soils of the rolleston new town site, canterbury, new zealand

LIBRARY LANDCARE RESEARCH NZ P.O. BOX 69, LINCOLN, NZ.

SOILS OF THE ROLLESTON NEW TOWN SITEJ CANTERBURY NEW ZEALAND

W.F. RENNIE AND C.M. BENNETT

N.Z. SOIL SURVEY REPORT 61 New Zealand Soil Bureau,

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington, New Zealand 1981

RENNIE, W.F.; BENNETT, C.M. 1981: Soils of the Rolleston new town site, Canterbury, New Zealand. 48 p.

Includes: Rennie, W.F.; Bennett, C.M.: Soil map of the Rolleston new town site,

Canterbury, New Zealand. 1: 15 840

ISSN 0110-2079

Edited by: H. Simmonds Typed by: Tessa Roach Draughting: H. Kinloch

P,D, HASSELBERGJ GOVERNMENT PRINTER) WELLINGTON) NEW ZEALAND - 1981

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

SOILS by W.F. Rennie and C.M. Bennett

Previous research Survey method Geology and physiography Soils

Soils of the high terrace Soils of the intermediate terrace Soils of the sand dunes

Page

5

7

8

8 8 8 9

10 12 14

Soil engineering properties by c.M. Bennett and w.F. Rennie 17

Group symbol Strength when compacted and saturated Potential swelling or shrinkage Workability as a construction material Permeability when compacted

SOIL INTERPRETATIONS FOR SELECTED LAND USES by c.M. Bennett & W.F. Rennie

Generalised land use classifications

Value for food production Horticultural use Urban use

Engineering uses

Foundations for buildings Roads and streets

Source of fill material

Topsoil source Road fill source

Specific urban uses

Home vegetable gardens Blaying fields and parks Unsealed paths Vegetation establishment

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

17 17 17 18 18

23

23

23 25 26

26

27 27

27

27 28

28

28 29 29 29

33

33

APPENDIX Soil profile descriptions

INDEX TO SOILS

TABLES

1 Soil mapping units arranged physiographically 2 Soil taxonomic units arranged pedologically 3 Soil engineering properties 4 Soil interpretations

FIGURES

Page

34

48

10 10 18 30

1 Location maps 6 2 (a) Landscape showing Lismore soils - note surface stones

(b) Profile of Lismore shallow silt loam (scale in 10 cm intervals) 11

3 (a) Landscape showing Templeton soils (b) Profile of Templeton moderately deep silt loam (scale

in 10 cm intervals) 13 4 (a) Landscape showing Eyre soils - note surface stones

(b) Profile of Eyre stony s-f1t loam (scale in 10 cm intervals) 15 5 (a) Landscape showing Halkett soils on low dune in middle of

photograph with Eyre soils in foreground (b) Profile of Halkett sandy loam on sand (scale in 10 cm

intervals) 16

6 Map showing value for food production (class) of soils of the Rolleston new town site 24

5

SUMMARY

Soils of the Rolleston new town site, Canterbury, New Zealand, were

mapped to provide information for town planners designing the proposed new

town.

The report consists of three parts:

Part I outlines previous research-covering the area, describes the

surveying technique used and the area's physiography. A brief account of

the soils is given,with profile descripti6ns attached as Appendix 1. A soil

map at the scale of 1:15 840 shows the distribution of soils.

Part II assigns to each soil horizon a group symbol based on a field

assessment of texture and plasticity. By use of the group symbol, each

horizon is classified according to four engineering properties.

Part III gives interpretations for use, considering the whole soil

profile. These include general land uses, engineering uses, source of fill

material and specific urban uses. A map at the scale of 1:45 OOO showing

soils classified according to their value for food production is presented.

Most soils are suited to all uses, although those of the Templeton

series are also of a high value for food production and should be protected

from urban encroachment in accordance with the Town and Country Planning

Amendment Act 1973. An area of land substantially comprising these soils,

which was released from the proposed development in June 1975, is shown

on the value for food production map.

0 10

SCALE 1 : 500 OOO

NEW ZEALAND South Island

TASMAN SEA

44•s • Q

DUNEDIN

PACIFIC

OCEAN

Miles 100

100 km Scale, U2 OOO OOO

172°£

Fig. 1 Location maps

20 km

' .

6

Lincoln

•

BIGHT

Banks

Peninsula

• • • • • • Survey Boundary

1

7

INTRODUCTION

In 1973 the New Zealand Government stated that it intended acquiring approximately 4000 ha of land at Rolleston, Canterbury, to allow for the planning and development of a major new town. This acquisition was expected to overcome the shortage of building land within the Christchurch region. The new town site was situated on relatively flat land between the Selwyn River and the south-west boundary of Christchurch (Fig. 1).

