NEW ZEALAND. DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
R. B. MILLER
Director
SOIL BUREAU BULLETIN 35
SOILS OF PART OF THE PORT HILLS AND ADJACENT PLAINS, CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND
by
E. GRIFFITHS
Soil Bureau, DSIR
Havelock North
1974 Wellington Price: $4.50 Edited by Janice C. Heine, Soil Bureau, and Q. W. Ruscoe, Information Service, DSIR
ISSN 0077-9644
O Crown Copyright 1974
PRINTER, WELLINGTON, ZEALAND-1974 A. R. SHEARER, GOVERNMENT NEW 32333D-1,580/8/74 A CONTENTS
page
Abstract 5
......
Introduction 5
......
Geology and Geomorphology
Port Hills 5
...... Adjacent Plains 7
......
Climate 7
......
Vegetation 9
......
Soils 11
...... Yellow-grey Earths 11
...... Upland Yellow-brown Earths 15
...... Brown Granular Loams 16
...... Steepland Soils Related to Brown Granular Loams 20 . . . . Soil Complexes 20 Gley Soils ...... 23
...... Saline Gley Recent Soils 24
...... Gley Recent Soils 26 Yellow-brown Sands ...... 27
...... Organic Soils 27
......
Erosion 28
......
Land Use 28
......
Classification of Soils for Land Use 29
......
Acknowledgments 29
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References 29
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Appendix: Soil Profile Descriptions 30
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Soils Index 36
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Soil map of part of the Port Hills and adjacent plains, Canterbury, New Zealand Scale 1 : 31 680. Pocketed inside rear cover
Extended legend of soil map: Summary of soil and some agricultural properties of soil mapping units. With Explanatory Notes.
Pocketed inside rear cover
3
Insett Tables page
1 Correlation with other soil surveys 11
...... 2 Soils arranged pedologically I2 .. . .. 3 3 Soils arranged physio graphically I ......
Figures page
1 Locality map 6
...... 2 Relationship of soils to parent material and climate 7 .. .. 3 Location of rain gauge sites 8
. . . . 4 Relationship of elevation to rainfall 9 .. . .. 5 Soils of Upper Lansdowne Valley; complexes and an intergrade of a complex 10
. . . . . 6 Profile of Takahe silt loam I4 ...... 7 Valley near Taitapu, with Takahe hill soils, Takahe silt loam, Waikuku sand, and Horotane silt loam I5 ...... 8 Profile of Summit silt loam 17
. .. . . 9 Profile of Cashmere silt loam I 8 .. . . 10 Profile of Rapaki clay loam 19 ...... 11 Profile of an intergrade of the Summit-Rapaki complex 22 . . 12 Profile of an intergrade of the Rapaki-Summit complex 23 . . 13 Profile of an intergrade of the Rapaki-Summit complex, overlying loess 24
...... part Soils of of the Port Hills and adjacent plains, Canterbury, New Zealand
by
E. GRIFFITHS
N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 35, 1974. 36 pp, map, extended legend.
ISSN 0077-9644
ABSTRACT
The survey area can be divided into two distinct physiographic units-the Port Hills and the adjacent plains. The soils of the hills are formed on basalt, loess, and mixtures of basalt loess in proportions from pure basalt pure loess. There is distinct and varying ranging to a climatic gradient from subhumid on the plains and lower parts of the hills, to humid on the upper parts of the hills above 275-300 m. This is reflected in the soils - the zonal soils are yellow-grey earths on the lower parts of the hills, and yellow-brown earths on the upper parts. Brown granular loams (intrazonal soils) are formed on dominantly basaltic material. plains from On the adjacent the soils are recent, formed on alluvium derived the Wai- makariri River system and lacustrine sediments. The soils near Lake Ellesmere are strongly from it less saline and those away are saline.
IN TR O DUC TION
is physiographic part The area surveyed on the eastern margin of the units - the south-west to western of Canterbury Plain and on the western end of Banks the Port Hills, and the adjacent plain from Taitapu to Christchurch figure Motukarara. Peninsula, to the south of ( 1). Most of the area is in Halswell County, shown on The survey was made to complete soil information on NZMS2, sheets S84/4 and S84/7. It covers approx- a part of the Port Hills and plains which was considered imately 13 100 hectares* and is bounded by Lake a likely area for the growth of Christchurch. Basic soil plains Ellesmere in the south, Paparua County and Ellesmere information on both the hills and was required planning purposes, County in the west, Heathcote County in the north, and for the Summit Road in the east. It includes two distinct
GEOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY
PORT HILLS The hills are partly covered by a mantle of loess. The thickest deposits are found on north-facing slopes at low elevations (i.e., up to 270 m above sea level), although The Port Hills are the north-western to south-western some deposits on rolling tops near the summit are also sides of the erosion caldera that surrounds the volcanic thick. On moderately steep, south-facing slopes at lower crater centred on Lyttelton Harbour. Remnants of the elevations, and on all moderately steep slopes at higher main cone are andesitic with basalt occurring on the elevations, little or no loess remains. Loess deposition flanks at Halswell and Otahuna (Speight 1916). How- in Canterbury occurred mainly during the late Pleistocene ever, Liggett and Gregg (1965) suggest that the main flow and probably covered all the Port Hills. Under the peri- types are a mixture of andesite and basalt. The volcanic glacial conditions that would have existed in the Port material also consists of basaltic ash, tuff, agglomerate, Hills at that time, frost-lift and freeze-thaw would have vesicular basalt, scoriaceous basalt, and basic lava flows. mitiated erosion of the loess almost as soon as it was in Gebbies Pass area a series of slates and greywacke the deposited. Downslope movement initiated by prominent hills these is exposed, with rhyolite forming the on processes would have most effect on the shadier south- west side of the Pass. the facing slopes, which would remain frozen for consider- able periods during winter. Some of loess has *1 acre =0.4047 hectare the the
5
Inset l* (Speight 1916). Distinct been redeposited on lower slopes. Several distinct layers trench-like with steep sides formed heads of loess can be recognised, apparently deposited at differ- amphitheatres have at the of some of the found larger Streams which are mainly consequent ent times (Raeside 1964). Not all the layers are valleys. place do in cut subsequent valleys at any one and the thickness of those that character are now tending to diminutive inter- appear may vary considerably. and the subsequent tributaries are little in The structural features of the erosion caldera are mittent torrents that carry or no water the flat, residual sections of the volcanic cone, bounded by steep summer. In the lower reaches the valleys are owing carry loads. valleys which join in their higher reaches. These valleys to aggradation of streams unable to their Of on south-west radiate from the cone with their streams cutting back the spurs separating the valleys the dip slopes are longer towards the crater. They run in the direction of the and west of the caldera, the northern gentler Of few spurs running of the lava, at right angles to the strike, and are and than the southern. the
RNER PEGASUS BAY VVAIMAKARlRI
CHRISTCHURCH N
Halswell
ror
Taitapu
BANKS PENINSULA Motukarara
Lake 1 Akaroa ,
CANTERBURY B/GHT
Survey area
Port Hills
Main roads
0 10 km
Figure 1 Locality map of survey area. north-west/south-east, both slopes tend to be short and ADJ ACENTPLA IN S steep. As the spurs descend from the summit, they level out at about 230 m above sea level for some distance Alluvium derived from the Waimakariri River system before continuing down to the plains, and this levelling- occurs on the plains, together with lacustrine deposits out is accompanied by a change from a rough hilly of the old Lake Ellesmere (which was much larger than present surface, with numerous outcrops of volcanic material, the lake and reached as far inland as Taitapu). patches plains to a smooth rolling surface. This change of slope may Small of loess have been found on the be a bench marking a former sea level (Speight op. cit.), outside the old lake margin. Remnants of an inter- but no evidence has been found to support this view; or mediate terrace of the Waimakariri fan exist to the the levelling-out may mark the end of a lava flow. south of Taitapu. Beach ridges associated with the Before reaching plains level, at or below 30 m, there is littoral zone of the old Lake Ellesmere rise to a height often another levelling-out (fgure 2). of 4.6 m at the mouths of the valleys north of Motu- The Port Hills reach a maximum altitude of 573 m karara and across the plain south of Taitapu. The plains at Coopers Knob, with most of the summit ridge being at Motukarara are only about 2 m above sea level, and 460 m above sea level. they rise to about 6 m near Taitapu.
CLIMATE
Rainfall records have been kept by the North Canterbury of rain per annum, and the higher parts (over 300 m,) Catchment Board, for Hoon Hay Valley and Cashmere about 1 020 mm. The rainfall on the plains is probably Valley since 1962. Eight rain gauges (fgure 3) are sited fairly well represented by that shown by the rain gauges in various parts of the catchment, ranging from valley at Lincoln and Christchurch which have an average of floor to the summit. Although figures are available for 633 mm and 668 mm per annum respectively. Most of only 6 years, the relative differences in rainfall are shown the rain is directional, coming from the south-west, to be consistent over this period (fgure 4) and give a fair the stations on the south-west side receiving more rain indication of the shadow aspect and altitude effect on the than those on the north and north-west. Otabuna, rainfall. which is in the south of the survey area, has an average Elevation in itself is not important, as shown by of 810 mm, while Rhodes Home in the north has an gauge 3 on Worsley Road, which is at 366 m yet has the average of 686 mm per annum. The south-west wind has gauges lowest rainfall of all other than Christchurch a convectional current in which the saturated air masses ground (gauge 9). The highest rainfalls recorded in the catch- deposit rain on the first high that they meet. gauges ment were at 2 and 4 at altitudes of 335 m and Most of the rain, therefore, is released on the south-west gauges peninsula 381 m respectively. These are on different side of the (Mr A. P. Ryan, N.Z. Meteoro- topography: gauge 2 (Kennedy Bush Road) is on the logical Service, Ministry of Transport, pers. comm.). crest of a rolling part of a spur, and gauge 4 is at the head Unofficial records from farmers also show that the south- of the C’ashmere Valley near the Summit Road. There west side of the Port Hills has more rain than the north- is no simple explanation of the differences but in general west side. the lower slopes and valley floors receive about 760 mm
SUBHUMID CLIMATE HUMID CLIMATE
Takahe soils (from loess) Summit soils (from loess) Altitude Cashmere soils (from basalt) Rapaki soils (from basalt) m
150 -
Plains I
O 1km NW Horizontal scale SE
Figure 2 Topographic SE-NW parent section along one of the spurs of the caldera to show relationship of soils to material and climate,
7 6 ., 300 e
o 3 * oa 2
tSo o
e 4 ce GOVERNORS BAY Summit
0 1 km
GAUGE SITES- -RAIN
1 Hoon Hay valley floor 5 Sign of Kiwi
2 Kennedy Bush Road 6 Cashmere valley side
3 Worsley Road 7 Dyers Pass Road
4 Summit Road 8 Cashmere valley floor
Elevation in metres
Cashmere supplied by North Canterbury Catchment Board.) Figure 3 Location of rain gauge sites in Hoon Hay and catchments. (Data
8 Rain Sites gauges (altitudes) cot co e 9 Christchurch (6-7m)
8 Cashmere valley floor - (61m)
7 Dyers Pass Road (244m)
6 Cashmere valley side - (152m)
5 Sign of Kiwi (335m)
4 Summit Road (381m)
3 Worsley Road (366m)
2 Kennedy Bush Road (335m)
1 Hoon Hay valley.floor . (15m) 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 mm Rainfall
Figure 4 Annual rainfall in Hoon Hay and Cashmere catchments, also Christchurch, 1963-1968, to show relationship of elevation to rainfall. (Data supplied by North Canterbury Catchment Board.)
The climate is subhumid on the plains and lower parts exceeds evapotranspiration sufficiently to give a surplus of the hills, and humid on the higher parts of the hills. for leaching. The relationship of soils to parent material and climate Freeze-and-thaw is still an important erosional factor is shown in jigure 2. at higher elevations on the south (shady) slopes of spurs, The soils of the subbumid climate suffer little leaching, but has less effect on the soils of the north (sunny) slopes, but on soils of the humid climate of the hills, rainfall
VEGETATION
podocarp According to early vegetation maps held by the Depart- of mixed forest occurred on the summits and ment of Lands and Survey, the vegetation of the valley for some distance down the south-facing shady faces. general, floors was mostly raupo (Typha orientalis) swamp, with Today, in the vegetation is more related to flax (Phormium tenax), toetoe (Cortaderia richard#), and management than to soils and climate. The valley floors bracken (Pteridium aquilinum var. esculentum) in the and plains have been drained and cultivated, and the present pasture, upper, narrower parts of the valleys. The Port Hills were vegetation consists of improved with mostly covered with tussocks, and according to Laing browntop (Agrostis tenuis), cocksfoot (Dactylis g/omer- (1927) the Lyttelton Hills were never fully bush-clad but ata) and white clover (Trifolium repens) being co- grassland, pasture plants. were always covered by tussock the chief dominant On the hills and steep land, species being hard tussock (Festuca novae-zelandiae) at silver tussock and are found, with ryegrass .danthonia lower elevations, and silver tussock (Poa laevis) with (Lolium perenne), sweet vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum) some danthonia (Notodanthonia spp.) higher up. Patches and/or browntop as co-dominants; cocksfoot, white
9 large patches hills and suckling clover (T. dubium) are minor There are also of scrub on the gorse (U/ex pasture constituents. At lower elevations, where there (figure 5), of which the main species are broom (Cytisus some patches of are mostly introduced grasses, the vegetation on loess- europaeus), scoparius), clover, (Rubus fruticosus at derived soils is dominated by ryegrass, whereas that on blackberry agg.), and, especially is 890 bracken soils derived from volcanic material is dominated by higher elevations where rainfall over mm, cocksfoot. fern. plains is influenced by Soil moisture (i.e., effective rainfall) has more effect on The vegetation of the salinity, increases pasture plants are vegetation than total rainfall, and aspect, topography, and as the salinity of the soil by plants greater elevation, soil depth and texture, which control moisture replaced other that are able to tolerate pat- For weakly availability at a site, help determine the vegetation concentrations of soluble salts. example, is characterised by buck’s-horn plantain terns. For instance, where there is excess soil moisture saline soil bachelor’s button (Cotula caused by topographic factors, rushes and sedges occur; (Plantago coronopus), corono- protected from fire pifolia), bent (Agrostis stolonikra). A native bush, if it has been and allowed and creeping down is characterised by salt barley grow, survives on the shady sides of the valleys moderately saline soil to grass grow in dry grass (Hordeum marinum), salt (Puccinellia stricta), to 75 m; manuka, which can sunny situa- is (Selliera radicans). A strongly saline soil is tions, is found on drier north-facing slopes; tussock and selliera proportion bushes by glasswort (Salicornia australis) and usually denser, with a higher of and characterised glaucous goosefoot (Chenopodium ambiguum). shrubs, on southern than on northern slopes,
245 gorse s on Cashmere-Takahe Figure 5 Upper Lansdowne Valley: skyline at the left ascends from about 120 to m the and tussock about 490 m, Rapaki-Summit complex occurs; an intergrade of the hill soils complex; up to the distant skyline at right, which rises to left foreground; floor is 15 m. Cashmere-Takahe complex is exposed along the bottom altitude of valley
10 SOILS
The area is included in the General Survey of the South YELLOW-GREY EARTHS 1sland, mapped at a scale of 1 inch 4 miles (N.Z. Soil to (pallic soils) Bureau 1968b), and the field sheet from that reconnais- sance survey was used in the initial appraisal of the Port Hills survey. The soil survey of Heathcote County These are zonal soils developed under a subbumid (Fitzgerald has 1966), which a common boundary with climate where the mean annual rainfall ranges from boundary the north of the survey area, was also used to 630 to 890 mm, and soil moisture is in the subbygrous establish the soil series. The soil units are shown on the class (N.Z. Soil Bureau 1968a). accompanying map (in pocket) and in table 1 are correlated with those defined in previous surveys. The soils have been described and grouped according TAKAHE SERIES to the New Zealand genetic soil classification (N.Z. Soil Bureau 1968a), see table 2. These soils were formed under tussock grassland from given A physiographical arrangement of the soils is loess overlying basalt or from colluvium derived from in table 3. the loess. The colluviurn has accumulated on the lower
Table 1 Correlation with other soil surveys
General Survey of the Soils of Port Hills and Adjacent Plains Heathcote County South island, New Zealand (this bulletin) (Fitzgerald 1966) (N.Z. Soil Bureau 1968b)
Takahe soils Takahe soils Takahe soils Takahe hill soils Takahe hill complex Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Cashmere soils Cashmere soils in Takahe soils Cashmere hill soils Cashmere soils in Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Takahe-Cashmere complex Takahe soils Takahe soils and Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Takahe-Cashmere hill soils complex Takahe hill complex Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Cashmere-Takahe complex Takahe soils and Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Cashmere-Takahe hill soils complex Takahe hill complex Takahe-Kiwl hill soils Summit soils Rapaki soils in Summit hill soils Surnmit hill soils Summit hill soils Rapaki soils Cashmere soils in Summit hill soils Rapaki hill soils Summit hill soils Summit-Rapaki complex Rapaki hill complex in Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Summit-Rapaki hill soils complex Rapaki hill complex in Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Rapaki-Summit complex Rapaki hill complex in Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Rapaki-Summit hill soils complex Rapaki hill complex in Takahe-Kiwi hill soils Evans steepland soils Evans steepland soils in Evans-Kiwi steepland soils Stewart steepland soils in Stewart-Summit steepland soils Temuka soils Temuka soils Horotane soils Horotane soils in Taitapu soils Taitapu soils Taitapu soils Taitapu soils Kaiapoi soils Kaiapoi soils Kaiapoi soils Motukarara soils Motukarara soils Motukarara soils Waikuku soils Waikuku soils Kairaki soils Waimairi soils Waimairi soils Waimairi soils
11
Ins: 2 Table 2 Soils arranged pedologically
