were associated with soil predominantly derived from tertiary sedimentary rock.
At Blue Duck Station, the application of higher rates of P fertiliser to south facing steep slopes and south facing medium slopes, with medium rates of P fertiliser addition to north facing steep slopes and ridge low slopes would optimise fertiliser use. There is limited benefit in applying fertiliser to north medium slopes and flat valley floors as Olsen P is near optimal for this environment and stock transfer will continue to add nutrients to these areas.
The variability within a sample site (between grid and transect samples) was often greater than the range of variability the means across all the landscape groups. Due to such large sample variability, difficulties arise when attempting to recommend accurate fertiliser regime, or sampling programs. The soil analysis results from a small number of samples should be treated with caution.  
The Best Management Practice for soil sampling the Central North Island Hill Country would be to avoid sampling small exceptional areas like flat valley floors and flat ridge tops. Focusing sample regimes on a number of transects across northern and southern slopes would give more representative results.

text: Phosphorus Distribution In Relation To Soil Landscape Groups In Steep North Island Hill Country In New Zealand Phosphorus fertiliser is necessary to maintain the production of New Zealand hill country pastures. Technological advances in GIS and GPS have given aerial fertiliser applicators more precision than ever before.  The key question is; to what extent do soil chemical properties vary within hill country landscapes, and is a knowledge of the variability able to be used to differentially apply fertiliser, maximise P fertiliser use efficiency, and minimise P loss to waterways? The objective of this thesis was to quantify the phosphorus variability on Blue Duck Station, a summer-moist hill-country farm located in the Central North Island of New Zealand. The soil comprised Allophanic Soil (Andisols) on the flat to low slopes with Brown Soil (Inceptisols) on the steeper hills.
Blue Duck Station was delineated into six soil-landscape groups (north facing medium slopes, north facing steep slopes, south facing steep slopes, south facing medium slopes, flat ridge tops, and flat valley floors, based on slope, aspect, and elevation using GIS. Three replicate units were randomly selected from each of the six soil-landscape groups, which gave 18 study-sites in total. For each study site, one transect sample and five grid samples were collected. Olsen P, Anion Storage Capacity, pH, Sulphate-sulphur and Cations (Mg, Na, K, Ca) were determined.
The Olsen P ranged from a mean of 6.8 in the south facing medium slopes to 21.2 in the north facing medium slopes. North facing medium slopes and valley low floors had higher mean Olsen P values than all other landscape groups (P<0.01) and also had the greatest variability in Olsen P values. The majority of Olsen P values were considered ‘low’ or ‘very low’. Soil pH was consistent, ranging between 5 and 5.4, whilst anion storage capacity (ASC) levels ranged from 35% to 85%. High ASC levels indicated soils of volcanic origin, containing tephra, whereas low ASC levels were associated with soil predominantly derived from tertiary sedimentary rock.
At Blue Duck Station, the application of higher rates of P fertiliser to south facing steep slopes and south facing medium slopes, with medium rates of P fertiliser addition to north facing steep slopes and ridge low slopes would optimise fertiliser use. There is limited benefit in applying fertiliser to north medium slopes and flat valley floors as Olsen P is near optimal for this environment and stock transfer will continue to add nutrients to these areas.
The variability within a sample site (between grid and transect samples) was often greater than the range of variability the means across all the landscape groups. Due to such large sample variability, difficulties arise when attempting to recommend accurate fertiliser regime, or sampling programs. The soil analysis results from a small number of samples should be treated with caution.  
The Best Management Practice for soil sampling the Central North Island Hill Country would be to avoid sampling small exceptional areas like flat valley floors and flat ridge tops. Focusing sample regimes on a number of transects across northern and southern slopes would give more representative results.

year: 2013

title: Effects of a higher acute protein intake post muscle-damaging exercise on muscle recovery in older female endurance runners