In 1974 soil data were presented in "Rolleston New Town Site -A Landscape Survey and Evaluation" (LCLCS/MWD 1974). Following this, a request was made by the Rolleston Land OWners' Committee and the Ministry of Works and Development for more soil information. A soil survey was subsequently carried out in 1975 to provide town planners with a detailed soil map (1:15 840) and interpretative soil data for the town site. When Templeton soils were shown to be of high value for food production, an area of land substantially comprising these soils was released from the proposed development (June 1975) in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Amendment Act 1973.

With the change of Government in late 1975, the plan to develop the site was placed in abeyance.

8

SOILS

PREVIOUS RESEARCH

Previous soil maps of whole or part of this area have been published in

the following surveys:

l. General survey of the soils of South Island, New Zealand.

Scale l: 253 440. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 27 (N.Z. Soil Bureau 1968).

2. Soils of the Downs and Plains, Canterbury and North Otago, New Zealand.

Scale 1:126 720. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 14 (Kear et al. 1967).

3. Soils and agriculture of part Paparua County, Canterbury, New Zealand.

N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 34 (Cox 1978).

The more detailed mapping of the present survey has enabled the

boundaries between soil units to be delineated with greater accuracy. As

a result, the following significant changes have been made:

l. Wakanui soils were previously shown to occur at Springston on the

Downs and Plains map. More detailed mapping has shown that soils

in this area are Lismore shallow silt loam, Templeton moderately

deep silt loam and Templeton deep silt loam.

2. There is far greater interfingering of deep soils with shallow and

stony soils than shown on previously published soil maps of the area.

3. Halkett soils have not previously been mapped on the high terrace

south of State Highway l, west of Weedons-Ross Road.

SURVEY METHOD

Soil mapping was carried out using a 25-mm diameter screw auger capable

of sampling fine material to a depth of 90 cm. Observations along

traverses were made approximately every 75 m. On the high terrace,

traverses were made 500 m apart so that one observation was made every 2.5 ha.

Fewer observations were made of this shallow and stony area as soil

variation from site to site could not be shown at the scale of mapping.

On the intermediate terrace traverses were made 250 m apart so that one

observation was made every 1.5 ha. In areas where the soils as mapped are

deeper than 90 cm, a further 27 random augerings were carried out to determine

the range of depths to gravels in these areas.

Field data originally plotted on aerial photographs at a scale of

1:7920 were reduced to produce the soil map. Soil areas were calculated

by cutting areas of each unit from a soil map, weighing the paper and

converting the weight to an area measurement.

GEOLOGY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

The survey area is formed from sediments composed largely of greywacke

and argillite gravels, sand, silt and loess derived from the Waimakariri

9

River (Oborn & Suggate 1959) and deposited as a very gently sloping fan.*

Cycles of erosion and deposition by the Waimakariri River have resulted

in the formation of two terraces in the Rolleston area. The higher older

terrace is formed from glacial outwash material (Burnham Formation) , and

the intermediate younger terrace is formed from post-glacial material

(Springston Formation) (Suggate 1973) • These terraces are separated by

a low scarp near Rolleston which diminishes in height towards the south.

About 1.5 km south of State Highway 1 the terrace scarp is no longer evident

and the terrace surfaces grade imperceptibly into one another.

Each surface has a characteristic roicrotopography. In the Rolleston

area the surface of the high terrace is flat to very gently undulating

with a subdued pattern of small braided former stream channels. The

surface of the intermediate terrace is flat to gently undulating with a

more conspicuous pattern of former stream channels.

SOILS

The following soils have been mapped in the Rolleston New Town site:

1. Lismore 2. Templeton 3. Eyre 4. Halkett

(Fig. 2) (Fig. 3) (Fig. 4) (Fig. 5)

Lismore soils are mapped on the high terrace while Templeton and Eyre

soils are mapped on the intermediate terrace. Halkett soils are found on

dunes formed from wind-blown sands (Post-glacial) which accumulated on the

high and intermediate terrace. Table 1 shows the soil mapping units

arranged physiographically.

The soils have developed from a variable thickness of fine or coarse

textured alluvial and loessial deposits. The following depths were used

to categorise the soils:

1. Stony soils - total thickness of stone-freematerial is less than 25 cm

with 7-30% by weight stones or gravels present (Taylor & Pohlen 1970).

2. Shallow soils - total thickness of fine material over gravels is

between 25 and 45 cm. 3. Moderately deep soils - total thickness of fine material over gravels

is between 45 and 90 cm. 4. Deep soils - more than 90 cm of fine material over gravels.

Brief profile descriptions of soil types from specific sites are listed

in the appendix.

Within most mapping particularly in texture structure, or mottling. individual mapping unit

units slight variations of soil morphology occur,

but also in horizon thickness, colour, consistence,

The most significant variations are noted in the

descriptions which follow.