YELLOW-GREY EARTHS (pallic soils) f*om hasalt with some loess from loess with humid climate (4-2) with subhumid climate Rapaki-Summit complex (4H-2H) Takahe silt loam (1) Rapaki-Summit hill soils complex Takahe fine sandy loam (la) Takahe hill (1 H) soils GLEY SOILS (madentic soils) Temuka silt loam (7) UPLAND YELLOW-BROWN EARTHS (elfulVic SOilS) from loess SALINE GLEY RECENT Soits (soloni-madenti-luvic and with humid climate Summit silt loam (2) soloni-luvi-madentic soils) Motukarara loam, phase (8) Summit hill soils (2H)* silt strongly saline Motukarara silt loam, moderately saline phase (8a) BROWN GRANULAR LOAMS (prospadic and elprospadic Motukarara loam, weakly saline phase (8b) soils) silt Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly drained and from basalt strongly saline phase (8c) with subhumid climate Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly drained and Cashmere silt loam (3) moderately saline phase (8d) Cashmere hill soils (3H) Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly drained and humid with climate weakly saline phase (8e) Rapaki loam (4) clay Motukarara silt loam, moderately well drained Rapaki hill soils (4H)* and weakly saline phase (8f) Motukarara sandy loam, moderately saline phase STEEPLAND Solts RELATED TO BROWN GRANULAR g LOAMS (clini-prospadic and clini-elprospadic soils, Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly drained and etc.) moderately saline phase (Sh) from basalt Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly drained and with subhumid climate weakly saline phase (8i) Evans steepland soils (5) Motukarara sandy loam, moderately well drained phase (8j) with humid climate and moderately saline Stewart steepland soils (6) Motukarara sandy loam, moderately well drained and weakly saline phase (8k) phase (8 1) EARTHS, BROWN Motukarara sand, moderately saline COMPLEXES OF YELLOw-GREY pro- GRANULAR LOAMS, AND INTERGRADES (pallic, prospado-pallic, palli-prospadic spadic, and soils, etc.) GLEY RECENT Sons (luvi-madentic and madenti-luvic from loess with some basalt soils) with subhumid climate Horotane silt loam (9) (1-3) Takahe-Cashmere complex Horotane silt loam, imperfectly drained phase (9a) (1H-3H) Takahe-Cashmere hill soils complex Horotane silt loam, moderately well drained phase (9b) from basalt with some loess Horotane sandy loam (9c) with subhumid climate Horotane loam, imperfectly drained phase Cashmere-Takahe complex (3-1) sandy (9d) Cashmere-Takahe hill soils complex (3H-1H) Taitapu silt loam (10) Kaiapoi silt loam (11) COMPLEXES OF UPLAND YELLOW-BROWN EARTHS, BROWN Kaiapoi sandy loam (1la) GRANULAR LOAMS, AND INTERGRADES (elfulvic, elpro- Kaiapoi sand (llb) spadic, elfulvi-prospadic, and prospado-elfulvic soils, etc.) from loess with some basalt YELLOW-BROWN SANDs (voli-subfulvic soils) with humid climate Waikuku sand (12) Summit-Rapaki complex (2-4) Summit-Rapaki hill soils complex (2H-4H) ORGANIC SOILS (platic soils) Waimairi peaty loam (13) *Areas too small to be mapped separately
12 Table 3 Soils arranged physiographically disappears when moistened (Taylor and Pohlen 1962). The upper part of the fragipan has faint gammate SOILS OF THE HILLS features faint grey veins which run horizontally of the rolling land - through the top and penetrate vertically into joints. Takahe silt loam (1) the With a greater amount of leaching, gammation increases Takahe fine sandy loam (la) in both its frequency and intensity, and is seen on Summit silt loam (2) this Port Hills. As rainfall increases with elevation, more Cashmere silt loam (3) the gammation occurs on the higher parts of the Hills Rapaki clay loam (4) ’ accompanying a gradual change to yellow-brown earths of the hilly land at c. 270-300 m. Takahe hill soils (lH) Summit hill soils (2H)* Cashmere hill soils (3H) Takahe silt loam (1):
Rapaki hill soils (4H)* covers 770 hectares as a pure unit, and is also mapped in of the steep land complexes (1-3, 3-1) with Cashmere silt loam (3). It Evans (5) steepland soils occurs on the rolling tops of spurs and has developed on Stewart (6) steepland soils primary loess and loess colluvium. On the crests of loess has been is SOILS OF THE PLAINS ridges some of the eroded, and there a (15-30 fragipan of the valley floors only shallow topsoil cm) overlying the Horotane silt loam (9, 9a, 9b) (jigure 6), but on the sides of the ridges, where colluvial Horotane sandy loam (9c, 9d) material has accumulated, the depth varies from 30 to 46 long it be deep of the intermediate terrace cm, and at the toe of a slope may as as Temuka silt loam (7) 60 cm. A profile friable of the low terrace and flood plain representative consists of 23 cm of greyish Taitapu silt loam (10) dark brown silt loam with a weakly developed yellowish Motukarara silt loam (8 to 8f) nut structure, on 23 cm of brown firm silt Motukarara sandy loam (8g to 8k) loam, which has many fine strong brown mottles, Motukarara.sand (8 1) on 30 cm of light olive brown very hard massive silt prominent Kaiapoi silt loam (ll) loam, heavier than that above, with many Kaiapoi sandy loam (1la) strong brown mottles. This is the fragipan, the upper Kaiapoi sand (1lb) part of which has some mottling and gammation: a few Waimairi peaty loam (13) horizontal, sandy, grey veins with reddish brown margins part, for of the sand dunes run across the upper and continue a short Waikuku sand (12) distance into the top of the vertical-joint system. The vertical joints are 3-5 cm wide at the top, tapering to mere slits at the bottom of the silt loam layer. At about *Areas too small to be mapped separately. 76 cm there is a gradual change to a massive fine sandy loam layer, probably the unweathered Joess parent material. This becomes sandier with depth, until at about 1.5-2 m is sandy loam sand. At about parts of slopes, and has originated from loess eroded the texture to depth, filamentous lime deposits parts the same soft appear, from the tops of narrow ridges and the upper of increasing in number and intensity with depth. Hard slopes.; This colluvium overlies loess; it has been lime concretions also appear in the lower parts of this thoroughly mixed by the activities of soil animals, and layer. the boundary between loess and colluvium is diffuse. The is on upper convex part of Soil moisture is above field capacity during July, topsoil thinner the the slopes where it has been eroded and more run-off occurs. August, and September, below wilting point during On gentler slopes approaching easy rolling (50 January, February, and March, and between field the grade, mottling is more frequent and intense, especially capacity and wilting point for the remainder of the below outcrops of basalt. year. Generally the soilsi- consist of friable, dark greyish brown sandy loam or silt loam topsoil, with weakly to moderately developed nut structure, overlying firm, Takahe fine sandy loam (la): light olive brown silt loam weakly developed with nut covers 150 hectares and is found on the broad, easy brown or massive structure and strong mottling or rolling tops of spurs and on the knobs at the end of spurs. iron-manganese concretions, which rests on a very firm It is the least disturbed soil of the Takahe series, being loam. or compact, massive silt When dry, this last formed from primary loess with no colluvium, although horizon is hard brittle, very and appearing to be strongly some stripping of the surface layer has occurred. It is it is fragipan because cemented; called a the cementation similar to Takahe silt loam on rolling land, but is distin- guished from it by fine sandy loam texture in the topsoil and, often, in its subsoil, shallower depth fragipan tDiagnostic criteria to assist in the recognition of soil types are to the fragipan (23 more intense mottling, listed in the Extended Legend(in back pocket). (38 cm), thinner cm),
13
Inset ?* 60
90 -
90 Figure 6 Profile of Takahe silt loam showing well developed fragipan from 30 to cm.
may also be found in sub- the presence of iron-manganese concretions, and less stripped sandy textures the plains have intense gammation. soil; again, soils on valley sides nearest the fragipan At lower elevations along the tops of ridges nearest sandier textures and are the thickest over the plain, pockets and basalt rock. The depth the fragipan is about 15 cm the the textures are sandier, with of sand, to depth fragipan is 30-38 but on upper part of slope, increasing to 60 cm at the and the to the only cm, the the finer foot The fragipan is missing at of higher up the ridges the textures become and the of the slope. the top gradually increases in down depth to the fragipan increases. In the flat areas towards the slope and thickness the found, slope from 15-46 cm. Gammation is most intense in the centres of the ridges more concretions are and the increasing in intensity more gleying occurs above the fragipan. soils on moderately steep slopes, parts from the plains to the upper of the Hills. From the middle of the slope downwards, the horizon above the Takalse hill soils (1H): fragipan is often bleached, with many reddish brown 780 hectares iron-manganese concretions. occur on moderately steep land and cover 1 mottles and pure in A profile from a long slope facing north shows 15 cm as a unit, and are also mapped complexes greyish loam (1H-3H, 3H-1H) with Cashmere hill soils (3H). They of friable dark brown sandy with weakly developed 15 cm of firm pale yellow are found on the north-facing valley sides and on the nut structure, on (figure 7). loam moderately developed blocky structure, on moderately steep to steep tops of some ridges silt with 38 hard light brown massive silt loam The hill soils are similar to those Takahe soils on roll- cm of very olive brown net-gammate ing land, but their range of variation is much wider. with many strong mottles, weakly in joints, firm light olive brown Textures vary from silt loam to loamy sand the top- with many vertical on loam. The loess is soil and upper subsoil, and where the fragipan has been massive fine sandy usually thin over
14 Figure 7 North-facing valley side, near Taitapu, showing healed tunnel gullies and terracettes on lower flanks (in Takahe hill soils). Takahe silt loam on rolling ridge crests. In the foreground is an old dune with Walkuku sand, and in the depression behind, lower left, is 1-lorotane silt loam.
underlying basalt rock on the tops of ridges and on the blown on to the flanks of the hills, burying the earlier shoulders of hills, but thickens downslope where collu- fine loess (Mr C. G. Vucetich, pers. comm.). However, vial material usually covers the eroded loess surface. the obvious signs of movement on the slope, and the Erosion is much more severe on these slopes, the top relationship of the deeper soils to the topography, sug- layer of loess having been stripped in almost all cases, gest that it is, in fact, colluvial material. and the fragipan also having been stripped on steeper Shallow soils over basalt occur on moderately steep slopes and near the shoulders that mark the transition, to steep slopes on north-facing valley sides with short between rolling and hilly land. steep slopes, and on the lower convex parts of long On short, moderately steep valley sides facing north, slopes. Many outcrops of unweathered basalt occur, 15-46 cm of colluvial material overlies loess, which lies and the soil is formed on 15-46 cm of colluvium derived primary on rock at about I m. Remnant patches of deep primary from reworked loess, lying on thin loess which portions. pieces loess are found only on the flatter lies on unweathered basalt rock. A few small of On long, moderately steep valley sides facing north, basalt rock are found in the reworked 10ess, but they the loess is usually deeper, with a slightly browner layer are unweathered and do not seem to have influenced of colluvial material, about 30-46 cm thick, overlying it, the soil greatly. On the upper and steeper part ofthe valley sides the colluvial material, usually silt loam in texture, overlies sandy loess (see profile in appendix); on the lower, gentler parts of the valley sides it overlies the fragipan. UPLAND YELLOW-BROWN EARTHS These soils are usually badly eroded, with tunnel gullies running the whole length of the slope in many valleys. (elfulvic soils) On the northern 11anks of the hills and at the mouths of the valleys the long, moderately steep slopes have These are zonal soils developed under a humid climate, about 90 cm of colluvial material overlying the loess or where the rainfall is higher than 890 mm per annum, basalt rock. These slopes have obviously been subjected. and the soil moisture is in the hygrous class (N.Z. much erosion, and only common characteristic. to the Soil Bureau 1968a). is the deep colluvium on top, which gives a characteristic surface dimpled by series of terfacettes. This colluvium sometimes overlies the fragipan and sometimes a sandy, SUMurr SERIES lime-rich loess. The colluvium is usually medium sandy porous, loam in texture, friable and and does not re- Soils of this series have developed from loess parent possible semble other loess. It is that this material is not material overlying basalt at an elevation above 270- colluvium but a more recent, coarse loess which has 300 m, where the mean annual rainfall ranges from
15 below Summit The is at or above field slopes of upper valley sides the 890 to 1 140 mm. soil moisture the loam, soils on rolling capacity for 7 months (March-September) and below silt and are similar to these the land but of 38-50 cm of soil field capacity for 5 months (October-February) but are shallower, consisting is loess parent material. seldom drops to wilting point. The climate here at on the has the lower end of the humid class, and aspect a marked effect on soil moisture, so that the soils on the north-facing slopes are drier than those facing south yellow-grey BROWN GRANULAR LOAMS and approach the intergrades between earths and yellow-brown earths. The soils were (prospadic and elprospadic soils) probably formed under podocarp forest which was later destroyed by fire and replaced by silver tussock. dark greyIsh Generally, these soils consist of very These are intrazonal soils with strongly developed brown friable nut-structured silt loam, on yellowish basaltic structure, formed on basalts, basaltic tuffs, and friable silt loam or heavy silt brown nut-structured ash. They have been divided into soils under a subhumid light brown firm massive light silt loam loam, on olive climate (Cashmere soils) and those under a humid parent or sandy loam (loess material). climate (Rapaki soils). 1966) The field test for allophane (Fieldes and Perrott shows a moderate reaction for allophane in the topsoil loess parent CASHMERE SERIES and a strong reaction in the subsoil material. These are formed mainly on basaltic tuff, ash, and some basalt but also contain some loess, with the deeper soils Summit silt loam (2) (Agure 8): on the tuff and ash and shallow soils on the basalt. They in 6 hectares pure and . also mapped covers as a unit, is are found on the rolling and easy rolling tops of ridges Rapaki loam (4). It is complexes (2-4, 4-2) with clay and on moderately steep to steep slopes where the loess summit of found on the rolling tops of ridges and the has been stripped, exposing the underlying rock to Although it is formed on loess, the caldera wall. mainly weathering. Some of the original loess may still be mixed formed from loess overlying some soils are with an thin with the volcanic material and thus may influence the (15-30 derived from a layer of colluvium cm thick and topsoils, but the characteristics of the subsoils are loess basalt). A representative profile mixture of and mainly those acquired from the basic rocks. 8 has 15 of friable very dark greyish similar toAgure cm Although the climate is subhumid and similar to that brown loam, with moderately developed nut structure, silt prevailing over Takahe soils, the soil moisture character- friable yellowish brown loam with a on 10 cm of silt istics of Cashmere soils are different from those of developed on 15 cm of friable moderately nut structure, Takahe soils because of their higher field capacity and yellowish loam brown heavy silt with very weakly higher available moisture; these soils therefore tend to 8 firm light olive developed nut structure, on cm of remain moist for longer and below wilting point for less brown light silt loam, on firm light alive brown massive time than Takahe soils. massive sandy loam (loess parent material). "island" remnants These soils occupy small areas on Cashmere silt loam (3): of loess which have been left relatively undisturbed along occurs on rolling and easy rolling land, covers 110 Port Hills. Even on summit of these sites pure the the hectares as a unit, and is also mapped as com- occasional basaltic stones are found in loess but the plexes (3-1, 1-3) with Takahe silt loam (1). It is found on have had little or no influence on the soil. Aspect they the crests of spurs and ridges which have rock outcrops differences are very important; on north-facing slopes over 5-10 o/o of the area. A representative profile in a soil are drier subsoils have cracks which are the soils and the derived from 15 friable dark parent tuff shows cm of reddish connected bleached joints in loess material, to the brown silt loam with strongly developed crumb struc- whereas on the south-facing slopes there is little or no ture, overlying 30 cm of friable reddish brown clay loam jointing and soils remain moist all year. the with moderately developed crumb structure, on 40 cm Some of parent material loess contains thin the of friable dark reddish brown clay loam with mod- horizontal bands of small (<2 mm) fragments of scoria, erately developed nut structure and a few basalt stones, basalt, probably washed into loess from tuff and the basalt. deposition. on higher slopes during pauses in the loess The soils near crests and on easy rolling slopes are parts Port Hills, the Even on the higher of the therefore, profile shallower. A typical (similar to fgure 9) consists the loess may be contaminated by colluvium. of 23 cm of friable dark brown silt loam with strongly developed crumb structure, on 23 cm of friable dark Summit hill soils (2H): reddish brown clay loam with moderately developed occur on moderately steep to steep land but individual crumb structure and many basalt stones, lying on basalt. deeper (fgure 9) from areas are too small to be shown separately so they are The soils are away the crests Rapaki hills mapped as complexes (2H-4H, 4H-2H) with except on shoulders of where rocks are often ex- posed, formed. hill soils (4H). They are found on the moderately steep and an escarpment has
16 rm 8 Profile of Summit silt 0 - loam showing friable, nut-struc- tured A horizon over a weakly developed, nut-structured B hor- izon on a firm, massive C horizon.
Figure
6
Cashmere hill soils (3H): or on the convex lower parts of long slopes where they drop level. They generally shallow and occur on moderately steep land, cover 45 hectares as a to stream are profile 15 pure unit and are also mapped as complexes (3H-1H, stony; a representative consists of cm of brown developed 1H-3H) with Takahe hill soils (18). They occur on upper friable dark silt loam with moderately valley sides. The soil is 46--76 cm deep where formed on crumb structure, on 25 cm of friable dark reddish loam 20 dark tuff but shallow on basalt, and is similar to the brown clay with crumb structure, on cm brown loam developed Cashmere silt loam except for the presence of a few reddish clay with moderately nut basalt angular fragments of basalt in the upper subsoil, and structure with fragments of basalt, on rock. Many o/o many such fragments in the lower subsoil. rock outcrops occur, covering 5-10 of the surface. Shallow soils are found on moderately steep to steep Most of the soils are formed on slightly weathered land, at the top of short steep slopes under escarpments, basalt with little tuiT or ash on these slopes. However,
17 Figure
9 Profile of Cashmere silt loam, a strongly structured, dark A horizon with a few basalt O 4, cm . stones overlying a moderately structured B horizon on tuff.
