Cawthrone Institute's soils heritage unearthed

K. Dixon, Director – NZ Soil Bureau (left) and Sir T. Rigg, Director – Cawthron Institute.

A new collection in our Digital Library has just gone live. It features a set of 67 publications relating to the pioneering soils work the Cawthron Institute has done in the 1920’s through to the 1940’s. During this time, the Cawthron Institute was leading the establishment of soil surveys; and it was addressing soils-related agricultural questions such as soil fertility issues, trace element deficiencies (especially cobalt), or Pakihi soils reclamation.

The publications now made available in digital form for the first time allow detailed insights into this early, vital period of soil science in New Zealand. They contain valuable soils data as photographs, and impressively illustrate how soil science has contributed to agricultural and horticultural success.

In 2025, Cawthron Institute and the Landcare Research Group of BSI have signed an agreement for Cawthron’s soil legacy to be transferred to Landcare Research Ltd. for digitisation and long-term curation. In a next step, a set of maps will be digitised and added to the collection.