Soil series have been classified according to the New Zealand genetic

classification (Table 2) (Taylor & Pohlen 1968) •

* The mean gradient of the fan within the survey area is 1 in 200

10

Table 1 Soil mapping units arranged physiographically

SOILS OF THE HIGH TERRACE Lismore shallow silt loam Lismore stony silt loam

SOILS OF THE INTERMEDIATE TERRACE Templeton deep silt loam Templeton deep silt loam on fine sandy loam Templeton deep fine sandy loam on loamy sand

Templeton moderately deep silt loam Templeton moderately deep silt loam on fine

sandy loam Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam on

loamy sand Eyre shallow silt loam Eyre stony silt loam

Map symb@l

Ll L2

Tl T2 T3 T4

T5 T6

T7 El E2

SOILS OF THE SAND DUNES (ON THE HIGH AND INTERMEDIATE TERRACE)

Halkett deep sandy loam on sand H

Table 2 Soil taxonomic units arranged pedologically

YELLOW-BROWN SHALLOW AND STONY SOILS ASSOCIATED WITH YELLOW-GREY EARTHS

from alluvium and loess Lismore series

INTERGRADES BETWEEN RECENT SOILS AND YELLOW-GREY EARTHS

from alluvium and loess Templeton series

- associated yellow-brown shallow and stony soils

from alluvium and loess Eyre series

YELLOW-BROWN SANDS from wind-bown sand

Halkett series

SOILS OF THE HIGH TERRACE

Lismore soils cover 1800 ha in the south and south-east end of the

survey area. They are shallow or stony soils developed from fine to

coarse textured alluvium and loess on a flat to very gently undulating

surface with a subdued pattern of small braided former stream channels.

Topsoils consist of 20 to 30 cm of silt loam or stony silt

loam overlying subsoils that range in texture from stony silt loam to very

stony sand. On the eastern side of the high terrace a strip of Lismore

shallow silt loam has been mapped. In other areas shallow soils have

been mapped as a complex with the stony soils, as the scale of mapping

did not permit the two types to be separated.

Fig 2 (a) Landscape showing Lismore soils - note surface stones

(b) Profile of Lismore shallow silt loam (scale in 10 cm intervals)

12

Ll LL6mone .6ha.Ltow ,6,(l;t loam covers 200 ha mapped alone and 1600 ha in complex with Lismore stony silt loam (L2-Ll) where L2 is approximately 75 % and Ll approximately 25% of the area. Lismore shallow silt loam consists of 25 to 45 cm of silt loam on silty or sandy gravels. This soil ranges from being well drained with a medium available moisture storage capacity to somewhat excessively drained with low Available Moisture Storage Capacity (AMSC).

L2 Wmone -6.iOntj ,6,(l;t loam is mapped only in complex with Lismore shallow silt loam on 1600 ha as described above. Lismore stony silt loam consists of less than 25 cm of stone-freematerial on silty or sandy gravels. The soil is somewhat excessively drained with low AMSC.

SOILS OF THE INTERMEDIATE TERRACE

TEMPLETON SOILS

Templeton soils cover 1350 ha, occurring as NW-SE orientated strips in the eastern part of the survey area. They are deep and moderately deep soils developed from silty or sandy alluvium and loess. Gravels occur at depths greater than 45 cm. The 27 random augerings in the deep soils found gravels from 95 to 235 cm below the ground surface. Templeton soils interfinger with the shallow and stony Eyre soils and occur on a flat to gently undulating surface with some narrow meandering ancient stream channels which are up to 2 m deep.

Topsails consist of 20 to 30 cm of silt loam or fine sandy loam overlying subsoils ranging in texture from silt loam to sand. However in some subsoils a mottled silty clay loam horizon 10 to 40 cm thick occurs which reduces the permeability.

Tl Templeton deep ,6,(l;t loam covers 135 ha largely in the south-eastern area of the survey near Springston. Subsoil textures range from fine sandy loam to silty clay loam and often contain few strong brown mottles and concretions. This soil ranges from well to moderately well drained ana has medium AMSC.

T2 Templeton deep ,6,(l;t loam on 6ine .6andy loam is the largest Templeton soil unit mapped, covering 430 ha near the eastern boundary of the survey area. Subsoil textures range from fine sandy loam to loamy sand and they usually contain few diffuse yellowish brown mottles. The soil is well drained with medium AMSC.

T3 Templeton deep 6ine .6andy loam on loamy .6and covers 120 ha in the eastern central area of the survey. Subsoil textures range from fine sandy loam to sand and usually contain few yellowish brown mottles. The soil is well drained with medium AMSC.