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loess; and are remnants of deeper material are found on terracettes. contain some those on the tuff ash the These hill soils with Evans steepland soils which deeper soils. .merge occur above them on escarpments. Rapaki clay loam (4): covers 60 hectares as a pure unit and is also mapped as RAPAKI SERIES complexes (4-2, 2-4) with Summit silt loam (2). It is found of spurs where are many Rapaki soils are found on the Hills above 270-300 m, on the rolling tops there is A soil derived although their position varies on each ridge; they occur rock outcrops, and usually shallow. Summit Road is from on a rolling crest near the on the rolling tops of ridges, and on the moderately tuff deep. It 23 friable very steep and moderately steep to steep slopes where the about 76 cm consists of cm of dusky loam strongly developed crumb loess has been stripped off to expose the underlying rock red clay with 25 friable dusky red clay loam with to weathering. They are formed mainly on basaltic tuff structure on cm of developed structure, on 30 cm of and ash, and some are on scoriaceous basalt but also moderately crumb
18 Figure
10 Profile of Rapaki clay loam showing strongly developed nut structure in the cm 0 A and B horizons, stones and gravel-sized fragments of basalt attered throughout the fil
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friable dark reddish brown clay loam with moderately hill soils (2H) on moderately steep land. They are found developed nut structure, on basaltic tuff. on the crests of ridges which drop down from the sum- Profiles near outcrops of scoriaceous basalt are mit, and on valley sides where many outcrops of basalt shallower and stonier, and texture may be silt loam occur. The soils are similar to Rapaki clay loam except (jigure 10). On pure basaltic presence tuff with little basalt rock a for the of angular basalt fragments in the red loam is formed which consists of dark reddish profile. A representative profile on a valley side has 8 cm brown clay loam overlying red clay loam or silty clay of friable very dusky red clay loam with strongly de- loam. veloped crumb structure and many basalt fragments, on 18 cm of friable dusky red clay loam with strongly Rapaki hill soils (4H): developed nut structure and many angular basalt frag- occur in areas be too small to shown separately, so are ments, on 50 cm of friable dark reddish brown clay loam, mapped as complexes (4H-2H, 2H-4H) with Summit on scoriaceous basalt. The upper 25 cm of inaterial
19 intimately in landscape cannot be appears to be colluvium derived from basalt and tuff, are mixed the they (the overlying the soil derived from scoriaceous basalt. mapped as homogenous soil units soil type), and On moderately steep to steep land on upper valley have therefore been mapped as soil complexes which A profile include soil named but also sides the soil is very shallow. representative not only the types their For is basalt shows 15 cm of very dark reddish brown friable clay intergrades. example, where there more loess in have been loam with strongly developed crumb structure, on 15 cm than the colluvium the complexes Cashmere-Takahe Rapaki-Summit of friable dark reddish brown stony clay loam, on basalt. mapped as or com- plexes, loess predominates, Takahe- This soil is somewhat similar to the Stewart steepland and where as Because soil on steep land. Cashmere or Summit-Rapaki complexes. of the widespread distribution of the complexes and the differences between them in land use, each complex has STEEPLAND SOILS RELATED TO been described separately in the following section. The BROWN GRANULAR LOAMS soil types that occur within the complexes have been described separately under the appropriate series; the (clini-prospadic and clini-elprospadic soils, etc.) representative soil profile described for each complex intergrade is in the Extended Legend refers to an and These are intrazonal soils with strongly developed only one of a range occurring within that mapping unit, structures formed mainly on basalts, basaltic tuffs and but is fairly representative. ash, but also containing some loess. They are shallower and stonier than related Cashmere and Rapaki soils. They have been divided into soils with a subhumid climate (Evans steepland soils) and those with a humid Complexes of Yellow-grey Earths, climate (Stewart steepland soils). Brown Granular Loams, and Intergrades Evans steepland soils (5): (pallic, prospadic, prospado-pallic, and palli-prospadic cover 160 hectares, are shallow and stony and are derived soils, etc.) mainly from basalt but also contain some loess, with abundant rock outcrops (20-30% of the surface area). These are formed Where grey soils under a subhumid climate. The soil consists of 13 cm of friable very dark stony dominant parent material is loess or colluvium silt loam with strongly developed nut structure, on 13 cm the derived mainly from loess, with a fragipan underlying it, of friable dark brown silt loam with moderately de- the soils are mapped as Takahe-Cashmere complexes veloped nut structure, on 13 cm of friable dark reddish (1-3, 1H-3H). Where the dominant parent material is brown gravelly clay loam with moderate nut structure, basalt or colluvium derived mainly from basalt, and the on basaltic agglomerate. fragipan is absent, they are mapped as Cashmere- The soils may be deeper where terracettes have formed Takahe complexes (3-1, 3H-lH). but some consist of only 15 cm of black topsoil on rock.
Takahe-Cashmere complex (1-3): Stewart steepland soils (6): hectares covers 30 on the rolling tops of ridges where cover 150 hectares, are shallow and stony with abundant there are many rock outcrops; it usually consists of rock outcrops, and occur on scarps and steep valley sides, separate units of Takahe soil (about 75%) and numerous A representative profile consists of 15 cm of friable dark patches of Cashmere soil surrounding outcrops. Not loam, 15 friable dark the reddish brown heavy silt on cm of parent much mixing has occurred between the materials. reddish brown clay loam with strongly developed crumb and nut structure and a few angular basalt fragments, on Takahe-Cashmere hill soils complex (1H-3H): 8 cm of friable reddish brown clay loam with moderately 575 hectares on moderately steep land below a few developed nut structure and many angular pieces of covers generally facing outcrops on lower valley sides, those basalt, on basalt. the north. The soils are formed from loess, basalt, and collu- loess. vium of loess and basaltic tuff or ash, overlying Fifty percent of the soils consist of intergrades between SOIL COMPLEXES Takahe and Cashmere soils, 25% of Takahe hill soils, and 25% Cashmere hill soils. A representative profile of an has friable dark brown silt On sloping land the loess has been stripped in varying intergrade soil 25 cm of very partly basalt. On loam moderately developed nut structure, on 25 cm amounts, or completely exposing the with yellowish loam such slopes, colluvial mixtures of loess and basalt are of friable brown silt with moderately parent developed 30 cm of very hard light formed which comprise the materials of most of nut structure, on brown loam with strong brown mottles and the soils on the Port Hills. A complete range of soils olive silt firm light brown loam occurs, therefore, from those derived from loess only to massive structure, on olive sandy few joints clay skins on those derived from basalt only, with intergrades between with a vertical showing their them formed from mixed colluvium. Where such soils faces.
20 There is a gradation from Takahe hill soils, which from basalt, they are mapped as Rapaki-Summit com- have about 15 cm of colluvium, to the intergrades of plexes (4-2, 4H-2H). The soils of the Summit-Rapaki generally the Takahe-Cashmere hill soils complex, where 30-46 complexes overlie loess, and the soils of the cm of colluvium derived from loess and basalt overlies Rapaki-Summit complexes generally overlie basalt. loess. It can be distinguished from the Takahe soil by the browner colours and the strongly developed structure. Summit-Rapaki complex (2-4): covers 40 hectares on the rolling tops of ridges above Cashmere-Takahe complex (3-1): 270-300 m. The soils are formed from loess, basalt, and covers 225 hectares on the rolling tops of ridges, and the colluvium from loess and basalt which overlies loess or soils are formed from basalt, loess, and colluvial material sometimes basalt. The unit has 50% Summit silt derived from basaltic tuff and loess, overlying basalt or loam, 25% Rapaki clay loam, and 25% intergrades loess. About is by sometimes 25% of the area covered between these two. A representative profile of an inter- intergrades between the two soil types, with about 50% grade soil has 15 cm of friable dark greyish brown silt of Cashmere silt loam and 25% of Takahe silt loam. A loam with strongly developed nut structure, on 23 cm of profile representative of an intergrade soil consists of friable yellowish brown silt loam with moderately 23 friable dark greyish brown loam cm of very silt with developed nut structure, on 23 cm of friable to firm moderately developed nut structure, over 46 cm of yellowish brown silt loam with massive structure and a friable brown clay loam with weakly developed nut diffuse boundary, on firm light olive brown massive structure, on 23 cm of friable brown sandy loam with sandy loam with a few vertical cracks. A similar inter- weakly developed nut structure and a few basalt frag- grade soil is shown in Agure II. ments, on basalt. Shallow profiles on rock are common, The intergrade soils are distinguished from Summit and many outcrops occur. silt loam (fgure 8) by the sandier texture in their top- soils, the presence of coarse sand in their silt loam sub- Cashmere-Takahe hill soils complex (3H-1H): soils, and the strongly developed structure in the topsoil. occurs on moderately steep land and covers 1 300 Soils show a gradual change of parent material from pure hectares, generally on south-facing slopes and on the colluvium to loess. upper valley sides facing north (fgure 5). The soils are formed from basalt, loess, and colluvium from loess and Summit-Rapaki hill soils complex (2H-4H): basalt, which overlies basalt or sometiMes loess. About covers 255 hectares on moderately steep upper valley 25% of area is covered by Cashmere silt loam, the about sides, usually facing north. The soils are formed froni 25% by Takahe silt loam, and 50% by intergrade soils loess, basalt, and colluvium from loess and basalt. The between A representative profile of’an inter- these two. unit has 25% Summit hill soils, 25% Rapaki hill soils, grade greyish soil consists of 25 cm of friable very dark intergrades between A .and 50% the two soils. represent- brown silt loam with strongly developed fine nut ative profile of an intergrade soil shows 8 cm of friable structure, on 20 cm of friable dark brown silt loam with very dark greyish brown silt loam with strongly developed moderately developed nut structure and a few basalt fme nut structure, on 15 cm of friable dark greyish brown stones, on 15 cm of friable dark yellowish brown silt loam with moderately developed fine nut structure, on gravelly silt loam with weakly developed nut structure, 23 cm of friable yellowish brown silt loam with weakly overlying basalt. developed fine nut structure and a few basalt stones, The intergrade soils often have angular fragments of on 5 cm of horizontal grey vein with strong brown basalt up surface and may be heavy to the the texture edges and a few basalt stones, on firm light olive brown silt loam in upper subsoil. The profiles which overlie the massive sandy loam (loess). basalt rock are usually stonier and shallower than those overlying loess.
Rapaki-Summit. complex (4-2): covers 140 hectares on the rolling tops of ridges. The soils are formed on basalt, loess, and colluvium from basalt and loess, overlying basalt or sometimes loess. The unit has 50% Rapaki clay loam, 25% Summit Complexes of Upland Yellow-brown silt loam, and 25% intergrades between soil Earths, Brown Granular Loams, and the two A profile has Intergrades types. representative of an intergrade soil 23 cm of friable very dark greyish brown silt loam with (elfulvic, elprospadic, elfulvi-prospadic, and prospado- strongly developed nut structure, on 23 cm of friable elfulvic soils, etc.) brown silt loam with moderately developed nut structure and a few angular fragments of basalt, on 30 cm of These soils are formed under a humid climate. Where the friable brown silt loam with weakly developed nut dominant parent material is loess or colluvium derived structure and a few basalt stones, on basalt. from mainly loess, the soils are mapped as Summit- These soils are shallow and stony near outcrops but Rapaki complexes (2-4, 2H-4H). Where the dominant away from them, where the soils contain a higher pro- parent is basalt portion material or colluvium derived mainly of loess, they are deep.
21 Figure 11 Profile of an inter- grade soil of the Summit-Rapaki complex showing colluvium with moderately developed nut struc- horizons ture in the A and B cm 0 . overlying massive loess (cf. figure 8).
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Rapaki-Summit hill soils complex (4H-2H): parts a few basalt stones, on 30 cm of friable brown clay covers 955 hectares on the upper of moderately and loam developed nut structure, on steep valley sides (Agure 5) below Summit soils. The soils with moderately A intergrade is shown in fgure 12. are formed from basalt, loess, and colluvium from basalt basalt. similar soil basalt loess overlies loess and loess, overlying basalt or sometimes loess. The unit Where the and colluvium there boundary between colluvium and is made up of 25% Rapaki hill soils, 25% Summit hill is a sharp the the loess (fgure !3), have a shaved surface. soils, and 50% intergrades between A representa- which appears to these. grey profile 23 friable The contact zone is often mottled or has veins tive of an intergrade soil shows cm of part of loess. The higher very dark greyish brown silt loam with strongly developed running across the upper the pronounced is nut structure and many basalt stones, on 23 cm of friable the content of basalt, the more the brown clay loam with strongly developed nut structure mottling and veining.
22 Figure 12 Profile of an inter- grade soil of the Rapaki-Summit complex, showing the stony and gravelly, moderately structured cm 0 A and B horizons from colluvium, overlying basalt.
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so-
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TEMUKA SERIES
Temuka silt loam (7): covers 75 hectares on an old flood plain of the Wai- GLEY SOILS makariri system as a remnant ridge of the intermediate terrace which has escaped erosion and covering by (madentic soils) younger sediments. The soil is formed from alluvium derived from reworked loess which, at the sides of the These occur at the toes of the outwash fans and on low- terrace, is covered by the younger sediments. A repre- lying parts intermediate plain profile of an terrace and old flood sentative consists of 23 cm of friable very dark of the Waimakariri system. They are poorly drained, greyish brown silt loam with strong brown root stains ground with high water in winter, and moderately to strongly developed nut structure, on 23 Figure 13 Profile of an inter- ’ grade soil of the Rapaki-Summit complex, overlying loess, showing the moderately developed nut cm 0 structure in the A and B horizons - from colluvium and the sharp loess. boundary to the
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grey SERIES 23 cm of firm silt 10am with many strong brown MOTUKARARA mottles and weakly developed nut structure, on 38 cm formed from greywacke alluvium of very firm massive grey heavy silt loam with many Motukarara soils are Waimakariri Halswell rivers, strong brown mottles, on 23 cm of friable massive derived from the and lacustrine greyish brown fine sandy loam, on grey fine sand which overlying sediments. by history of is gleyed and has abundant brown mottles. The soils have been closely affected the Lake Ellesmere and its sediments. This somewhat saline lake is separated from the sea only by a narrow spit SALINE GLEY RECENT SOILS which is about 4.5 m above sea level. Before 1868 the 2 or 3 (soloni-madenti-luvic and soloni-luvi-madentic soils) lake level would reach the top of the spit every let lake years, when the Maoris would the out to the sea lowest point The boundaries of pre- These soils are similar to gley recent soils but contain at the of the spit. this 1868 high lake level represented by a littoral soluble salts in their profiles. are clearly
24 sand dune system, delineated by soils of the Waikuku loam with strongly developed crumb and nut structure series, which is found at the mouths of the valleys and and many reddish brown root stains, on 15 cm of friable greyish crossing the plain south of Taitapu. Since 1868, after massive brown sandy loam, on 30 cm of friable the European settlers arrived, the lake has-been opened single-grained grey medium sand, on 30 cm of firm to the sea every year or even two or three times a year, massive grey silt loam, on very friable grey fine sand whenever the level of the water reaches Im above mean (lacustrine). In very strongly saline patches a variation sea level. The area has thus been successfully drained occurs in the topsoil where it is dark brown and fibrous, every year except during the disastrous floods of 1895 and of a loose and fluffy structure. In old channels the when the opening could not be made and seven tides silt loam can be 76 cm deep, but textures are very variable swept over the embankment. This brought the lake level and change rapidly in a lateral direction, to 3 m above mean sea level. Before this flood, according Motukarara silt loam, moderately saline phase (8a): to the older farmers in the district, the area to the north covers 165 hectares and is found in depressions of of the lake had been relatively salt-free and was used for the flood plain Halswell River. It is fattening sheep. The flood waters would have been very of the similar to the previous it is less saline. saline, and today, except where the Halswell River has soil except that flooded its banks leached and out the salts, most of the Motukarara silt loam, weakly saline phase (8b): land by 1895 flood has degree covered the some of plain covers 60 hectares on the flood of the Halswell salinity. The salinity is generally low near Taitapu’ River where leaching of salts has occurred so that the gradually increasing further south, but around Taitapu salinity is reduced. Apart from this the soil is similar to itself there are hollows with heavier soils in which much phase. the strongly saline salt has accumulated because of the slow internal soil drainage. Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly drained and strongly As the ground water in the survey area is an extension saline phase (8c): of lake, it is strongly saline near the lake and less so 140 hectares plain the - covers on the flood of the Halswell from it. The salinity of soils is directly related away the River. A representative profile shows 23 cm of friable ground Although to that of the water. many of the soils dark grey silt loam with strong brown root stains and have internal drainage is so sandy subsoils, and rapid strongly developed crumb and nut structure, on 15 cm of drained, little leaching occurs that these soils are easily friable olive grey medium sand, on 15 cm of firm massive present have under the subhumid climate and the salts olive silt loam, overlying very friable light grey fine sand remained in soil, despite fact that deep drains patches the the (lacustrine). There are many bare where the have been dug in the area. Even in winter, when is fluffy topsoil and salt appears on the surface. extra moisture is available, little or no leaching occurs Motukarara loam, imperfectly drained because the ground water is high. Some land has been silt and moderately phase (8d): successfully leached during summers by the use of fresh saline water from the Halswell River or from boreholes. covers 40 hectares and is similar to the previous soil However, the deep drains dug in the area also lower the except for its decreased salinity. ground water so far in summer that the capillary fringe Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly dramed. and weakly drops below the root zone and the soils become very saline phase (8e): droughty, requiring irrigation. 620 hectares flood plain Salinity has been measured by the electrical conduct- covers on the alongside the Halswell River where leaching has occurred. The soil is ivity of the soil solution, and estimated by using plant phase it is indicators (Taylor and Pohlen 1962). It has been similar to the strongly saline except that less saline. described as weak, moderate, or strong, and the soil phases have been grouped according types and to their Motukarara silt loam, moderately well drained and weakly salinities. saline phase (8f): The areas of different salinity phases of Motu- the covers 425 hectares on a levee of Halswell River. A karara soils are as follows: the representative profile shows 23 cm of friable dark greyish phase Strongly saline 870 ha 21.4% brown light silt loam with nut structure, on 15 cm of Moderately saline friable greyish brown medium sand, on very friable light phase 1 180 ha 28.9% grey fine sand. Weakly saline phase 2 000 ha 49.7% Motukarara sandy loam, moderately saline phase (8g): TOTAL 4 050 ha covers 115 hectares at the southern end of the survey area Motukarara loam, phase (8): silt strongly saline and is formed where thin alluvial sediments overlie covers 730 hectares. It is found in depressions and hol- lacustrine sands. It is poorly drained and strongly lows, is poorly drained and strongly gleyed, and has a gleyed,. being found in depressions. A representative layer of fine alluvium overlying coarse alluvium. The profile has 23 cm of friable black sandy loam with reddish thickness of the fine alluvium varies, being about 76 cm brown root stains and weakly developed nut structure, near Taitapu and thinning to 15 cm near Lake Ellesmere. on 15 cm of olive grey medium sand, on 15 cm of grey A representative profile shows 23 cm of black friable silt silt loam with few strong brown mottles, on light grey
25 fine sand. The ground water is usually at 30-46 cm from Horotane silt loam (9): the surface during the winter- covers 120 hectares, is formed on alluvium derived from reworked loess and is poorly drained. A representative Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly drained and mod- profile shows 23 cm of friable dark greyish brown silt de- erately saline phase (Sh): loam with strong brown root stains and moderately grey flood veloped nut structure, on 15 cm of firm silt loam covers 65 hectares and is found at the edge of the brown mottles moderately plain. A representative profile shows 23 cm of friable with abundant strong and 50 dark grey sandy loam with strong brown root stains and developed blocky structure, on cm of massive very heavy loam many strong brown nut structure, on 15 cm of very friable greyish brown firm olive silt with grey mottles and strong gleying, on friable grey fine sand. loam (medium sand), on light fine sand. ground This soil is difficult to drain because it has high for winter and perched ground water Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly drained and weakly water most of the in Moreover, subsoil is impermeable, saline phase (8i): even summer. the drainage is drainage is part internal very slow and natural covers 890 hectares and is found on a slightly higher poor. plain. previous of the flood It is similar to the soil except for its lower salinity.