authors: Neureuter, Zoe

subjects: muscle damage

abstract: Masters endurance athletes who train and compete in organised competitive endurance events, appear to take longer to recover after muscle-damaging exercise than younger athletes. A reduced sensitivity to increase skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in response to the anabolic stimuli of protein and exercise may be contributing to the slower repair and remodelling of muscle fibres. This decreased stimulus for MPS negatively affects recovery in this older cohort of athletes, although evidence supports the notion that the ingestion of a higher dose of protein than the current recommendation of 20 grams, post muscle-damaging exercise, demonstrates improvements in muscle function of male masters triathletes. However, the efficacy for a higher protein intake in female masters endurance athletes has not been established. 
Chapter 2 investigates the effects of ingesting a higher acute dose of protein (40 g) compared to the current recommended dose (20 g) on muscle recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage in older female (≥48 y) endurance runners. The study assessed muscle recovery by measuring isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the knee extensors, peak countermovement jump height, perceived muscle soreness, and flexibility prior to, and at 3 and 24 hours following a downhill running protocol, used to elicit muscle damage. The study recruited six well trained female endurance runners, 48 years of age and older (mean ± SD: age; 52 ± 5.6 y, body mass; 61.4 ± 6.2 kg) to take part in three downhill running trials,  each separated by one week. Participants consumed one of three energy matched (1190 kJ) recovery beverages immediately following the run. Beverage composition was either a 70 g carbohydrate placebo or one of two protein supplements; 20 g of protein and 50 g of carbohydrate, or 40 g of protein and 30 g of carbohydrate. The 40 g of protein had a likely small beneficial effect compared to the placebo (ES = 0.24 ± 0.5) and 20 g of protein (ES = 0.25 ± 0.29) for improving maximum voluntary contraction from baseline to 24 hours. The 40 g of protein had a likely small beneficial effect for improving countermovement jump height compared to 20 g of protein from baseline to 3 hours (ES = 2.9 ± 4.9), and to 24 hours compared to the placebo (ES = 0.32 ± 0.39) and 20 g of protein (ES = 0.27 ± 0.19). The 40 g of protein had an unclear effect on muscle soreness and flexibility. The findings of this current study suggest that the acute ingestion of 40 grams of whey protein isolate following muscle-damaging exercise, had a small beneficial effect on improving muscle function within 24 hours, in masters female runners.

text: Effects of a higher acute protein intake post muscle-damaging exercise on muscle recovery in older female endurance runners Masters endurance athletes who train and compete in organised competitive endurance events, appear to take longer to recover after muscle-damaging exercise than younger athletes. A reduced sensitivity to increase skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in response to the anabolic stimuli of protein and exercise may be contributing to the slower repair and remodelling of muscle fibres. This decreased stimulus for MPS negatively affects recovery in this older cohort of athletes, although evidence supports the notion that the ingestion of a higher dose of protein than the current recommendation of 20 grams, post muscle-damaging exercise, demonstrates improvements in muscle function of male masters triathletes. However, the efficacy for a higher protein intake in female masters endurance athletes has not been established. 
Chapter 2 investigates the effects of ingesting a higher acute dose of protein (40 g) compared to the current recommended dose (20 g) on muscle recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage in older female (≥48 y) endurance runners. The study assessed muscle recovery by measuring isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the knee extensors, peak countermovement jump height, perceived muscle soreness, and flexibility prior to, and at 3 and 24 hours following a downhill running protocol, used to elicit muscle damage. The study recruited six well trained female endurance runners, 48 years of age and older (mean ± SD: age; 52 ± 5.6 y, body mass; 61.4 ± 6.2 kg) to take part in three downhill running trials,  each separated by one week. Participants consumed one of three energy matched (1190 kJ) recovery beverages immediately following the run. Beverage composition was either a 70 g carbohydrate placebo or one of two protein supplements; 20 g of protein and 50 g of carbohydrate, or 40 g of protein and 30 g of carbohydrate. The 40 g of protein had a likely small beneficial effect compared to the placebo (ES = 0.24 ± 0.5) and 20 g of protein (ES = 0.25 ± 0.29) for improving maximum voluntary contraction from baseline to 24 hours. The 40 g of protein had a likely small beneficial effect for improving countermovement jump height compared to 20 g of protein from baseline to 3 hours (ES = 2.9 ± 4.9), and to 24 hours compared to the placebo (ES = 0.32 ± 0.39) and 20 g of protein (ES = 0.27 ± 0.19). The 40 g of protein had an unclear effect on muscle soreness and flexibility. The findings of this current study suggest that the acute ingestion of 40 grams of whey protein isolate following muscle-damaging exercise, had a small beneficial effect on improving muscle function within 24 hours, in masters female runners.

year: 2019

title: Legal responses to mental health: Is therapeutic jurisprudence the answer – the experience in New Zealand

authors: Toki, Valmaine

abstract: The orthodox understanding of ‘ethics’ encompasses a system of moral principles that define good and bad behavior. When applied to mental health, various jurisdictions, including New Zealand, have codified these principles together with the obligations on health service providers to meet these codified principles and standards. Underpinning this relationship is one of mutual trust where the physician has a responsibility, for example, to secure informed consent prior to any treatment. The existence of this therapeutic relationship can be applied when an offender who presents with a mental illness is subject to the criminal justice system.

text: Legal responses to mental health: Is therapeutic jurisprudence the answer – the experience in New Zealand The orthodox understanding of ‘ethics’ encompasses a system of moral principles that define good and bad behavior. When applied to mental health, various jurisdictions, including New Zealand, have codified these principles together with the obligations on health service providers to meet these codified principles and standards. Underpinning this relationship is one of mutual trust where the physician has a responsibility, for example, to secure informed consent prior to any treatment. The existence of this therapeutic relationship can be applied when an offender who presents with a mental illness is subject to the criminal justice system.

year: 2017