T4 Templeton modenately deep ,6,(l;t loam covers 180 ha and is located throughout the eastern side of the survey area. Subsoil textures range from silt loam to fine sandy loam and usually contain diffuse yellowish brown mottles. The soil is well drained with medium AMSC.

T5 Templeton modenately deep ,6,(l;t loam on 6ine .6andy loam occurs on 350 ha throughout the eastern side of the survey area. Subsoil textures range from fine sandy loam to sandy lo.am and usually contain few diffuse strong brown mottles. The soil is well drained with medium AMSC.

Fig 3 (a) Landscape showing Templeton soils (b) Profile of Templeton moderately deep silt loam (scale in 10 cm intervals)

14

T6 Tempfet.ovi modeJtatuy de.ep t),{,vie. .6avidy foam covers 65 ha in the eastern central area of the survey. Subsoil tex tures range from fine sandy loam to sandy loam and usually contain few diffuse ye llowish brown mottles. The soil is well drained with medium AMSC.

T7 Te.mpfet.ovi modeJtatuy de.e.p t),{,vie. .6avidy foam ovi foamy .6avid covers 70 ha and occurs throughout the eastern side of the survey area. Subsoil textures range from fine sandy loam to sand and usually contain a few indistinct yellowish brown mottles. The soil is well drained with medium AMSC.

EYRE SOILS

Eyre soils cover 720 ha, and have developed from fine t o coarse textured alluvium and loess. They are associated with Templeton soils on a flat to gently undulating surface with conspicuous braided former stream channels. Two Eyre soil types can be distinguished in the area and some areas of shallow soils have been mapped separately. However, as it is not possible to show the stony soil separately from the shallow soil at the scale of mapping, the two types have been mapped as a complex.

El Eyhe. .6haffow J.,i,lt foam covers 240 ha as a separately mapped unit but it also occurs in a 720-ha complex with Ey re stony silt loam (El-E2) . Eyre shallow silt loam is developed on silty alluvium overlying sandy gravels at depths ranging from 25 to 45 cm. There are generally few or no stones on the surface or within the upper horizons. This soil ranges from being well drained with medium AMSC to somewhat excessively drained with low AMSC.

E2 Eyhe. .6~0VLlj .6if;t foam which is not mapped separately, occurs as stony strips in complex with Eyre shallow silt loam. Eyre stony silt loam is similar to the shallow soils described above but is stony from the surface. This soil is somewhat excessively drained with low AMSC.

SOILS OF THE SAND DUNES (on the high and intermediate terrace)

Halkett soils are found on rolling sand dunes up to 3 m high which occur sporadically on the high and intermediate terrace.

Tops oils texture from within 50 cm

consist of 15 to 25 cm of sandy loam on subsoils ranging in sandy loam to sand. During the survey, sand was always found of the ground surface .

H HafQ~ de.e.p .6avidy foam OVL .6avid covers 30 ha and is the only mapping unit within the survey area. The thickness of sand over gravels varies from 70 to 150 cm or more. On the flanks of the dunes, gravels may occur at depths around 70 cm but as the areas are small these moderately deep soils have not been mapped separately. The soil is well drained with medium AMSC. This soil suffers from summer droughtiness but is more moistureretentive than the associated shallow soils provided the loose sand is not exposed. When eroded, the soil is excessively drained with low AMSC.

Fig 4 (a) Landscape showing Eyre soils -note surface stones

(b) Profile of Eyre stony silt loam (scale in 10 cm intervals)

Fig 5

(a) Landscape showing Halkett soils on low dune in middle of photograph with Eyre soils in foreground

(b) Profile of Halkett sandy loam on sand (scale in 10 cm intervals)

17

SOIL ENGINEERING PROPERTIES

Each soil horizon has been classified according to the group symbols of the British Code of Practice Classification of Soils for Roads and Airfields (British Standards Institution 1957), as outlined by Northey (1968). This system classifies soils according to their textural and plasticity properties and allows the soils to be grouped on the basis of their behaviour in a remoulded and reworked condition. From the group symbol other soil engineering properties can be assessed.

No laboratory analyses were carried out, but group symbols were assigned to each horizon on the basis of field texture and from extrapolation of measurements on similar soils (N.Z. Soil Bureau 1968b).

Table 3 shows the depth range of each horizon, horizon texture, group symbol and the associated engineering properties. Soil types with the same ratings are shown together. The following explanatory notes refer to the properties given by the table.

GROUP SYMBOL

The following two major groups occur in the area:

(i) Coarse grained soils (GW, GC, CF, SU, SF) G - gravel S - sand The second letter indicates the grade of the gravel or sand W - well graded, little or no fines c - well graded, with small clay content U - uniform with little or no fines F - soils with an excess of fines

(ii) Fine grained soils (MC, MI, MH, CL)

M - mainly inorganic silty material or very fine sand with low plasticity

c - predominantly inorganic clays The second letter indicates the liquid limit of the soil L - low I - intermediate H - high

STRENGTH WHEN COMPACTED AND SATURATED (SCS)

This refers to a soil's maximum resistance to shearing stresses and gives a measure of the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil. The classes are: excellent, good, fair, poor, very poor, extremely poor.