Horotane silt loam, imperfectly drained phase (9a): loam, drained and poorly Motukarara sandy moderately well covers 195 hectares and is similar to the drained phase (8j): moderately saline Horotane silt loam, but the ground water is slightly is found levee is greater iluctuation during covers 250 hectares and on a of the lower and there a of water A profile 23 cm of There iron-manganese con- Halswell River. representative shows the winter. are abundant gleying friable dark greyish brown medium sandy loam on 23 cm cretions in the upper subsoil, and in the lower grey fine of friable olive medium sandy loam, on light subsoil at about 46-60 cm is only moderate. sand. The surface is very undulating with numerous channels and levees. Horotane silt loam, moderately well drained phase (9b):
100 hectares, occurring in short valleys where Motukarara sandy loam, moderately well drained and covers is fall for surface water drain away weakly saline phase (8k): there a suflicient to quickly ( jigure 7), or on levees alongside the streams. covers 20 hectares and is found at the edge of the flood The ground water is lower than in the imperfectly plain on side of Gebbies Valley. The soil is similar to the drained phase, subsoil being weakly gleyed at a previous it is less the the soil except that saline. depth of 60-76 cm.
phase Motukarara sand, moderately saline (81): loam (9c): covers 540 hectares and is found on a broad ridge which Horotane sandy parallel lake It is imperfectly drained in depressions heads runs to the edge. covers 60 hectares at the of valleys gleyed. from and moderately A representative profile shows where a layer of recent colluvium (sandy loam) greyish brown fine loam layer. 23 cm of friable very dark sand with loess and basalt overlies a silt Overall drain- grey fine profile weakly developed nut structure, overlying light age is poor. A representative consists of 23 cm of grey sand. friable very dark sandy loam with reddish brown root stains and moderately developed nut structure, on grey 15 cm of friable olive sandy loam with abundant strong brown and reddish brown mottles and weakly GLEY RECENT SOILS developed nut structure, on 38 cm of massive firm obve (luvi-madentic and madenti-luvic soils) light silt loam with few strong brown mottles and strong gleying, on friable grey sandy loam. permeable plains The light silt loam subsoil is more Gley recent soils occur on or adjacent to ilood than the loam Horotane loam in They heavy silt subsoil of silt and, where sediments have accumulated recent times. is poor, internal poorly drained, high ground although the natural drainage the soil are to moderately well with drainage is medium, so that these soils drain more water in winter. easily.
HOROTANE SERIES Horotane sandy loam, imperfectly drained phase (9d): is similar poorly These soils are found on flat and undulating valley floors covers 220 hectares and very to the proportion drained loam, except ground water is and are formed on alluvium containing a high sandy that the is gleying in lower subsoil of reworked loess with some basalt which has been lower, and there moderate the poorly The loam layer in lower subsoil is eroded off the hills. They are mostly or imper- at 46-60 cm. silt the but in places fectly drained, and are associated with peaty Waimairi usually about 23-30 cm thick some there found depressions. is fine loam layer. series which are in the a sandy
26 TAITAPu SERIES WAIKUKU SERIES
Taitapu silt loam (10): Walkuku sand (12): 445 hectares is found fixed dunes covers 460 hectares and is formed from greywacke allu- covers and on sand formed in littoral zone on edge of Lake Elles- vium derived from the Waimakariri River. It occurs in the the These of lake different low-lying sites which have high ground water along the mere. mark the extent the at periods in its history. The outermost line of dunes occurs foot of the hills and parallel to the Halswell River. A at 5 m level, next line at 2 m, representative profile has 23 cm of friable dark grey silt about above mean sea the line, parallel present lake loam with moderately developed nut structure and many and the third to the edge, also 2 The dunes low, having strong brown root stains, on 30 cm of very firm light grey at about m. are most of them been levelled by floods heavy silt loam, massive and with many strong brown and erosion, so that only minor left (jigure 7), dunes by present mottles, on 15 cm of firm grey medium sandy loam, on ridges are and the the lake by very friable grey medium sand. edge are almost completely covered alluvium. The outermost dunes on the 5 m ridge overlie peat, indicating that the lake was probably of greater extent KAIAPOI SERIES than this. Older sand dune systems related to this older lake level have, in the survey area, been flattened and Kaiapoi found on levees and ridges running soils are covered by recent sediments from the Waimakariri parallel to the Halswell River and other streams on the system. fhtts. The ground is 46--60 in water at cm the winter and The soils have accumulated some organic matter, and imperfectly drained gleyed in profile the soils are and moderately a representative shows 15 cm of friable brown the subsoil. fine sand, on 30 cm of loose grey fine sand with some iron staining, on loose grey fine sand. Kaiapoi silt loam (ll): covers 295 hectares on the relatively low levees to the south of Halswell. A representative profile shows 23cm ORGANIC SOILS friable dark greyish brown loam of silt with moderately (platic soils) developed nut structure, on 23 cm of firm greyish brown massive fine sandy loam with many strong brown grey mottles, on 30 cm of very friable medium sand, on These soils are formed on decomposed or partly de- grey loose fine sand. composed plant residues which occur in low-lying areas where the ground water is high and there is little or no Kaiapoi sandy loam (1la): depositionofalluvium, covers 80 hectares on levees beside the stream in Lans- downe Valley. It is similar Kaiapoi silt loam except to WAIMAlRI SERIES that its topsoil texture is sandy loam. Waimairi peaty loam (13): Kaiapoi sand (llb): covers 270 hectares and is found in depressions at the covers 25 hectares on high levees of Halswell River the foot of the hills, between the sand dunes, and alongside south of Taitapu, and consists of fine sand and topsoil the Halswell River. The textures vary from peat to peaty medium and coarse sand subsoil. loam, depending on the content of mineral matter. The peat depth of overlying the mineral soil also varies from 30 cm to 1.5 m. A profile with some mineral matter in the YELLOW-BROWN SANDS topsoil shows 30 cm of non-sticky black peaty loam, on greyish peat, firm (voli-subfulvic soils) 50 cm of very dark brown on massive grey silt loam. Drains have been dug through most of the peaty areas These soils are formed on small strips of sand dunes in which are slowly drying up, but those areas associated the littoral zone of Lake Ellesmere. with springs from the hills are still very wet.
27 EROSION
been On north-facing moderately steep slopes below 270 m some valleys. Now that most of the rabbits have destroyed healing and most of it is the fragipan overlying sandy loess that contributes the erosion scars are over gullies grass ( figure 7). A comparison most to the development of the characteristic tunnel-gully the are covered with photographs in 1941 with more recent erosion of the loess (Gibbs 1945). The north-west wind of aerial taken photographs improvement in is probably also an important factor, drying out the shows an the situation, joint in The commonest of erosion is soils on the northern faces so that the systems next type terracette gaps by and the fragipan open up, leaving wide for water to creep, apparently caused soil creep the treading ledges, move down during rain. The water, once it is under- of animals. The terracettes are step-like sloping gently (figure 7). neath the impermeable fragipan, forms a channel in the outward and running across the slope found deep steep easily-erodable sandy loess layer below, leaving a cap of They are on sediments on moderately fragipan which do not the finer loess; eventually the finer loess of the slopes and are characteristic of the soils Cashmere basaltic is undermined and collapses, forming a gully. It has been have a fragipan, such as soils on lower Rapaki observed that after rain the gullies have water flowing in colluvium at elevations, and soils at gentler few crest of a side ridge higher elevations. The slope, wider the them, while a metres away on the the the penetrated as a protection between gullies, the moisture has only a few step. Once stabilised, these terracettes act further distribute downward centimetres. Where water moves laterally over the against erosion, as they moistened fragipan, on moderately steep slopes, much movement of water and soil. pasture in rill erosion occurs. Careful management maintaining a con- is for protection against erosion Local farmers blame the severity of the erosion on tinuous sward essential rabbits, which reached a density of 37 to the hectare in on the Port Hills.
LAND USE
City, The important for urban uses are slope and The survey area is adjacent to Christchurch and criteria material in relation soil extensions of the city into the surrounding area are the stability of the underlying to For foundations imminent. moisture changes (Richards 1968). the factories highways, volume The Town and Country Planning Act (1953.3(1)) was of structures such as and the proceed changes and critical strength or resistance deformation set up so that development of a region might to important, i.e., consolidation or settlement "by means of classification of the lands for the are most the the . . . for under load. For housing most important are purpose for which they are best suited by nature or the the heave and settlement due changes in soil moisture which can best be adapted. ". Land should there- to they . . brought about by the erection of building (Richards fore be classified show areas of relative importance the to performance foundations Country op. cit.). The engineering of for different uses, but in terms of the Town and for structures can be determined by separating areas of Planning Regulations (1960. Regulation 16 (2) }:"all land segmficantly different soil types and subsurface moisture high or potential value for production of food of actual For Takahe pro- conditions (Richards op. cit.). example, the included in a rural Land can be [is] to be zone". pans hold soils have impermeable in the subsoil which ductive in other ways than agricultural, but those pro- up water, and because of this they are not suitable for ducts be from land which is not of high should obtained septic production. To tanks. value for food meet the requirements of plains general, The soils of the and valley iloors are, in Country Planning Act stated above, present the Town and the of high value for food production and at are have been soils of the survey area classified to show the used for dairying, horticulture, and general cropping. potential for food soils that are of high actual or value The only exception in this area is Waikuku sand on the have been production, production, and the remainder classified on sand dunes, which is of low value for food their suitability for urban uses. The soils of the rolling land and hills are of low value The important soil criteria for food production are for food production and are classified according to their physical the permanent characteristics of the soil which suitability for urban uses: the rolling and some of the cannot be changed. These include effective rooting depth, hilly land is suitable for houses and small commercial hilly which is internal soil drainage and permeability of the subsoil, buildings; the steep land and that land permanent and soil texture; slope is also considered a susceptible to erosion are of very restricted suitability, be by for uses. Because of steep- physical characteristic though this can changed or are unsuitable, urban their drainage, potential soils should be set aside terracing. Factors such as overall salinity, and ness and erosion these for droughtiness can be changed and do not influence the as recreation and soil and water conservation areas production, people Christchurch. potential of the land for food the use of the of 28 OF SOILS D Soils of low value for food production and of very restricted FOR LANDUSE suitability for urban uses
SOILS WITH UNSTABLE UNDERLYING STRATA (TUNNEL GULLIES). CLASSIFICATION Takahe hill soils
SOILS OF THE STEEP LAND: A Soils of high actual or potential value for food production Evans steepland soils SOILS OF THE FLAT TO EASY ROLLING LAND, WITH SLIGHT OR NEG- Stewart steepland soils LIGIBLE LIMITATIONS: Cashmere silt loam Cashmere-Takahe complex Summit-Rapaki complex Rapaki-Summit complex Temuka silt loam Motukarara silt loam, strongly saline phase Motukarara silt loam, moderately saline phase Motukarara silt loam, weakly saline phase Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly drained and strongly saline phase ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly drained and moderately saline phase The author wishes to thank Mr 3. D. Raeside for discussions on Motokarara silt loam, imperfectly drained. and weakly saline 6eld work and for constructive criticism of the manuscript, and Rennie for producing the photographs, maps, and rara silt loam, moderately well drained and weakly d gr sf’. MCoasaline phase Motukarara sandy loam, moderately saline phase Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly drained and moderately saline phase Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly drained and weakly saline phase Motukarara sandy loam, moderately well drained and mod- erately saline phase Motukarara sandy loam, moderately well drained and weakly saline phase Motukarara sand, moderately saline phase Horotane silt loam Horotane silt loam, imperfectly drained phase Horotane silt loam, moderately well drained phase Horotane sandy loam Horotane sandy loam, imperfectly drained phase Taitapu silt loam REFERENCES Kaiapoi silt loam Kaiapoi sandy loam Kaiapoi sand Waimairi peaty loam FIELDES, M.; PERROTT, K. W. 1966: The nature of allophane in SOILS OF THE ROLLING AND HILLY LAND, WITH SLIGHT LIMITATIONs: soils. Part 3 - Rapid field and laboratory test for allophane. Cashmere hill soils N.Z. Journal of Science 9: 623-9 Cashmere-Takahe hill soils complex FITZGERALD, P. 1966: Soils of Heathcote County, Canterbury, Summit-Rapaki hill soils complex New Zealand. N.Z. Soil Bureau Report 1/1966. 33 pp. Gmas, H. S. 1945: Tunnel-gully erosion on the Wither Hills, Marlborough. N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology 27A: 135-46 B Soils of low value for food production, suitable for urban uses LAING, R. M. 1927: The botany of Banks Peninsula. "Natural History Canterbury." Philosophical SOILS OF THE FLAT TO EASY ROLLING LAND, WITH MODERATE of Institute of Canterbury. LIMITATIONs (e.g., subsoil pans, rock outcrops): pp. 107-14 LIGGETT, K. A.; GREGG, D. R. The geology Takahe fine sandy loam 1965: of Banks Penin- Walkuku sand sula. N.Z. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Information Series 51; 9-25 NEw ZEALAND SOIL BUREAU 1968a: Soils of New Zealand, Part 1. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 26 (1). 142 pp. C Soils of low value for food production and of restricted suit- - 1968b: General survey of the soils of South Island, New ability for urban uses (suitable for houses and small commercial Zealand. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 27. 404 pp. RAESIDE, J. D. 1964: Loess deposits buildings) of the South Island, New Zealand, formed and the soils on them. N.Z. Journal of SOILS OF THE ROLLING AND HILLY LAND: Geology and Geophysics 7: 811-38 Takahe silt loam RICHARDs, B. G. 1968: Soil water and its effects on soil engineering Summit silt loam parameters. Proceedings. Symposium on Land Evaluation. Summit hill soils Ed. G. A. Stewart. CSIRO, Australia. Macmillan, South Rapaki clay loam Melbourne. 392 pp. Rapaki hill soils SPEIGHT, R. 1916: The geology of Banks Peninsula. N.Z. Institute Takahe-Cashmere complex " Transactions and Proceedings 49: 365-92 Takahe-Cashmere hill soils complex TAYLOR, N. H.; POHLEN, I. J. 1962: Soil survey method. N.Z. Soil Rapaki-Summit hill soils complex Bureau Bulletin 25. 242 pp.
