Soil data and maps
The pages in this area of the soils portal tell you about Landcare Research's soil databases, services, and related datasets and maps.
Soil data are gathered for many different reasons, each with their own specialist techniques, but wherever they are from, most data finish up in a few key databases managed by Landcare Research.
Types of soils data and maps
Learn how Landcare Research scientists and other soil scientists go about collecting soil data.
National Soils Database
The NSD is a point database of soil physical, chemical, and mineralological characteristics for over 1500 national soil profiles.
S-map and S-map Online
S-map provide a seamless digital soil map coverage for New Zealand. S-map is designed to be applied at any scale, from farm to region to nation.
SINDI – Soil Quality Indicators
SINDI (soil indicators) is a web-based tool designed to help you interpret the quality or health of a soil you have sampled.
Fundamental Soil Layers
The FSLs contain spatial information for 16 key soil attributes. Each attribute is measurable and is recorded in appropriate units of measure.
New Zealand Land Resource Inventory – Soil
One of the physical factors described in the NZ Land Resource Inventory is soil. The information is based on publicly available soil surveys produced by Landcare Research.
Other Soil Surveys
Soil surveys have been carried out by Landcare Research and its predecessors since the early 1930s. Learn about the soil surveys and how to acquire maps and reports.
Our Environment
Our Environment is an interactive, free services that provides you with information about New Zealand's natural environment.
Ross Sea Region Soils
Soil data deposited in our Ross Sea region soils database and managed by Landcare Research.