POTENTIAL SWELLING OR SHRINKAGE (PSS)

This refers to the volume change that could be expected with a change in moisture content. PSS is related to the amount and kind of clay in the soil. In general fine textured soils with active clay minerals have a high swelling - shrinkage potential and coarse grained soils a low swelling -shrinkage potential. The classes are: negligible, very low, low, medium, high,very high.

18

WORKABILITY AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL (WCM)

This refers to the ease with which soil material can be handled and traversed by ordinary contruction equipment. good, fair, poor, very poor.

The classes are: excellent,

PERMEABILITY WHEN COMPACTED (PC)

This refers to the soil's ability to allow water to move through it after the soil has been saturated and compacted. The classes are: very pervious, pervious, semipervious, almost impervious, impervious.

Table 3 Soil engineering properties

Soil(s)

Lismore shallow silt loam Eyre shallow silt loam

Lismore stony silt loam Eyre stony silt loam

Horizon Depth (cm)

Texture

Silt loam

Silt loam

Gravels with a sandy matrix

Stony silt loam

Very stony silt loam


Group symbol

MI-MH

scs

Fair to

poor

PSS

High

WCM

Fair to

poor

PC

ML-CL

SemiIPervious to imper

~L~ow~~---F-a_i_r--iv ious

to to medium

GW (GF & Good to NegliGC bands excel- gible may occur lent in some places

MI Fair to

poor

GF-GC Good

GW (GF & GC bands may occur in some places)

to excellent

High

Very low

Negligible

good

Excel· Perlent vious

Fair to

poor

Good to

excel lent

Semipervious to impervious

Excel· Perlent vious

19

Table 3 (continued)

Soils (s) Horizon Depth Texture Group scs PSS WCM PC

(cm) symbol

Templeton A Silt MI-MH High Fair Semi-

deep silt loam to per-

loam (TI) poor vious

...._ 30 to

Fair imper-vious

to

I\ Silt loam iPOOr Fair

._ 60 ML-CL Low to Silt loam to good

med-Fine sandy ML ium Fair Semi-

~ c I- 90 loam per-- vious

~ '-210 . o ·.a· Gravels GW (GF Good Negli- Ex- Per-.. 0 .. with a and GC to gible eel- vious .o .. c>.

sandy bands excellent .G · Dr.'c) matrix may OCCUl lent 0 .. () .. in some .. 0

places) . ·o· . . o .. Q

Templeton A Silt loam MI-MH High Fair Semi-

deep silt to per-

loam on poor vious

fine sandy to

loam (T2) ,_ 30 imper-Fair vious to poor

Fine sandy Low

I\ -60 loam

ML to Fair Semi-med-

Sandy loam ium per-vious

Loamy sand SF Fair Low Fair Semi-c

L~ 90 to to per-

good good vious

. to imper-

·o-· ~ vious

.. () . -210

t?· ·~·~ Gravels GW (GF Good Negl- Ex- Per-. 0 .. O· with a and GC to igible eel- vious • D . sandy bands excellent

. .. r. 0 matrix may lent 0 'O· occur ... 0 . () . in . ~ . . some ... o 0. C) • places

Table 3 (continued)

Soils (s) Horizon Depth Texture (cm)

Templeton A

deep fine ~ sandy loan on loamy - 30 sand (T3) Upper

- 90

-120

0 . . . ··a· ()· Dr .. · () ·0 ~. -1so .. Q

. 0 ~: .. ·o. (). . .. ·"ti:O Q .. ·. ·-i.80

'6; ()· Q .. ... · .·'

Fine sandy loam

Fine sandy loam

Sandy loam

Loamy sand


Silt loam

20

Group symbol

MI

ML

SF

GW (GF and GC bands may occur in some places)

MI-MH

scs

Fair to poor

Fair to good

Good to excellent

Fair

Templeton A

moderate!~~ deep silt

loam (T4) ~- 30 1--------1---------~to

~-60 o·~.A ... 0 .O·o. ·. 0 ·~.-90 .. D o o· r .. .. 0. 0. o· <? ·06 ~

Silt loam

Silt loam

Gravels with sandy matrix

poor

ML-CL

GW (GF Good and GC to bands excel-may lent occur in some places)