29 APPENDIX: Soil Profile Descriptions
Present Pasture (ryegrass, The soil descriptions in the text, and in the Extended vegetation white clover) Hard Legend to the map, are representative of the mapping Native vegetation tussock Horizon Depth units, whereas the following soil descriptions are cm records of profiles at specific sites. Specific profiles A, 0-8 very dark grey (10YR 3/1) fine sandy loam; coincide. in all details with representative seldom the soft; weak fine nut structure around roots; profiles- abundant roots, As, 8-18 very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) fine sandy loam; soft; massive; roots common, Reference 1 A 18-33 dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) light silt loam; Takahe silt loam symbol as slightly hard; massive; numerous small faecal Location Off Kennedy Bush Road, pellets and worm casts, yellowish brown few NZMS2 S84 /4 969475 (10YR 5/4) in colour; roots, Bx 33-40 yello ie 0YRd5, ItMloam;bbard Topography* On rolling of middle spur top abbrowna Slope; aspect; altitude 50; N; 198 m (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; many pores and worm Parent material Loess from greywacke channels filled with faecal pellets, brown (2.5Y 5/4) loam; Rainfall 635-760 mm Bzx 40-64 light olive silt very hard; few narrow vertical cracks but massive Drainage* Overall imperfect - as a whole; breaks up into weak medium nuts; internal very slow - abundant fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR Ryegrass, Present vegetation white and suckling 5/6) mottles and few iron concretions; slight clover gleying; thin clay skins, and organic matter staining on faces and some peds, and lining Native vegetation Hard tussock worm channels; few worm channels; few roots, Horizon Dept/? Cx 64-70 light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; cm firm to very firm (slightly moist); massive: At 0-23 dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) light silt loam; few fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) friable; weak fine nut structure; many faecal mottles; indistinct boundary, pellets in pore spaces, uA 70-90 light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; By 23-46 yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam; firm; friable; massive; few blotchy coarse faint massive; many fine distinct strong brown strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles, (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; many worm channels uB 90+ light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine loamy sand; pellets; filled with faecal sharp boundary, very friable. 8, 46-76 light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silt loam, heavier Classification Common name: southern yellow- very firm; massive; few vertical than above; grey earth cracks; many fine prominent strong brown Technical name: weakly en- (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; diffuse boundary, leached gammate pallic C 76-86 light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy loam; weakly friable; massive; few vertical veins, soil 86-117 brown (2.5Y loamy sand; very uB, light olive 5/4) 1Votes This site is representative of soils friable; massive; veins getting wider with of the easy rolling tops of the low- depth, er spurs where is a variable uB, 117+ olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) sandy loam to sand; there firm; massive- depth of colluvial material over- yellow- pan. Classification* Common name: southern lying the Auger holes around grey give depth earth the site a of 20 cm to pan lower Technical name: weakly en- the on the crest, and pallic pan. leached weakly gammate down the slope 46 cm to the soil This profile is average with 33 cm of material overlying the pan. The profile described in the Extended Takahe fine sandy loam Reference symbol la Legend is representative of the parts of ridges. Location On crest of first rise in paddock upper the on Kennedy Bush Road, 37 m S84/4 901475 S of track, NZMS2 Takahe hill soil Reference symbol 18 Topography Easy rolling top of lower spur Location On first on Kennedy S/ope; aspect; a/titude 30; S; 61 m side of ridge Bush Road, NZMS2 S84/4 958- Parent material Loess from greywacke 478 Rain/cd/ 635-760 mm Topography Moderately steep Drainage Overall - imperfect Slope; aspect; allitude 19.; N; 60 m Internal - very slow Parent material Loess colluvium on greywacke loess *See Explanatory Notes 1-4 on Ertended Legend.
30 Rainfall 635-890 mm Classification Common name: upland southern yellow-brown Drainage Overall - well drained earth Internal - slow Technical name: moderately to Present vegetation Ryegrass, white and suckling strongly enleached elfulvic soil clover Notes Field test for allophane shows a Native Hard and silver in vegetation tussock medium reaction the At hori- Horizon Depth zon and a marked reaction in the en’ other horizons. This site was A 0-15 dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy loam; chosen as likely have least friable; weakly developed fine nut structure; to the many faecal pellets, influence by volcanic material B, 15-30 pale yellow (5Y 7/4) silt loam; firm; mod- but even in this one there are erately developed blocky structure; few fine stones in the profile. The colour f strongbbrown mottle. of soil and its structure suggest Bax 30-68 /4) silt loam; very the is derived hard; massive or coarse columnar; many that the soil mostly from Outcrops vertical joints; many medium distinct strong loess. of tuff on the brown mottles; weakly net gammate, crest and a few stones and Cx 68+ light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; boulders on the surface. firm; massive (parent material loess). Classification Common name: southern yellow- grey earth Technical name: weakly to mod- Cashmere silt loam Reference symbol 3 erately enleached weakly gam- Location 805 mS on old Taitapu mate pallic soil the Road from junction with. Pro- vincial Highway 75, 18 m up drive, NZMS2 S84/4 946468 Summit silt loam Reference symbol 2 Topography Rolling top of ridge Location On Summit Road 9 m upslope Slope; aspect; altitude 80; N; 30 m from road; 366 mN of Ander- Parent material Basaltic tuff on basalt NZMS2 S84/4 992419 635-890 son’s track, .Rainfall mm On Overall drained Topography rolling top of summit 183 m Drainage - moderately well down from crest on convex hilly Internal - medium slope Present vegetation Pasture (ryegrass, white clover) Slope; 120; W; 503 Native Silver aspect; altitude m ’ vegetation tussock loess greywacke Parent material Mainly from but Horizon Depth some basaltic material cm Ax 0-15 dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) silt loam; Rainfa// ’ I 020 mm frifible; moderate fine nut structure; many Drainage Overall well drained - worm casts; many stones and gravel-sized Internal medium - pieces of basaltic material, Present vegetation Silver tussock, bracken B, 15-46 reddish brown (5YR 4/3) clay loam; friable; Natural vegetation Podocarp forest moderate fine nut structure; few worm casts; few pieces of basaltic material, Horizon Depth Bs 46-86 dark reddish brown (2.5YR 3/4) clay loam; en’ friable; weak fine nut structure; few stones of A, 0-5 very dark grey (10YR 3/1) silt loam; very basaltic material, friable; weak fine nut structure; few small C 86+ basalt. fragments of tuff; high organic matter brown ’ Classification Common name: southern numerous roots; diffuse boundary, granular loam Azz 5-15 very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam; friable; weak and moderate fine nut structure; Technical name: weakly en- many roots, leached prospadic soil 8, 15-25 yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam; friable; weak fine nut structure; many very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) worm casts Rapaki hill soils Reference symbol 4H B, 25-40 coQwi own (10YR 5/4) silt loam (heavier than above); friable; very weak nut structure, Location On Summit Road, NZMS2 S84/4 8/C 40-48 yellowish brown (1.25Y 5/4) silt loam; 988433 friable; massive; abundant fine and coarse distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; Topography Upper valley side few small fragments of tuff; sharp boundary, Slope; aspect; altitude 140; W; 440 m Dr 48-137+ light brown (2.5Y. 5/4) loamy olive sand; Parent material Basaltic tuff firm to very firm in situ but once broken the Rainfall 890-1140 mm fragments are friable; massive; at top end of Drainage Overall well drained horizon few grey veins running horizontally - with iron staining on edge. Internal - rapid 31 Silver pasture (cocks- Parent Colluvium from basalt and basal- Present vegetation tussock and material foot) tic tuff Dicotylous podocarp forest 890-1 140 mm Native vegetation - .Rainfa// Drainage Overall excessive Horizon Depth - Internal medium cm - loam; Remnants A, 0-8 very dusky red (2.5YR 2/2) clay Present vegetation of native vegetation in straobng and nut Native vegetation Mixed podocarp forest (totara, r imedi cerum5b black pine, white pine, etc.), and casts;tejrmany stones of basaltic material, dicoty forest (e.g., 3/2) loam; friable; some ouS B, 8-25 dusky red (2.5YR clay strong fine nut structure; abundant very dusky Griselinia) red (2.5 YR 2/2) worm casts; many stones of Horizon Depth basaltic material, dark brown (2.5YR 3/4) clay loam; B, 25-76 reddish A dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) heavy sik b nu)t v do ;51veak structtwe;stn1any Ocl7 aimb e pe2d5 onde s 11< e;sta t not basaltic material, worm casts, 2%) C 76 scoriaceous basalt’ Bz 15-30 dark reddish brown (2.5YR 3/4) clay loam; brown Classification Common name: southern friable; strongly developed medium crumb granular loam and fme nut structure; few angular fragments Technical name: moderately to of basalt; many worm casts, 82 30-38 reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) clay loam; strongly enleached elprospadic friable; moderately developed fine nut struc- soi ture; many angular fragments of basalt, C(D) 38+ basalt. Classification Common name: steepland soil related to southern brown granu- Reference symbol 5 Evans steepland soil lar loams Technical name: moderately Location On valley side above Otahuna, to NZMS2 S84/4 982413 strongly enleached clini-elpro- soil Topography Steep slope spadic Slope; aspect; altitude 280; S; 244 m Parent material Basaltic agglomerate Rainfa// 635-890 mm Drainage Overall - excessive Cashmere-Takahe complex: intergrade soil Internal - medium Reference symbol 3-1 Present vegetation Silver tussock, cocksfoot, clovers, Location Near airfield above Otahuna, and browntop NZMS2 S84/7 965390 Native vegetation Silver tussock Topography Rolling top of ridge Horizon Depth Slope; aspect; altitude 80; SE; 270 m en, Parent material Colluvium from basalt and loess A, 0-13 very dark grey (10YR 3/1) stony silt loam; friable; moderate fine nut and medium crumb Rainfall 635-890 mm structure; many worm casts, Drainage Overall - well drained (7.5YR 3/2) loam; few 8, 13-25 dark brown silt stones; Internal medium friable; moderate fine nut structure; few - Present vegetation Ryegrass-white clover pasture worm casts, gravelly Native vegetation Hard and silver 8, 25-38 dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) clay tussock loam; rock fragments; friable; mod- many Horizon Depth line nut structure’ erate cm basaltic C 38 agglomerate. A, 0-23 very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam; Classification Common name: steepland soil friable; moderate fine nut structure; many granu- related to southern brown worm casts, 4/2) loam; friable; weak lar loam B 23-69 brown (7.5YR clay fine not structure: few worm casts; few small Technical name: moderately en- pieces of basaltic material, leached clini-prospadic. soil. Be 69-92 brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam; friable; massive as a whole with very weak fine nut structure; few strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; distinct boundary, C(Dr) 92+ light brown (2.5Y 5/4) loam; Stewart steepland soil Reference symbol 6 olive sandy firm; massive. Location On upper valley side, 100 m down Classification Common name: intergrade be- from Summit Road, NZMS2 tween brown granular loams and - S84/4 987417 yellow-grey earths Topography Steep slope Technical name: weakly en- palli-prospadic Slope; aspect; altitude 280; S; 380 m leached soil
32 Cashmere-Takahe hill soils complex: intergrade soil Classlyication Common name: intergrade be- Reference symbol 3H-lH tween upland yellow-brown earths and brown granular loams Location On side of ridge, Anderson’s Technical name: moderately farm, NZMS2 S84/4 972418 to strongly enleached prospado- Topography Moderately steep slope elfulvic soil Slope; aspect; altitude 140; S; 213 m Parent material Colluvium of basalt and loess Rainfall 635-890 mm Overall drained Summit-Rapaki Drainage - well hill soils complex: intergrade soil Internal - medi’um Reference symbol 2H-4H Present vegetation Silver tussock and pasture species Location On Summit Road, NZMS2 S84/4 Native vegetation Hard and silver tussock 992418 Horizon Depth Topography Moderately steep slope CA greyish Slope; aspect; 14o; W; 490 m A; 0-25 very dark brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam; altitude friable; strong fine not structure; few stones Parent material Colluvium of loess and a low but of basaltic material; abundant worm casts, significant content of basaltic dark brown B, 25-46 (10YR 3/3) silt loam; friable; material moderate fine not structure; few basalt stones; Rainfall 890-1140 mm few worm casts, Drainage Overall drained B, 46-60 dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) gravelly - well silt loam; friable; weak fine nut structure; Internal - rapid many stones of basaltic material, Present vegetation Silver tussock, bracken C 60+ basalt. Native vegetation Silver tussock Classification Common name: intergrade be- Horizon Depth brown granular loams and tween cm yellow-grey earths Art 0-8 very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam; Technical name: moderately en- friable; moderate fine nut structure; abundant leached palli-prospadic soil worm casts, An 8-23 dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam; friable; moderate fine nut structure; abundant very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) worm Summit-Rapaki complex: intergrade soil casts, By 23-46 yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silt loaIn; Reference symbol 2-4 friable; weak fine nut structure; many very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) Location On Summit Road, NZMS2 S84/4 worm casts; few basalt 992449 stones, By 46-50 horizontal grey veins with strong brown Topography Rolling top of ridge (7.5YR 5/6) edges; few small pieces of basalt, Slope; aspect; altitude 80; N; 410 m C(Dr) 50-127+ light olive brown (2.5YR 5/4) sandy loam; firm; but part Parent material Colluvium of basaltic material massive of column 120 cm wide. Classification Common name: intergrade be- and loess overlying deep loess upland yellow-brown earths Rainfall 890-1 140 mm tween and brown granular loams Drainage Overall - well drained Technical name: moderately to Internal - medium strong,1y enleached prospado- Present vegetation Silver tussock and pasture species elfulvic soil (ryegrass, timothy, clovers) Native vegetation Dicotylous-podocarp forest
Horizon Depth cm Rapaki-Summit hill soils complex: intergrade soil At 0-15 dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) loam; silt Reference symbol 4H-2H friable; strong fine nut structure; many worm casts, Location On Summit Road, NZMS2 S84/4 BI 15-38 yellownsh. brown (10YR 5/6) silt loam; 991428 friable; moderate fine nut structure; few worm Topography Moderately casts, steep slope B, 38-60 yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silt loam; Slope; aspect; altitude 150; S (shady); 460 m friable to firm; massive; few vertical cracks Parent material Colluvium of basalt and loess 30cm apart, overlying loess C 60-102 light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy loam; Rainfall 890-1 140 firm; massive: vertical joints, mm Dr 102-254. light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy loam; very Drainage Overall - well drained firm; massive but part of a large column 90- Internal rapid Oa - egar nt system witle ve Present Silver pasture , vegetation and species edwi s tussock (cocksfoot, vertical veins jointing at many points, ryegrass, clovers) Native vegetation Dicotylous-podocarp forest 254+ tuff.
33 Horizon Depth Motukarara silt loam, strongly saline phase Reference symbol 8 A 0 very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam; friable; moderate fine nut structure; abundant Location 800 m along Jarris Road from worm casts; abundant roots; many stones of Ride Road, 200 mN in ad- basalue matenal, dock, NZMS2 S84/7 927329 4/2) loam; friable; mod. B, 23-46 brown (7.5YR clay (in depression) erate fine nut structure; many very dark Topography Flat greyish brown (10YR 3/2) worm casts; few Slope; aspect; 2 m altitude -; -; stones of basalt, Parent material Alluvium and lacustrine deposits friable; 8, 46-76 brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam; weak from greywacke fine nut structure; few worm casts; few basalt Rainfall 635 mm stones; few roots; sharp boundary; surface Overall poor looks shaved, Drainage - loam; firm Dr 76-137 light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy Internal - slow peds friable; few but individual are massive; Present vegetation Salt marsh vegetation: glasswort, joints in loess but no veining. vertical glaucous goosefoot, salt grass, Classification Common name: intergrade be granular sethera tween brown loams and Horizon Depth yellow-brown earths upland em Technical name: moderately to At 0-23 black (10YR 2/1) silt loam; friable; medium strongly enleached elfulvo- strong crumband nut structure; reddish brown prospadic soil (5YR 5/3) root stains, Bg 23-38 greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) sandy loam; friable; massive; many strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles, BG 38-68 grey (2.5Y 5/0) medium sand; friable; single grained; sharp boundary, B/C 68-98 grey (5Y 5/1) silt loam; firm; massive; sharp boundary, D 98+ grey (10YR 5/1) fine sand; very friable; single 7 Temuka silt loam Reference symbol grained. Classification Common name: saline gley recent Location 400 mE of farmhouse on Taitapu soil Back Road Technical name: hydrous very 400 mS of junction with Ward weakly enleached soloni-luvi- Road, NZMS2 S84/7 913392 madentic soil Topography Undulating, a slight ridge on Notes Topsoil structure varies consider- flood plain, remnant of inter- Wai_ ably according to salinity. mediate terrace of the makariri River system Slope; 5.5 m aspect; altitude -; -; Parent material Alluvium from reworked loess Horotane silt loam Reference symbol 9 Rainfall 635 mm poor Drainage Overall - Location Gebbies Valley 800 m N of Internal - very slow Withell Road and 400 mE of Present vegetation Pasture species (ryegrass, timothy, Gebbies Pass Road, NZMS2 browntop) S84/7 975340 Native vegetation Raupo swamp Topography In depression on valley floor
Horizon Depth S/ope; aspect; altitude 1o;-; 5 m cm Parent material Alluvium from reworked loess, greyish 3/2) Az 0-23 very dark brown (10YR silt basalt, and some greywacke loam; friable; medium moderate to strong Rainfall 635-760 mm nut structure; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) Drainage Overall poor root stams, - Bg 23-46 grey (10YR 5/1) sill loam; firm; nut structure; internal - very slow many strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles’ Present vegetation Pasture species (ryegrass, white grey 5/1) heavy loam; very firm; BG 46-84 (5Y silt clover) massive; many strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) Native vegelation Raupo swamp mottles, C 84-107 greyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) fine sandy loam; Horizon Depth friable; massive, cm D 107+ grey (10YR 5/1) fine sand; very friable; A 0-23 dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam; abundant brown (10YR 5/3) mottles- friable; moderately well developed medium Classification Common name: gley soil nut structure; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) root Technical name: hydrous weakly stams, Bg 23-38 grey (5Y 5/1) silt loam; firm; moderately enleached madentic Soil developed coarse blocky structure; abundant Notes All boundaries are diffuse. distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles,
34 I
BG 38-88 olive (5Y 5/3) heavy silt loam; very firm; Classification Common name: gley recent soil strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) massive; many Technical name: hygrous weakly mottles; sharp boundary’ enleached madenti-luvic soil C 88+ grey (5Y 5/1) fine sand; single grained; friable. Classification Common name: gley recent soil Technical name: hydrous very weakly enleached luvi-madentic Walkuku sand Reference symbol 12 soil Location 600 m NW along Taitapu Back Road, 200 m north in middle of Taitapu silt loam Reference symbol 10 paddock, NZMS2 S84/7 922383 Topography Undulating dune in littoral Location 600 mN of junction of Old Tai- sand zone of Lake Ellesmere tapu Road and Rhodes Road, Slope; aspect; 6 NZMS2 S84/7 937417 altitude -; -; m Parent material Aeolian sand Topography Flat to gently undulating flood plain Ramfall 635 mm Drainage Overall Slope; 7 excessive aspect; altitude -; --; m - Internal very rapid Parent material Alluvium from greywacke - Present Pasture (browntop, Rainfall 635 mm vegetation species poor Drainage Overall - timothy) Native vegetation Karamu, sand convolvulus Internal - very slow Present vegetation Pasture (ryegrass, white clover) Horizon Depth Native vegetation Swamp vegetation A Oclm brown (10YR 5/3) fine sand; friable; fine Horizon Depth weak nut to single-grained structure; diffuse cm boundary, At 0-23 dark grey loam; friable; (10YR 4/1) silt B 15-46 grey (10YR 5/1) fine sand; loose; single moderate medium nut structure; strong grained; some iron staining, brown (7.5YR 5/6) root stains, C 46+ grey (10YR 5/1) fine sand; loose; single BG 23-53 light grey (2.5Y 7/2) heavy silt loam; very grained. firm; massive; many medium strong brown Classification Common name: yellow-brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles, sand C 53-68 grey (5Y 5/1) medium sandy loam; firm; massive, Technical name: moderately to D 68+ grey (10YR 5/1) medium sand; very friable; strongly enleached voli-subfuivic single grained. Soil Classification Common name: gley recent soil Technical name: hydrous very weakly enleached luvi-madentic soil Waimairi peaty loam Reference symbol 13
Kaiapoi silt loam Reference symbol 11 Location 800 m E along Rhodes Road from junction with Old Taitapu
Location N. of Taitapu on Old Tal-. Road, 9m N of.road, NZMS2 Road 600 mS of Rhodes tapu S84/4 944412 Road, NZMS2 S84/4 932408 Topography Depression Topography Undulating Slope; aspect; altitude -; 7 m Slope; aspect; altitude 7 m -; -; -; Parent material Peat and alluvium Parent material Alluvium from greywacke Rainfall 635 mm Rainfall 635 mm Drainage Overall very poor Drainage Overall imperfect - - Internal very slow internal slow - - Present vegetation Rushes and sedges Present vegetation Pasture (ryegrass, white clover) Native vegetation Raupo, flax, toetoe Native vegetation Rushes and sedges Horizon Depth Horizon Depth em em At 0-30 black (10YR 2/1) peaty loam; non-sticky, A 0-23 dark greyish brown silt loam; (10YR 4/2) As 30-80 very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) peat; friable; moderate medium nut structure, non-sticky; sharp boundary, B, 23-46 greyish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam; D 80+ grey (5Y 5/1) silt loam; firm; massive; firm; massive; many strong brown mottles, strongly gleyed. BG 46-76 grey (IOYR 5/1) medium sand; very friable; Classification Common name: organic soil single grained, Technical name: hydrous moder- C 76+ grey (10YR 5/1) fine sand; loose; single grained. ately enleached luvi-platic soil
35 SOILS INDEX
reference 8c Motokarara silt loam, imperfectly . phase symbol soilname page drained and strongly saline 25 .. 3H Cashmere hill soils 17 8e Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly
...... phase Cashmere series I 6 drained and weakly saline 25 ...... 3 Cashmere silt loam 16 8a Motukarara silt loam, moderately saline
...... 3-1 Cashmere-Takahe complex 21 phase 25
...... 3H-lH Cashmere-Takahe hill soils complex 21 8f Motukarara silt loam, moderately well .. phase 5 Evans steepland soils 20 drained and weakly saline 25
...... 9c Horotane sandy loam 26 8 Motukarara silt loam, strongly saline .. .. phase 9d Horotane sandy loam, imperfectly 25 .. ., .. .. drained phase 26 8b Motukarara silt loam, weakly saline .. .. phase Horotane series 26 25 ...... 8 9 Horotane silt loam 26 4 Rapaki clay loam I ...... 9a Horotane silt loam, imperfectly drained 4H Rapaki hill soils 19 ...... phase 26 Rapaki series 18
...... 95 Horotane silt loam, moderately well 4-2 Rapaki-Summitcomplex 21
.. .. orained phase 26 4H-2H Rapaki-Summit hill soils complex 22
.. < .. llb Kaiapoi sand 27 6 Stewart steepland soils 20
...... Ha Kaiapoi sandy loam 27 2H Summit hill soils 16 ...... Kaiapoi series 27 2-4 Summit-Rapaki complex 21 ...... 11 Kaiapoi silt loam 27 2H-4H Summit-Rapaki hill soils complex 21 ...... 81 Motukarara sand, moderately saline Summit series I5 ...... phase 26 3 Summit silt loam 16 ...... 27 8h Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly Taitapu series .. . . . 27 drained and moderately saline phase 26 10 Taitapu silt loam . . .. 20 8i Motukarara sandy loam, imperfectly 1-3 Takahe-Cashmere complex .. . . hill 20 drained and weakly saline phase 26 1H-3H Takahe-Cashmere soils complex .. . . 8g Motukarara sandy loam, moderately la Takahe fine sandy loam 13
.. .. saline phase 25 I H Takahe hill soils 14 ...... 11 8j Motukarara sandy loam, moderately Takahe series .. . .. 13 well drained and moderately saline 1 Takahe silt loam ...... phase 26 Temuka series 23
...... 8k Motukarara sandy loam, moderately 7 Temuka silt loam 23 ...... well drained and weakly saline phase 26 12 Waikuku sand 27 ...... Motukarara series 24 Waikuku series 27 ......
