Soil orders

Allophanic Soils have a large affinity for phosphate. Up to 30 tonnes/ha of phosphorous may be locked away in intensively farmed topsoils.

New Zealands largest single areas of Anthropic Soils were formed by gold dredging in Central Otago and Westland.

Our most extensive soils, covering 43% of New Zealand.

Gley Soils are strongly affected by waterlogging and have been chemically reduced. They have light grey subsoils, usually with reddish brown or brown mottles.

These highly productive soils have been used continuously for horticulture for up to 40 years at Pukekohe, despite some erosion.

Perhaps the most naturally fertile soils in New Zealand. They grow high quality pinot noir.

Serving as giant sponges in the landscape, these soils can hold up to 20 times their weight in water.

The first grape vines in New Zealand were probably planted on these soils by an associate of Samuel Marsden at Kerikeri in 1817.

A cubic metre of some subsoils can weigh more than 1.8 tonnes.

The impressive contrast in horizons displays the potent effect that particular tree species, for example Kauri, can have on soil formation.

Mostly derived from one of the greatest volcanic eruptions ever known from the crater now occupied by Lake Taupo.

Infant soils that may never grow older because of active erosion or sedimentation.

The highest recorded carrot production in the world was from a Recent Soil on the Taieri Plain.

Great soils for rabbits with densities of more than 800 rabbits per square kilometre during plagues.

Probably the first New Zealand soil to be cultivated by steel implements, by men under the command of Marion de Fresne in 1771 in the Bay of Islands.