:PSS

High

WCM

Fair to poor

IPC

Semi[Perivious

------1---~to

Low to medium

Low

Negligible

High

Fair

Fair to good

Exce 1-lent

Fair

imper-IVious

Semiper-1Vious

Semitpertvious to impervious

Pertvious

to Semi-poor per-

i-------ir----~vious to

Low to medium

Negligible

Good to fair

impervious

Excel- Perlent vious

21

Table 3 (continued)

• Soils(s) Horizon Depth Texture Group scs PSS WCM PC

(cm) symbol

Templeton A

Silt loam MI-MH High Fair Seini-moderately to per-deep silt

~ poor vious

loam on to fine sandy -30 imper-loam (T5) Fair vious

Fine sandy to

loam poor

Low Semi-Lower ML to Fair

~ __,60 per-

Fine sandy medium vious loam

Gravels with GW (GF Good Negli- Excel- Per-:o .. -.o. a sandy and GC to gible lent vious o".°."o. -90 matrix bands excel-.. . ~ DrO· may lent

. occur in ."o·e>:O ... some

~ places)

A Templeton

~ Fine sandy MI High Fair Semi-

moderately loam to pervious

deep fine -30 poor to imper-

sandy loam Fine sandy :Fair vious loam Low ::;emi-

(T6) 0 ower ML

to to Fair tper-'.Q B -60 Sandy IPoor medium vious

o·c loam

·O· Gravels GW (GF & Good Negli- Excel- Per-D·· .0 ·0 -9o with a GC bands to gible lent vious O· :o· Dr .. sandy matrix may OCCUl excel-· ... o in some lent ~ plac~s)

22

Table 3 (continued)

Soil (s) Horizon Depth Texture Group scs PSS WCM PC (cm) symbol

Templeton 0 Fine sandy MI High Fair semi-moderately A loam to per-deep fine

~ poor vious

sandy loam Fair to on loamy - 30 to

imper-sand (T7) vious

poor Fine sandy ML Low to Fair Semi-loam medium per-

Lower vious

9. B - 60 Loamy sand SF Fair Low Fair Semi-

.o. to to per-: 0 good good vious o·. to .. 0. - 90 imper-o _. ·o :o vious . ·o

Gravels with (GF Good Negli- Ex .. o· Dr·· GW Per-. . -'6 a sandy and GC to gible eel- vious .o: D:· · -120 matrix bands excellent ·: .. 0 may lent O.'o:.: c»:.o· d

occur

-e:,-c,: in some

~ places)

A Halkett

~ Sandy loam MI Fair High Fair

deep sandy to to Semi-loam on - 30 poor poor per-sand (H) K Loamy sand SF Fair Low Fair vious

to to to

- 60 good good imper-vious

~c Sand SU Fair Fair

i,.--; 90 120 Negli- Per-

~---9~ Gravels iGW (GF Good to gible Ex- vious

: o" · .. o.-. with sandy and GC excel- eel-

o·: o ·· matrix bands ent lent

·o"·o .. o" -150 may

o· D o· occur . • x; ... in some . () ·o· o· places) ..... ,, -..

23

SOIL INTERPRETATIONS FOR SELECTED LAND USES

by C.M. Bennett and W.F. Rennie

In assigning each soil mapping unit a suitability rating for a selected

land use, the undisturbed soil profile to a depth of 90 cm was considered unless otherwise stated. The placing of a soil type in a suitability class is

based on the soil factor which would be most limiting to the particular

use:

1. Good suitability indicates that the soil has favourable properties

for the selected use, and any limitations are negligible, or slight and

easily overcome.

2. Fair suitability indicates moderately favourable properties for selected

uses and limitations can be overcome or modified.

3. Soils with poor suitability have unfavourable properties for the

selected use and the limitations are difficult to modify or overcome.

The suitability, and the nature and degree of limitation of the soils

for the following selected uses are shown in Table 4. Soil types with the

same ratings are shown together.

GENERALISED LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS

In this section the soil types are rated for three different kinds of

land use. At times there is a conflict between land uses. For instance,

all soils within the Rolleston new town site are well suited for urban

development. However, the 1350 ha of Templeton soils are also of high

actual or potential value for food production and should therefore be

protected from urban encroachment by the Town and Country Planning Act 1977.

In June 1975 the Minister of Works and Development released 750 ha of land,

mainly of this class, from the proposed development area (Fig. 6).

VALUE FOR FOOD PRODUCTION

This refers to the general classification of soils according to their

actual or potential value for food production outlined by Raeside and Rennie

(1974). Fig.6 shows the distribution of soils classified for this use.

Note that food production comprises products from animals and crops.

CLASS 1 Soils of predominantly flat to gently undulating land with minimal

to slight limitations for food production; soils of high actual

or potential value for food production.