...... 8d Motukarara silt loam, imperfectly 13 Waimairipeatyloam .. ..27 27 drained and moderately saline phase 25 Waimairi series ......
A. R. SHEARER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND-1974 SOILMAPOFPARTOFTHEPORTHILLS ANDADJACENTPLAINS, CANTERBURY,NEWZEALAND N.Z.SoilBureauMapl38 -" u us 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 I I 1 . I I 550oooN 1 I -I I I I I abooooN :PHYSIOGRAPHICLEGENDOFSOILS 1H SOILSOFTHEHILLS 10 SOILSOFTHEPLAINS 1 rollingland 3 -ofthe -ofthevalleyfloors 10 -1H Takahesiltloam 1 silt Halswell .Horotane loam------49- -49 sandy10am miei 1soaanm Horotane . 9c 1H 3 Cashmeresiltloam 3 -oftheintermediateterrace O 1H 1 Rapaki clayloam 4 11 1 Temukasiltloam- ---- 1 1H3H -of hillyland plain 9d - the --ofthelowterraceandflood 9d 404 Takahehill soils TH --- Taitapusilt 10 1H Summithill soils 2H * loam 48 1H 48 ----- Motukararasiltloam 8to8f 3 ’ ’ - 3H -- , Cashmerehill soils 1H 3H- Motukararasandyloam 8gto8k 1H soils 4W* 10 3H-1H. 1 9c Rapaki hill sand 1 Motukarara 3 -98 1 -ofthesteepland Kaiapoi siltloam... 11 3 - 1H g sandy 11 31 Evanssteeplandsoils Kaiapoi loam 1H 1H-3H- - .Kaiapoi sand 11b 3 ; 1 . Stewartsteeplandsoils Waimairi peatyloam 13 1 3H 47 -- 47 1H _ - , 3H-10. 3H, -ofthesanddunes 9d 3 3 Waikukusand 1H 1H 3 4-2 11 9d 3M--1H 1H-3H 2H-4H 1 , Lansdowne 11a 2-4 PEDOLOGICALLEGENDOFSOILS 46- 11a 3-1 -46 3H 1H 11 9 1H . 4H--2H 3 H3H YELLOW-GREYEARTHS(pallicsoils) COMPLEXESOFUPLANDYELLOW- GLEYRECENTSOILS - 1 3H 5 from1oess BROWNEARTHSBROWNGRANULAR (luvi-madenticandmadenti- - -1H, LOAMS, ANDINTERGRADES luvicsoils) e5 3 4-2 withsubhumidclimate (elfulvic, elprospadic, elfulvi-prospadic, 1H 4-2 Takahesilt: loam 1 andprospado--elfulvicsoils, Horotanesiltloam 10 1H 24 etc.) Horotanesiltloam 45 1 - 4 45 Takshefinesandyloam... 1a withhumidclimate phase - - imperfectlydrained 1- 3-1 3 . 3 TH-3H 4H-2H Takahehill soils ______fromloesswithsomebasalt Horotanesiltloam,moderately 9b 10 9 1H-3H Summit-Rapakicomplex 2-4 well dramedphase True 1H UPLANDYELLOW-BROWNEARTHS 2H4H Horotanesandyloam 9c Magnetic ge\ Summit--Rapaki hill soilscomplex - JS’ 3H-1H 1 4-2 3H-1H (elfulvicsoils) Horotanesandyloam 1 1 - pmid frombasaltwithsomeloess imperfectlydrainedphase 9d TH GovernorsBay complex 10 11 tilo climate Taitapusiltloam- 2 Rapaki-Summithill soilscomplex Kaiapoisiltloam 44- 9 1H-3H 4-2 4H-2H -44 Summitsiltloam 2H ------11a 3H Summithill soils * GLEYSOILS(madenticsoils) Kaiapoisandyloam------4 2H Kaiapoisand 11b 1H-3H 1 a 4H BROWNGRANULARLOAMS Temukasiltloam ------3H-1 1 3H-TH 2H-4H (prospadicandelprospadcsods) YELLOW-BROWNSANDS 11 H-1H SALINEGLEYRECENTSOILS (voli-subfulvicsoils) 3 -1 frombasalt (soloni-madenti-luvicandsoloni- Waikukusand H-1 4H2H withsubhumidclimate luvi-madentic ------4H 2H - . -soils) 10 1H-3H - me Cashmeresilt loam 3 ORGANICSOILS(platicsoils) 43 MagneticDeclination19"57. 44 1H 6 -43 3H Motukararasiltloam, strongly Waimairi peatyloam - & Cashmerehill soils 2 _1 salinephase Annual i +5 2H-4H __ ..-- tion 3H1H 1 3H-1H fi withhumidclimate Motukararasiltloam, moderately Rapaki clayloam 4 salinephase 3H-1H Motukararasiltloam, weakly 4 ------4H * 9 1H3H 5i 1 3 -0 Rapaki hill soils saliIiephase ------1H-3H 61 STEEPLANDSOILSRELATEDTO dMotukdararad olnoam,s nper 13 BROWNGRANULAR Motukararasiltloam, imperfectly prospadicandclini-elprospadicLOAMS(clini-sods, etc.) phase 42- la 1H 1H-3H 4H-2H -42 drainedandmoderatelysaline Soil suiveybyE. Griffiths, SoilBureau, 4 frombasalt Motukararasiltloam, imperfectly DepartmentofScientificandIndustrial 1H 3H-1H withsubhumidclimate drainedandweaklysalinephase_ Research, Christchurch, 1970.Basedata 9d 1 4-2 steepland,soils Motukararasiltloam, moderatelywellphase fromLandsandSurveyDepartment. 10 5 Evans _.------drainedandweaklysaline -- PublishedbytheDepartmentofScientific 6 withhumidclimate Motukararasandyphaseloam, andIndustrial Research, NewZealand, 1974. 11 13 1 Stewartsteeplandsoils moderatelysaline 3H ___ Motukararasandyloam, imperfectly 4H drainedandmoderatelysalinephase 86 2H- COMPLEXESOFYELLOW-GREY Motukararasandyloam, imperfectly 41- 10 1-3 -41 EARTHS,BROWNGRANULAR phase V 9 9d la 5 3H LOAMS,prospadic,ANDINTERGRADESprospado-pallic, dramedandweaklysaline _ (pallic, kaatreaal BibliographicReference 9a 13 Otahuna 10 palli-prospadic 10 Taltapu. and sods, etc.) moderatelysalinephase GRIFFITHS, E. 1974: Soil mapofpartof 13 CoopersKnob withsubhumidclimate MotukararasandydraionaeTandloam,------moderately PortHillsand plains, the 8f 3H 2H 4H 61880’ phase adjacent Canterbury, New 11 -1H - fromloesswithsomebasalt well drained.andweaklysaline Zealand.Scale1 :31 680. 1H 1 Motukararasand,moderately Takahe-Cashmerecomplex 3 saline hase Takahe-Cashmerehill soilscomplex----- 40 8f 40 - 1 3H-1H 5 - frombasaltwithsomeloess 7 3H1H Cashmere-Takahecomplex - 3H-1H 9 TH-3H Cashmere-Takahehill soilscomplex *Areastoosmalltobemappedseparately la la 4H-2H 1H la 5 2-4 31 39 8e 8f - 39 - 7 - 8 1 1 3H-1H 1H 4-2 1H-3H 8a 4 .:0. 4H-2H 1 3 2H4H 6 Scale1:31680 3H-1 - 4-2 - Inches One 3H (2 Mile) 38- 8i 1H -1H 4- -38 0 to 1 2 . 8b 9b )H 4 2 2 5 OFO IMileS . - : 4H2H 1000 . - 1H 1 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 :. 13 1 1 4H-2H I IYards .: 0 1 3 .. 8g 3H-1H 1H-3H 2 IKilometres : -9b 1 3H-1H 1H ,1H 8i .; 3-1 4H-2H 37 1H - .. 1 1 4 -37 13 81. 12...1H~3H 11b 3H-1H 6 8i - TH 1H 1H 3H 1 1H - 3-1 09-e 8e 3 Ahunn 36 3HTH 3H1H 36 - : : :.. 9a - 1 , . - 8e 89 - 5 : -z.. . .1730E 13 1 CHRISTCHURCH ,- 1 9c 3 8i Sa 1H TH 3-1, -: 13 1 ~----- PAPARLA 35- :::- 88 1 "’-----...... : 12 3H3 -35 HEATHCOTE 81 13 H- / go 1H 1 13 9b Ialswell LYT L garbour 8d la la TH 9a 1 1H Lyttelton Sc . :.-- 8b sorssay TasmanSea 13 la 34- 8h : : 1H 9d 9a 1H . H- 9 9a -34 8e 1H 9b la 1 1 ///Tapu 8 se 8e la /. HALSWELL MT. HERBERT . 1 t2. 1H * ’ 9d 8d 8k . 9a WaimakaririR . . 8i 1 Sh Christchurch : 81 ::.: .: 44?S 33 . 9 9b -33 ELLESIVERE - .Survey 8b 8) : nMII.LER Sc ca%erptury. la 884 3 :. S83 Motukarara SouthIsland, REFERENCE 8 8e 10 WAl REWA NewZealand 32 8 Motukarara se Road - -32 River LakeEllesmere 8a TrigStation 8a SoilBoundary 8i 81 :42 31 .8e - 8a Areal Scale -31 8 .: 8a CanterburyBight S93 4 8a 13 100AcresinUnitsof10Acfes Lake . 13 (40HectaresinUnitsof4Hectaresapprox.) LocalityMapshowingindextoN.Z.M.S. I sheets, andsurroundingcounties. - SoilBureauMaps coveringtheregionare138-this,survey;124- Christchurch. donanNfilesmer City;29-EllesmereCounty; 66-HeathcoteCounty; 77-partPaparuaCounty. 8 I 1 I I. I I I I I I I I 530anoN 91 92 93- . 94 .95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 part plains, Toaccompany ofsoilmapof of PortHillsand Canterbury, NewZealand part Extendedlegend the adjacent GRIFFITHS, E. 1974: Soilmapof ofthePortHills Summaryofsoilandsomeagriculturalpropertiesofsoilmappingunits andadjacentplains, Canterbury, NewZealand. 1:31680.
Associatedsoil units Landuse Carryingcapacity Soil limitations Degree Area Reference potential 6 (stockunits/ha) to uses andtype (ha) number
YELLOW-GREYEARTHS (Pallicsoils)
gammate 1 Takahesilt Southern Weaklyenleachedweakly Loessfrom Hardtussock Rollingtopsof 630-900 ImperfectlyYery 23am darkgreyishbrownnutsiltloam; friable, Sandyloamtopsoil; Weaklystructuredtopsoil; massive Takahefinesandyloam 3SCD ASCD 6 81 Impermeablefragipan; Slight; 770 1 yellow-grey pallicsoilwithmoderately greywacke spurs, up m gamma- weaklystructured loan to275 drained Slow yellownsh mottledBIhorizon; veryhardfragipanwithfaint top-sheetand 23cm . brownmassivesiltloam; firm’ earth developedfragipanfromweakly fragipanvariesfrom tion; firmlightolivebrownsiltloam soils; lowinfiltra- rill tomoderatelyargillisedloess 30cm lightolivebrownmassivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; veryhard, 30-45cminthick- subsoil tionrate; droughty ness. summer on lightolivebrownmassivefinesandyloam; firm. In
yellow-grey pallic greywacke horizon; sandy moreintensemottling, and inwinter; imper- sheetand sandyloam soilwithmoderatelyto fewrushes ofbroadspursand drained slow 15cm yellowishbrownnutsiltloan; mottledstrongbrown; FeandMn textures, earth stronglydevelopedfragipan onknobsatthe texturesonlower ironandmanganeseconcretions meablefragipan; wind concretions; friable’. fromweaklyargillisedloess endofspurs,up ridges, siltyon droughtyinsummer to275m 50em lightolivebrownsiltloan; mottledstrongbrown; veryhard, upperpartsof ridges. on lightolivebrownmassivefinesandyloan; firm. 1H Takahehill Southern Weaklytomoderatelyenleached Colluvium Hardand Moderatelysteep 630-900 Well Slow 15em darkgreyishbrownnutsandyloam; friable, Siltloamtopsoil AsforTakahesiltloambutthinner Takahe-Cashmerehillsoilscomplex 2S+3SC 380to 21 5 Erodibletopsoil; Moderateto1780 18 soils yellow-grey weaklygammatepallicsoils fromloess silver valleysides drained onupperslopes; soilabovefragipan USC impermeablefragipan severe; 15cm paleyellowblockysiltloam; firm’ earths withmoderatelyt6strongly onloess tussock facingnorthand shallowtofragipan sheet, rill,
UPLANDYELLOW-BROWNEARlHS (Elfuvicsoils)
greywacke podocarp yellowish sheet loam yellow-brown elfulvicsoilfrommoderately and ridges, above drained yellowish uviumontop(15em); subsoil; brownsilt cm silt . .friable earth argillisedloess forest 275m 10 brownnut loam; friable’ onsunnyaspects loomsubsoil 15cm yellowishbrownnutheavysiltloam; friable, somemottlingand 8 bleachedjointsin cm lightolivebrownmassivelightsiltloam; firm’ Bhorizon. on lightolivebrownmassivesandyloan; firm. Moderate; in 2H soils brownearths elfulvicsoilsfrommoderately greywacke andpodocarp steepvalley excessively from12-36cm; top- yellowishbrownsiltloamvithvell slipsand 2H-hH, to 15an yellowishbrownnutsiltloam; friable, some WH-2H argillisedloess forest sidesandtopsof drained soilsmayhavecoll- developednutstructureintopsoils sheet ridges,above 15cm lightolivebrownnutheavysiltloom; friable, uvium. ar1subsoils (notmapped 275m separateld on lightolivebrownmassivesandyloam; firm. BROWNGRANULARLOAMS(Prospadicandelprospadicsoils)
granular weakly moderately scoria, ridges, up well basalt; rockout- onreddishbrownmoderately sheet loam loam from to tussock to 30cm reddishbrowncrumbclayloam; friable, topsoil argillisedbasalt, basaltictuffagglomerate, 275m drained crops5-100ofthe structuredclayloam andash tuffandash, 61cm darkreddishbrownnutclayloamwithstones; friable, surfacearea. some loess on basaltrock.