Subclass la Soils that require some irrigation for maximum food production

Templeton deep silt loam Tl Templeton deep silt loam

on fine sandy loam T2 Templeton deep fine sandy loam

on loamy sand T3 Templeton moderately deep silt

loam T4

Templeton moderately deep silt loam on fine sandy loam T5

Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam T6

Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam on loamy sand T7

Fig 6

24

1000m

J,---i't-----

Scalo 1 : 45 OOO

0 , .....

Map showing value for food production (class) of soils of the Rolleston new town site

area of soils of high value for food production released from proposed development in 1975

1 N

CLASS 2

25

Soils of flat to easy rolling land with moderate soil limitations for food production; soils of moderate actual or potential value for food production.

Subclass 2a Shallow and stony soils and soils formed on dune sands needing irrigation for maximum food production

CLASS 3

Lismore shallow silt loam Ll Eyre shallow silt loam El Halket deep sandy loam on sand H

Soils of flat to rolling land with severe soil limitations for food production. Stony and very stony soils and soils of the sand dunes of low actual or potential value for food production even if irrigated.

Lismore stony silt loam L2 Eyre stony silt loam E2

Suitability ratings for the above classes are:

Good - Class 1 Fair - Class 2 Poor - Class 3

HORTICULTURAL USE

Soils are classified according to their suitability for market gardening, cash cropping and fruit growing as outlined by Cox (1978). The classes apply to areas where shelter has been provided and where irrigation has overcome moisture limitations. In other areas, the excessively drained soils are unsuitable for shallow-rooted crops.

CLASS 1 Well suited

Subclass la Well drained soils of medium available moisture storage capacity. Moderately frequent irrigation required

CLASS 2

Templeton deep silt loam Tl Templeton deep silt loam on fine

sandy loam T2 Templeton deep fine sandy loam

on loamy sand T3 Templeton moderately deep silt loam

T4

Moderately well suited

Templeton moderately deep silt loam on fine sandy loam T5

Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam T6

Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam on loamy sand T7

Subclass 2a Well drained and somewhat excessively drained soils of medium to low available moisture storage capacity. Frequent irrigation required.

Lismore shallow silt loam Ll Eyre shallow silt loam El

26

CLASS 3 Poorly suited

Subclass 3a Somewhat excessively and excessively available moisture storage capacity. irrigation required.

drained soils of low Very frequent

CLASS 4

Lismore stony silt loam L2 Eyre stony silt loam E2

Unsuited.Excessively drained soils of low available moisture

storage capacity. Excessively frequent irrigation required.

Also somewhat excessively drained soils on dunes of medium to

low available moisture storage capacity where frequent irrigation

is required. These dunes are susceptible to wind erosion except

where they have subdued relief and good shelter has reduced

erosion risk.

Halkett deep sandy loam on sand H

Suitability ratings of the above classes are:

URBAN USE

Good - Class 1 Fair - Class 2 Poor - Classes 3 and 4

Soils have been classified according to their limitations for urban

use after Cowie (1974) •

CLASS 1 Soils of flat and rolling land with minimal to slight soil

limitations for urban use.

All soils in this survey are in this class.

The suitability rating of the class is good.

ENGINEERING USES

As the soils of the Rolleston new town site are predominantly either

well drained or shallow and stony they are highly rated in terms of their

engineering properties. In this section a general assessment of the soils'

suitability for construction purposes is given. It will still be necessary

for soil engineers to carry out detailed site investigations to determine

engineering properties for the design and construction of specific

engineering works. However, the soil map and ratings in this report may

help in estimating the need for quantitative investigations for detailed

design, and the application of results to untested soils within the same

mapping unit. The engineering properties considered in making assessments

for different uses are:

Strength when compacted and saturated (SCS) Potential swelling or shrinkage (PSS) Workability as a construction material (WCM) Permeability when compacted (PC)

27

Suitability ratings have been applied to the engineering property classes as follows:

ENGINEERING PROPERTY CLASSES Suitability

rating SCS PSS WCM PC

Good Excellent Negligible Excellent Very pervious Good Very low Good Pervious

Fair Low Fair Semi pervious

Poor Medium Fair

Poor Very poor High Poor Almost impervious Extremely Very high Very poor Impervious

poor

These ratings are taken into account in the following uses (shown for each soil in Table 4):

FOUNDATIONS FOR BUILDINGS

Ratings are for single storey buildings (Standards Association of New Zealand 1973). As it is common practice in New Zealand to excavate to at least 30 cm before building construction, the ratings refer to the soil below this depth. Gravels are usually found within 2 m of the ground surface, hence the soils should have no significant limitations.

ROADS AND STREETS

The suitability of the soils for roads and streets relates to soil material below 30 cm.