granular prospadic weakly andash, slopesonupper of surfacearea. withbasaltfragmentsinBhorizon andoutcrops slipsand soils loams soilsfrom to tussock drained 25cmreddishbrowncrumbclayloamwithafewstones; friable, the er moderatelyargillisedbasalt someloess valleysides, up somesheet andbasaltictuff to275m 20em darkreddishbrownnutclayloamwithmanystones; friable, on basaltrock.
granular moderatelyandash, some podocarp ridges,above rock. structure stonesandoutcrops someslips loam loam elprospadicsoilfrom drained 25cm duskyredcrumbclayloam; friable, eloped argillisedbasaltandbasaltic loess forest 275m tuff 30cmdarkreddishbrownnutclayloan; friable, on basaltictuff.
granular andash, some podocarp steepvalley abovebasalt crumbandnut slips 2H-hH soils loans elprospadiosoilsfrom to drained 18cm duskyrednutclayloan; friable; manybasaltfragments, stronglydeveloped moderatelyargillisedbasaltand loess forest sidesandtopsof variesfrom5-25 structure NH-2H
STEEPLANDSOILSRELATEDTOBROWNGRANULARLOAMS (Clini-prospadicandclini-elprospadicsoils,etc.)
b Shallowness; out-, Moderate; 5 prospadic gravelly 160 landsoils relatedto soils, etc. from scoria, some tussockand to275m drained 30%ofthesurface clayloam, moderatelydev- crops; steepness soIpaheetd 13cmdarkbrownnutsiltloam; friable’. southernbrown weaklyargillisedbasalt loess scrub area. elopedstructure granularloans 13cmdarkreddishbrownnutgravellyclayloan; friable, on agglomerate.
clini-elprospadicsoils, etc.:hombasalt, some forest scarpsandlower angularpiecesof stronglydevelopedstructureandafew 3SC ness sheet landsoils relatedto drained 15cmdarkreddishbrowncrumbclayloamwithafewstones; friable’ southernbrown moderatelyargillisedbasalt loess valleysides, basaltonsurface basaltstonesorgravel granularloams andbasaltic above275m 8cm reddishbrownnutclayloanwithmanystones; friable, andthroughout tuff profile. on basalt. COMPLEXESOFYOW-GREYEARTHS,BROWNGRANULARLOAMS,ANDINTERGRADES(Pallic,prospadic,prospado-pallic,andpalli-prospadicsoils,etc.)
yel- 630-900 Moderately Very AsforTakahesiltloamandCashmeresiltloam. Someintergrades "Islands"ofCashmeresiltloamamongd; TakahesiltloanandCashmeresilt 3SC+ USC+ 6 81 Veryslowinternal Slight; 30 1-3 1-3 Takahe-Cashmere Complexof Weaklytomoderatelyenleached Loess, basalt, HardandsilverOnrollingtops (D) (D) complex earths pallicsoils, withmoderately and well slow buttheirareais Takahesiltloam loma drainage sheet (75% low-grey colluviumtussock ofridges, upto small. Takahe,25% andbrowngran- developedfragipan, andpro- fromloess 275m drained very Cashmere) ularloams spadicsoils andbasalt
6 Slowinternaldrain" Moderate; 575 1H-3H cm By onloess; darkbrown darkyellowishsoils age hillsoils low-greyearths,prospadic,prospado-pallic, andcolluviumtussock slopesonlower drained 25cmyellowishbrownnutsiltloam; mottledstrongbrown* friable 76 thick; to sheetand complex(25% browngranular andclini-prospado-pallicsoils, fromloess valleysides ’ ’ horizonbleached; brownsiltloan,moderatelydeveloped rill Cashmere,50% intergrades fragipan loess to275m steeptosteep on lightolivebrownmassivesandyloam; firm. slopeswithshallow intergrades) profiles.
3-1 Cashmere-Takate Complexof Weaklyenleachedprospadic, (50% granular pallic palli-prospadic andcolluvium ridges,up drained areahasoutcrops; viumonbasalt; darkbrowntobrown loam sheet complex brown and tussock to 66cm brownnutclayloam- friable yellow- soils, frombasalt 275m ’ ’ someshallow clayloamorsiltloamwithafew Cashmere, 25% loams, etc. pieces Takahe, 25% greyearths, andloesson 23cm brownnutsandyloamwithafewbasaltstones; friable, profiles. ofbasalt, modoratelyto stronglydevelopednutstructure intergrades) andintergrades basalt on basalt.
granular pallic, palli-prospadic, and andcolluvium slopesonupper drained areahasoutcrops; viumonbasalt; darkbrowntodark soils sheetand hillsoilscom- brown tussock 20emdarkbrownnutsiltloamwithafewbasaltstones* friable yellovish gravel- soilcreep, plex(25% 10ams, yellow- clini-palli-prospadicsoils, frombasalt valleysides, up ’ ’ somemoderately brownsiltloamto Takahe, 500 andintergrades basalt slopeswithshallow developednutstructure intergrades) on basalt. profiles.
6Landuse: present, potential &Onslopinglandtheloesshasbeenstrippedawayinvaryingamountsto I Soilclassification: conunonnaune partlyorcompletelyexpose basalt. Onsuchslopes, colluvial mixturesof al the parent Thecommonnameofeachsoil isgiven soilgrouplevelandfollows / IE6) Ke7tosymbols loessandbasaltareformed, andthesemixturescomprisethe materialsof type to theclassificationusedin"SoilsofNewZealand, Part1"(N.Z. SoilBureau ’ Intensityof landuse mostofthesoils. Acompleterangeofsoilsoccurs, therefore, fromthose production. derivedfrompureloess derivedfrompurebasalt, withintergrades 1968a), and"GeneralSurveyofSoilsofSouthIsland, NewZealand"(N.Z. 1 Veryextensivefarming; drystock, mainlywool tothose SoilBureau 4Drainageclass: overall; internal betweenthemformedfrommixedcolluvium. Wheresuchsoilsareintimatelymixed 1968b). 2 Extensivefarming; breedingstock, mainlywoolandstoresheep. inthelandscapetheycannotbemappedashomogeneoussoilunits(thesoiltype) Overall DrainageClasses Internal Soil DrainageClasses 3 Semi-extensivefarming; breedingstock, somefattening. poorly stock, mainlyfattening. andhavethereforebeenmappedassoilcomplexes, whichincludenotonlythe very drained none 4 Semi-intensivefarming; breeding soil namedbutalso intergrades. Forexample, where ismore classification: name poorlydrained veryslow 5 Intensivefarming; breedingstock, allfattening, cashcropping. types their there 2Soil technical cashcropping. basaltthanloessinthecolluviumthecomplexeshavebeenmappedasCashmere- imperfectlydrained slow 6 Veryintensivefarming, e.g., fattening, TakaheorRapaki-Summitcomplexes,andwhereloesspredominatesasTakahe- Thetechnicalnambofeachsoil typeisgiventoCategoryVIleveland medium moderatelywelldrained Kindsoflanduse CashmereorSummit-Rapakicomplexes. Becauseof widespreaddistributionof followstheclassificationusedin"SoilsofNewZealand, Part1"(N.Z. welldrained rapid the SoilBureau1968a). Sheepfarming ACashcropping complexesandthedifferencesbetweentheminlanduse, eachcomplexhasbeen somewhatexcessivelydrained veryrapid S describedseparately. soil occurwithin complexeshavebeen CCattlefarming B Fruitgrowing The typesthat the excessivelydrained gardening describedseparatelyunder appropriatesoilseries; soildescribedby pp. DDairyfarming MMarket profilethe the (TaylorandPohlen1962, 38-9)* Supplementaryfeedcropping therepresentativesoil foreachcomplexintheExtendedLegendisan 3Slope; physiography; elevation F intergradeanditisonlyoneofarangeoccurringwithinthatmappingunit, but itisfairlyrepresentative. Classesoflandformsdescribedare: 7Carryingcapacity(stockunits/ha) present,potential plains 5Briefdescriptionofrepresentativeprofile : Flat - andterraces Undulating mostslopesunder3. profile profiles TheidathuweresuppliedbyP. R. Barrer, MinistryofAgricultureandFisheries, - The describedbrieflyisrepresentativeofmost ofthesoil Easyrolling -mostslopesunder5 mappingunit, thoughinplacesprofilesoccurwhichdiffermarkedlyfrom Rolling mostslopesunder12* properties the - onedescribedin suchasdepth,texture,andcolour. Suchvariations Moderatelysteep -mostslopesunder23.,manyslopesbetween12* and230 arelistedinaseparatecolumn. 8 Area Moderatelysteeptosteep-mostslopesunder300, manyslopesbetween180 and300 profiles Steep -mostslopesover300,manyslopesbetween300and380 Inthesoilcomplexes, therepresentativesoil describedarethoseof Theareaswereestimatedforeachsoilmappingunitbycuttingoutallareas intergradesoils. Thesoil occurwithin complexesare ofeachunitfromasoilmapandweighing paper. Areasaregiven TaylorandPohlen1962, p. the typesthat the the tothe (after 30)* describedseparatelyundertheappropriatesoil series. nearest5hectares. Toaccompany part GRIFFITHS, E. 1974: Soilmapof ofthePortHills plains, ExtendedlegendPortHills(continued) andadjacent Canterbury, NewZealand. 1:31680. (N.Z. SoilBureauMap138) Sheet3of3sheets .
SALINEGLEYRECENTSOILS. (soloni-madenti--luvicandsoloni-madenticsoils)(continued) Salt Undulating 630 ImperfectlySlow 23cmdarkgreynutsandyloam; strongbrown Sandyloam; moderatelygleyedB Waikukusand; Kaiapoi 8i MotukararasandySalinegley Hygrousweaklyenleachedsoloni-Alluviumand marsh rootstains; friable, sand; 3Sc 53CD 10 12) 890 Si fromweakly lacustrine vegetation drained horizon; weaklysaline Motukararasiltloam, imperfectly loam, imperfectlyrecentsoil madenti-luvicsoil 15cmgreyishbrownsinglegrainloam(mediumsand); veryfriable drained phase; drainedand argillisedalluviumfrom depositsfrom andweaklysaline greywacke onlightgreysinglegrainfine Waimairipeaty weaklysaline greywacke sand; veryfriable. loam phase 630 Alluvium Saltmarsh Leveeof Moderately Rapid 23cmdarkgreyishbrownnutmediumsandyloam; Sandyloam; veaklygleyedBhorizon; Motukarara 8j MotukararasandySalinegley Hygtoustosubhygrousweakly and the friable, silt10ms, moderately BSC BSCD 5 121 250 8j HalswellRiver well moderatelysaline phase; - loam,moderately recentsoil enleachedsoloni-madenti-luvic lacustrine vegetation 23cmolivemassive saline Motukararasiltloam, rained mediumsandylearfriable welldrainedand soilfromweaklyargillised depositsfrom ’ ’ Imperfectlydrainedandweakly greywacke onlightgreysinglegrainfine phase; moderatelysaline alluviumfromgreywacke sand; veryfriable. saline Motukarara.sandyloam, phase imperfectlydrainedandmoderately salinephase 630 gley Hygrous subbygrousweakly Alluviumand Saltmarsh Leveeofthe Moderately Slow 23cmdarkgreyishbrownnutmediumsandyloam; friable, Sandyloam; weaklygleyedBhorizon; Motukararasandy imperfectly 8k bbtukararasandySaline to loam, 380 5sco 10 121 20 8k lacustrine vegetation HalswellRiver well weaklysaline drained phase; - loom, moderatelyrecentsoil enleachedsoloni-madenti-luvic 23cmolivemassivemedium andmoderatelysaline drained sandyloam’ friable velldrainedand soilfromweaklyargillised depositsfrom ’ ’ Motukararasiltloam, weaklysaline
630 gley weaklyenleachedsoloni- Alluviumand Saltmarsh Leveerunning ImperfectlyVery 23cmverydarkgreyishbrownnutfinesand; friable, Similar Waikuku Sand;stronglygleyedBhorizon; Waikukusand; Motukarara 81 Motukararasand. Saline Hygrous to siltloan, BSC 5SCD 5 121 salinity; veryrapid 560 81 soilfromvery lacustrine vegetation paralleltoedge drained rapid moderatelysaline imperfectly - poorlydrained recentsoil madenti-luvic onlightgreysinglegrainfine sandexceptfor drainedandstronglY internalsoildrain- LakeEllesmere sand* veryfriable from depositsfrom of * * salinephase andmoderately weaklyargillisedalluvium salinityandhigh age; droughtyin greywacke greywacke groundwater. salinephase summer
GLEYRECENTSOILS(luvi-madenticandmadenti--luvisoils) 630-760 Poorly Very 23cmdarkgreyishbrownnutsiltloam; strong Siltloamderivedfromloess; strongtr Taitapusilt 6SCA+ 9 Horotanesilt Gleyrecent Hydrousveryweaklyenleached AlluviumfromRauposwamp Indepressionson brownrootstains; friable, Peatytopsoilin loam 5SCA+ 10 16 Veryslowinternal 120 9 - valleyfloor ained slow depressions, gleyedBhorizon 5D 6D 10am soil luvi-madenticsoilfrommoderatelyreworkedloess, 15cmgreyblockysiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm, mar- soildrainage; high argillisedalluviumfromloess basaltandsome ginaltoWaimairil groundwaterin 51cmolivemassiveheavysilt andbasalt greywacke loam; mottledstrongbrown; veryfirm; somebasalt winter; weakly stronglygleyeds fragments* structuredtopsoil ongreysinglegrain finesand; friable.
veryweaklyenleached AlluviumfromFlaxandtoe- Undulating 630-760 ImperfectlyVery 23cmdarkgreyishbrownnutsilt 9a Horotanesilt Gleyrecent Hygrous loam; strongbravnrootstains; friable Somebasaltfrag- Siltloamderivedfromloess; Motukararasiltloam,weaklysaline 5SCA+ 6scA+ 10 16 Veryslowinternal luvi-madenticsoilfrommoder, reworked toe drained slow 195 9a loam, imperfect- soil 15cm darkbrownnutsiltloam’ friable ments moderatelygleyedBhorizon phase; Taitapusiltloam 5D 6D soildrainage; veally from loess,basalt Lydrainedphase atelyargillisedalluvium ’ ’ structured andsome grey topsoil loessandbasalt 15cmlightbrownish massivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; abundant greywacke Fe/Mnconeretions; firm,
onolivemassivesiltloam; strongbrownmottlesandrootstains; very firm.
loan, moderatelysoil enleachedmadenti-luvicsoil reworked sedge slightridges well 16 Slowinternalsoil 100 9b 41cmlightolivebrown light ments. gleyedBhorizon 6D - welldrained frommoderatelyargillised loess, basalt besldestreams drained nut siltloom; firm, 5D drainage; weakly phase alluviumfromloessandbasalt andsome 25cmpaleolivesinglegrainfinesand; friable, structuredtopsoil
------&BY""" on olivegreysinglegrainfinesand; friable.
AlluviumfromRauposwamp Indepressions 630-760 9c Horotanesandy Gleyrecedt Hydrousveryweaklyenleached Poorly Medium23emverydarkgreynutsandyloam; reddishbrownrootstains; friable, Somebasaltfrag-- Sandyloamderivedfromloess; Horotanesiltloam,imperfectly BSCA+ 68CA+ loam soil luvi-madenticsoilfrommoder- reworked onvalley drained 121 16 Veryslowinternal 60 9c 15cmolivegreynutsandyloam; ments* stronglygleyedBhorizon drainedphase 6D - atelyargillisedalluvianfrom loess, basalt floors mottledstrongbromaandreddishbrown; BD soildrainage friable, loess, basaltandgreywacke, andsome greywacke rhyolite 38cmolivemassivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm;stronglygleyed, ongreymassivesandyloam; friable.
630-760 ImperfectlySlow greyish 9d Horotanesandy Gleyrecent Hygrousveryweaklyenleached AlluvianfromFlaxandtoe- Undulating 23cmdark brownnutsandyloam; friable, Somebasaltfrag- Sandyloamderivedfromloess; Horotanesiltloan; Horotanesilt 53CA+ 6SCA+ loam, imper- soil madenti-luvicsoilfrommoder- reworked toe drained 121 16 Slowinternalsoil 220 9d ments* - 15emgreyishbrownnutsandyloam; friable, moderatelygleyedBhorizon loam,moderatelywelldrainedphase 6D fectlydrained atelyargillisedalluviumfrom loess,basalt 5D drainage greywacke phase loess,basaltand andsome 25emolivemassivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm; moderatelygleyed, greywacke ongreysinglegrainfinesand; friable.
fromSwampvege- Flat gently 630 Poorly grey 10 Taitapusilt Gleyrecent Hydrousveryweaklyenleached Alluvium to Very 23cmdark nutsiltloam; strongbrownrootstains; friable, Siltloamis upto Siltloamderivedfromgreywacke Horotanesiltloan;Motukarara loam soil luvi-madenticsoilfrommoder- greywacke tation undulatingflood drained slow silt 5DosFA5DCSEA BI 131 Veryslowinternal 460 10 30emlightgreymassiveheavy 75cmthickin gleyed - alluviumfrom PRin siltloam; mottledstrongbrown; veryfirm, alluvium; strongly Bhorizon loam, stronglysalinephase +5M +6DCER soildrainage; ’ atelyargillised places; sand high greywacke 15cmgrey +6M groundwaterin massivemediumsandyloam; firm, lensesfound winter ongreysinglegrainmediumsand; veryfriable. sporadically.
630 Imp Slow greyish 11 Kaiapoisilt Gleyrecent Hygrousweaklyenleached AlluviumfromRushesand Undulatingflood 23cmdark brownnutsiltlongfriable, Siltloamis thick- Siltloamderivedfromgreywacke Horotanesiltloan, imperfectly 68DABM6ABMDS greywaoe sedges peainan nfectly 10 16 Slowinternalsoil 295 11 loom soil madnt cluo 23 greyish erindepressions. - cm brownmassivefinesandyloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm, alluvium; moderatelygleyedBhorizon drainedphase; Taitapusiltloam sluv umfonweakly drainage greywacke ongreysinglegrainmediumsand; loose. 630 11a Kaiapoisandy Gleyrecent Hygrousweaklyenleached AlluviumfromFlaxandfern Undulatinglevee ImperfectlyMedium23emdarkgreyishbrownnutsandyloam; friable* Sandyloam greywacke 10am soil madenti-luvicsoilfromweakly greywacke drained derivedfrom Horotanesandyloam, imperfectly 6SDB 6SDB 10 16 80 11a 15emgreyishbrown grain (medium gleyed - argillisedalluviumfrom single loan sand); friable, alluvium; moderately Bhorizon drainedphase; Taitapusiltloam greywacke grey 30cm singlegrainmediumsand; veryfriable, ongreysinglegrainfinesand; loose. 630 11b Kaiapoisand Gleyrecent Hygrousweaklyenleached AlluviumfromFlaxandfern Gentlyundulating ImperfectlyVery 23omdarkgreyishbrown fine nut sand; friable, Sandderivedfromgreywackeallivium; hsCD 5SCD 7 12# Veryrapidinternal soil madenti-luvicsoilfromweakly greywacke drained rapid 25 11b levee - ongreysinglegrain moderatelygleyedBhorizon soil argillisedalluviumfrom mediumandcoarsesand; loose. drainage greywacke YELLOVV-BROWNS.4NDS Nos-summicson)
12 630 Waikukusand Yellow-brown ModeratelytostronglyenleachedAeoliansand SandKaramu Undulatingfixed ExcessivelyVery 15"cmbrownnut/singlegrainfinesand; friable, Smallareasofsilt Finesand; loose; structureless Motukararasiltloam, strongly 15c+ 3SCD 2 Excessivedrainage;wind 465 12 sand voli-subfulvicsoilfromvery andshore sanddunesin drained rapid 30 grey grain loamsindepressions salinephase; greywacke em single finesand; loose; withironstains Horotanesiltloam 2SC droughty weaklyargillised dune convolvulus littoralzoneof betweendunes;over- sands LakeEllesmere ongreysinglegrain finesand; loose. lyingpeatnear 1ax ORGANICSOILS (Platicsons) bapu.
630 13 Waimairipeaty Organicsoil Hydrousmoderatelyenleached Peatand Raupo, flax, Depressionson VerypoorlyVery 30cmblackpeatyloam; non-sticky, Thicknessofpeatis More 45emofpeat Taitapusiltloan; Horotanesilt hDSF 6DMA 7 slowinternal loam luvi-platicsoilfrom plains drained slow than + 15 Very 270 13 moderatelyalluvium andtoetoe flood - 51emverydarkgreyishbrownpeat; 30to150em. loam; Horotanesandyloam Flax+flax soildrainage; high decomposedorganicmatterand non-sticky, 20 groundwater moderatelyargillisedalluvium ongreymassivesiltloom; firm; stronglygleyed. fromgreywacke Totalarea13156hectares
TypedbyMrsB.L.’Fowler,ScienceInformationDivisions DSIR Toaccompany Extendedlegend,PortHills(continued) GRIFFITHS, E. 1974: SoilmapofpartofthePortHills andadjacentplains, Canterbury, NewZealand. 1:31680. Sheet2of3sheets (N.Z. SoilBureauMap138) , LOAMS,ANDINTERGRADES sails,andprospado-eliuMcsoils,etc) . COMPLEXESOFUPLANDYELLOW-BROWNEARTHS,BROWNGRANULAR (ElfuMc,elprospadic,effuMc-prospedic 30-60cmofcollu- Rapaki-Summit 6 900-1150well Medium15em darkgreyishbrownnutsiltloan; friable, Onsunnyaspects Intergradeshave complex 3SC BSC 81 Rockoutcrops; high Slights 60 2-4 Summit-Rapaki Complexofup- Moderatelytostronglyenleach- Loess, basalt, Dicotylous Rollingtopsof hhbmodnra drained sme elevation someslips complex(50% landyellow- edelfulvic, elprospadicand andcolluviumandpodocarp ridges, above 23cm yellowishbrownnutsiltloam; friable, nanghomzon daumbnownes t11amw ely Summit, 25% brownearths, prospado-elfulvicsoils fromloess forest 275m 23cm yellowishbrownmassivesiltloam; fewverticalcracks;friabletofirm, andbleachingin tostronglydevelopednutstructure Rapaki, browngranular andbasalton 25% cracks. intergrades) loams, and loess on lightolivebrownmassivesandyloan; fewverticalcracks; firm. intergrades summit 4 6 900-1150Well Medium8cmverydarkgreyishbrownnutsiltloam; friable, Onsunnyaspects Intergradeshave30-65cmofcollu- hillsoils 3sc 530 Rockoutcrops; high Moderate; 225 2H-4H 2H-4H Summit-Rapaki Complexofup- Moderatelytostronglyenleach- Loess, basalt, SilvertussockModeratelysteep comm drained s w um thbaownto elevation slips soils landyellow- edelfulvic, elprospadicand andcolluvium steepslopes 15em darkgreyishbrownnutsiltloam; friable, hill to ngngnbr nmng & bnolnes t w common, (25% prospado-elfulvic fromloess onuppervalley complex brownearths, soils, etc. yellowish inBhorizon. basaltstones, andmoderatelyto 23cm brownnutsiltloan; frlable,. terracettes Summit, 25% browngranular andbasalton sides, above stronglydevelopednutstructure Rapaki, 50% 10ams, and loess 275m 5cmgreysandyloam; veinswithstrongbrownedges; fewpiecesofbasalt; intergrades) intergrades friable; (horizontalveins), on lightolivebrownmassivesandy10ms; firm.
Intergrades 60-75 6 7E-1150Well Rapid 23cm verydarkgreyishbrownnutsiltloam; friable, 5-10%ofsurface have cmofcollu- Rapakiclayloom 3SC $SC 10 Rockoutcrops; high Slight; 160 4-2 4-2 Rapaki-Summit Complexof Moderatelytostronglyenleach- Basalt, loess, Dicotylous Rollingtopsof drained areahasoutcrops; viumonbasalt; browntodarkbrown elevation fewslips complex(50% browngranular edelprospadic, elfulvicand andcolluviumandpodocarp ridges, above 23cm brownnutsiltloam; friable withmany ’ shallownearout- clayloamorsiltloam Rapaki, 25% loams, upland elfulvi-prospadicsoils frombasalt forest 275m 30cm brownnutsiltloamwithafewbasaltstones; friable, crops. basaltstones, andstronglydev- Summit,25% yellow-brown andloesson elopednutstructure intergrades) earths, and basalt on basalt. intergrades 900-1150Well Rapid 23cm verydarkgreyishbrownnutsiltloamwithmanystones; friable, 5-10%ofsurface Intergradeshave30-90cmofcollu- Rapakihillsoils 3SC ASC 6 8 Rockoutcrops; high Moderate; 955 4H-2H 4H-2H Rapaki-Summit Complexof Moderatelytostronglyenleach- Basalt, loess, Dicotylous Moderatelysteep drained areahasoutcrops; viumonbasalt; profilesasfor elevation slips hillsoils browngranular ede1prospadic, elfulvic, andcolluviumandpodocarp 23 tosteepslopes cm brownnutclayloamwithfewstones friable Rapaki-Summit exceptstonier common, ’ shallownearout- complex complex(25% loams, upland elfulvi-prospadicandclini- frombasalt forest onuppervalley 30cm brownnutclayloamwithfewstones; friable, cropsandonmoder- alsosoil Rapaki, 25% yellow-brown elfulvi-prospadicsoils, etc. andloesson sides, above atelysteep creep, Summits 50% earths, and basalt 275m on basalt. to intergrades) intergrades steepslopes, terracettes
GLEYSOIlS(Madenticsoils) grey grey 6A+6D 630 Poorly Very 23cm verydarkgreyishbrownnutsiltloam; strongbrownrootstains; Sidesofridge Dark to siltloamand Motukararasiltloam, imperfectly SA+5D 10 16 Veryslowinternal 75 7 7 Temukasilt Gleysoil Hydrousweaklyenleachedmaden- Alluvium Rauposwamp Undulating; a - drained slow friable, coveredbysandy heavysiltloam; stronglygleyedB drainedandweaklysalinephase; soildrainage; high loam ticsoilfrommoderately fromre- slightridgeon loanalluyium. horizon Meukdraaed am,kmasaa g unduvater* wokly argillisedalluviumfromloess workedloess floodplain; 23cm greynutsiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm, atd1 nly remnantof 38cm greymassiveheavysiltloam; mottledstrdngbrown; veryfirm, phase formssurfacecap intermediate terrace 23cm greyishbrownmassivefinesandyloam; friable, grey on mottledbrownfinesand;. Veryfriable.
SALINEGREYRECENTSOILS (soloni-madenti-luvicandsoloni-luvic-madenticsoils)
630 Poorly Slow 23 Siltloam; stronglygleyedBhorizon; Motukararasiltloan, imperfectly O+1SC salinity; 8 Motukararasilt Salinegley cm blacknut/crumbsiltloam; reddishbrownrootstains; friable, SiltloaminB ’ 5scD 1 15 slowinter- 730 8 Hydrousveryweaklyenleached Alluviumand Saltmarsh Flat; main - drained horizonisfrom30- stronglysaline drainedandstronglysalinephase; nalsoildrainage; loam, strongly recentsoil solonl-luvi-madenticsoilfrom lacustrine vegetation, depression 15em greyishbrownmassivesandyloam; mottledstrongbrown; * lead. friable, peaty Waikukusand highgroundwaterin salinephase weakly 75cmthick; argillisedalluviumfrom depositsfrome.g., ingfromlake grey grain greywacke 30cm single mediumsand; friable, topsoil; where winter greywacke Salicorniasp.* stronglysaline saltfathen, 30cm greymassivesiltloam; firm’ topsoil darkbrown saltgrass> on greysinglegrainfinesand;--very-friable. andfibrous. Selliera-sp 630 Poorly Slow 23cmblade Siltloam; stronglygleyedBhorizon; Waikukusand( Motukararasandyloam, BSc 5scD 5 15 Salinity; inter- 8a Motukararasilt Salinegley Hydrousweaklyenleachedsoloni-Alluviumand Saltmarsh Flat; main nut/crumbsiltloam; reddishbrownrootstains; friable, slow 165 8a drained moderatelysaline imperfectlydrainedandweakly nalsoildrainage; - loam, moderatelyrecentsoil luvi-madentic. so11. fromweakly lacustrine vegetation depressionlead- 15cm greyishbrown massivesandyloam; mottledstrongbrown; friable> salinephase; Motukararasiltloams high roundwaterin salinephase argillisedalluviumfromgrey- depositsfrom ingfromlake moderatelywelldranned" greywacke 30em greysinglegrainmediumsand; friable, andweakly winter wacke salinephase 30em greymassivesilt10am; firm, on greysinglegrainfinesand; veryfriable. gleyedBhorizon; Motukararasiltloom,moderatelywell3SC 8b Motukararasilt Salinegley Hydrousweaklyenleachedsoloni-Alluviumand Saltmarsh Flat; maindepres- 630 Poorly Slow 23cmblacknut/crumbsiltloam; reddishbrownrootstains; friable, Siltloam; strongly 5SCD 10 15 Salinity; slow 60 8b weaklysaline drainedandweaklysalinephase; - - loam, weakly recentsoil luvi-madenticsoilfromweakly lacustrine vegetation sionleadingfrom drained internalsoildrain- 15cmgreyishbrownmassivesandyloam; mottledstrongbrown; friable, Motukararasiltloam, imperfectly age; ground salinephase argillisedalluviumfromgrey- depositsfrom lake high greywacke drainedandweaklysalinephase waterinwinter vac:ke 30cmgreysinglegrainmediansand; friable, 30cmgreymassivesiltloam; firm, ongreysinglegrainfinesand; veryfriable.
gley 630 grey Siltloam;moderatelygleyedBhorizon; Motukararasand, poorlydrainedand 0+1SC BSCD 1 121 Salinity 160 8c 80 Motukararasilt Saline Hygrousveryweaklyenleached Alluviumand Saltmarsh Gentlyundulating ImperfectlySlow 23cmdark nutsiltloan; fewstrongbrownrootstains; friable, - stronglysaline moderatelysalinephase; Motukarara loam, imperfectlyrecentsoil soloni-madenti soilfrom lacustrine vegetation drained -luvic 15emolivegreysinglegrainmediumsand; friable, sandyloan, imperfectlydrainedand irainedand weaklyargillisedalluviumfrom depositsfrom moderatelysalLnephase; Waikuku stronglysaline greywacke greywacke 15emolivemassivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm, phase sand onlightgreysinglegrainfinesand; veryfriable.
Sd Motukararasilt Salinegley Hygrousweaklyenleachedsoloni-Alluviumand Saltmarsh Gentlyundulating 630 ImperfectlySlow 23cm grey Siltloam; moderatelygleyedBhorizon; Waimairipeatyloam; Motukararasilt280 5SCD 5 121 Salinity 60 Sd dark nutsiltloam; fewstrongbrownrootstains; friable, - loan,imperfectlyrecentsoil madenti-luvicsoilfromveakly lacustrine vegetation drained moderatelysaline loam, imperfectlydrainedandweakly grey grain 15emolive. single. mediumsand; friable, drainedand argillisedalluviumfrom depositsfrom salinephase moderately greyvacke greywacke 15cmolivemassivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm, salinephase onlightgreysinglegrainfinesand; veryfriable.
Se Motukarara gley 630 Siltloam; moderatelygleyedBhorizon; Waimairipes,tyloan;Motukarara 380 5scD 10 121 salinity 620 Be silt Saline Hygrousweaklyenleachedsoloni- Alluviumand Saltmarsh Gentlyundulating ImperfectlySlow 23emdarkgreynutsiltloam; fewstrongbrownrootstains; friable, - loam, imperfectlyrecentsoil madenti-luvicsoilfromveakly lacustrine vegetation drained weaklysaline sandyloam, imperfectlydrainedand 15emolivegreysinglegrain drainedand argillisedalluviumfromgrey- depositsfrom mediumsand; friables weaklysalinephase weaklysaline vacke greywacke 15cmolivemassivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrova; firm, phase onlightgreysinglegrainfinesand; veryfriable. 8f salinity 625 8f Motukararasilt Salinegley 630 greyish gleyed - Hygroustosubhygrousweakly Alluviumand Saltmarsh Undulatinglevee Moderately Rapid 23cmdark brownnutlightsiltloan; friable, Imperfectlydrained Siltlongweakly Bhorizon; Temukasiltloan; Waikukusand 3sc 5scD 10 121 loam, moderatetr recentsoil . well enleachedsoloni-madenti-luvic lacustrine vegeta.tion greyish depression. weaklysaline well 15cm brownsinglegrainmediumsand; friable, drainedand soilfromweaklyargillised depositsfrom drained weikgrsalklephase alluviumfromgreywacke greywacke onlightgreysinglegrainfine’ sand; mottledbrown;. Veryfriable. 8g gley 630 gleyed loam, 2SC SSCD 5 12} salinity; slow 115 89 Motukararasandy Saline Hydrous Poorly Sandyloam; strongly Bhorizon; Waikukusand; Motukararasandy - veryweaklyenleached Alluviumand Saltmarsh Flatfloodplain Slow 23cmblacknutsandyloam; reddishbrownrootstains; friable, Peatytopsoil; on, imperfectlydrainedandweakly internalsoildrain- moderatelyrecentsoil soloni-luvi-madenticsoilfrom lacustrine vegetation ofHalswellRiver drained stronglysaline moderatelysaline phase 15emolivegreysinglegrainmediumsand; mottledstrongbrown;,veryfriable’ phase; peaty ground saline weaklyargillisedalluviumfrom depositsfrom soilwithdark saline Waimairi loan age; high waterinwinter greywacke greywacke 15cmgreymassivesiltloam; mottledstrongbrown; firm, reddishbrownfib- rous onlightgreysinglegrainfinesand; veryfriable. topsoil.
Sh Motukarara Salinegley gleyed Motukarara loam, imperfectly BSc 58CD 5 121 Salinity; highground 65 Sh sandy Hygrousweaklyenleachedsoloni-Alluviumand Saltmarsh Undulating 630 ImperfectlyRapid 23emdarkgreynutsandyloam; strongbrownrootstains; friable, 15cmreddishbrown Sandyloam; moderately B silt - phase; waterinwinter; loam, imperfecttyrecentsoil madenti-luvicsoilfromweakly lacustrine vegetation drained sandandbasaltic horizon;moderatelysaline drainedandstronglysaline 15cmgreyishbrownsinglegrainloam(mediumsand); veryfriable’ droughtyinsummer drainedand argillisedalluviumfrom depositsfrom gravelsinB Motukararasiltloam, imperfectly greywacke phase; moderatelysalbTe greywacke onlightgreysinglegrainfinesand; veryfriable. horizon. drainedandmoderatelysaline pase Motukararasiltloam, imperfectly drainedandweaklysalinephase
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