SOURCE OF FILL MATERIAL

TOPSOIL SOURCE

This is a measure of the quantity and quality of topsoil suitable for topdressing gardens and playing fields. The relevant physical properties considered were:

1. Thickness of stone-free fine or medium textured topsoil* 2. Consistence

*

Suitability ratings are:

Good - >25 cm of stone-free fine or medium textured topsoil very friable and friable consistence

Fair - 10-25 cm of stone-free fine or medium textured topsoil firm consistence

Poor - <10 cm of stone-free fine or medium textured topsoil very fi~m consistence

··-··----Fine textures· include silt loams and fine sandy loams; medium textures include sandy loams.

28

Soil should be taken only from areas which will be covered by roads or buildings. It should then be stock-piled for use by future landowners.

ROADFILL SOURCE

This applies to the availability (below 30 cm) of a suitable quantity of gravels, i.e. a stratum with a minimum thickness of 1 m,which can be used as a subbase. The suitability ratings are:

Good - <45 cm to gravels Fair - 45-90 cm to gravels Poor - >90 cm to gravels

The deeper soils need not be disturbed to obtain gravels as there are extensive areas of shallow and stony soils.

SPECIFIC URBAN USES

The following uses are concerned with the way in which the soil will act as a medium for plant growth

HOME VEGETABLE GARDENS

Soil properties considered for home vegetable gardens were:

1. Thickness of stone-free fine or medium textured topsoil 2. Consistence 3. Available moisture storage capacity*


Good - >25 cm of stone-free fine textured topsoil very friable and friable consistence medium AMSC

Fair - 10-25 cm of stone-free fine or medium textured topsoil firm consistence medium and low AMSC

Poor - <10 cm of stone-free fine or medium textured topsoil or a stony topsoil very firm consistence low AMSC

* Available Moisture Storage Capacity (AMSC) is the capa9ity of the soil for holding moisture which can be made available to plants. No measurements have been carried out for this property in the Rolleston new town site and the ratings have been obtained from similar soils in Paparua County (Cox 1978). Ratings for AMSC of soils to a depth of 45 cm are: High - >10 cm; Medium - 6-10 cm; Low - 2.5-6 cm; Very low - <2.5 cm. Double ratings have been assigned to soils where both ratings are probably about equally represented, e.g. medium and low.

29

PLAYING FIELDS AND PARKS

The most important soil limitations relevant to playing fields and

parks are:

1. Soil drainage - soils with predominantly silty textures will not drain quickly in winter and may become slushy with use

2. Depth of stone-free material

3. Effect of levelling the topography

The suitability ratings are:

Good - soils not slushy when wet >45 cm of stone-free soil topography levelling would not bring stones to the surface

Fair - slushy when wet 25 cm to 45 cm of stone-free soil topography levelling could bring stones to the surface

Poor - <25 cm stone-free soil topography levelling would bring stones to the surface or expose large areas of sandy soils which could quickly dry out in summer and erode if disturbed.

UNSEALED PATHS

The ratings have been made for foot and bicycle use of the soils.

The soil has been assessed on:

1. Amount of surface stones 2. Degree of surface disturbance in wet conditions


Good - no surf ace stones - not slushy when wet

Fair - few surface stones - slushy when wet

Poor - many surface stones - erodible

VEGETATION ESTABLISHMENT

The vegetation establishment classification refers to the ability of

the soil to support and maintain the growth of trees, shrubs and grasses.

The soils have been rated on:

1. The area available for roots to spread vertically and laterally before encountering stony horizons

2. Available moisture storage capacity

30

All the soils need to be irrigated initially, until vegetation becomes established. Suitability ratings are:

Good - good rooting area (stones at greater than 45 cm) - medium AMSC

Fair - moderate rooting area (stones between 25 and 45 cm) - medium and low MASC

Poor - small rooting area (stones throughout rooting area) - low AMSC

Different plant species can adapt to the same habitat in different ways, therefore the rating is only a general guide.

Table 4 Soil interpretations for selected uses

Use category

Selected use

LISMORE SHALLOW SILT LOAM Ll EYRE SHALLOW SILT LOAM El

Land use Value for food prod-classi- uction class (2a) fication Horticultural class (2a}

i--Urban use class (l}

Engineer- Foundations for ing uses buildings

Roads and streets

Source of Topsoil source fill Roadfill source material

Specific Home vegetable gardens urban uses Playing fields and parks

------· Unsealed paths

-Vegetation Trees establishment Shrubs

Grasses

LISMORE STONY SILT LOAM L2 EYRE STONY SILT LOAM E2

Value for food production class (3)

Soil limitations

Moderate: shallow, requires irrigation Moderate: requires irrigation, medium and low AMSC

Negligible

Moderate: medium and low AMSC Moderate: 25 to 45 cm stone-free soil, levelling could bring stones to surface Moderate: odd surface stones, slushy when wet Moderate: moderate rooting zone, medium and low AMSC Moderate: medium and low AMSC

Severe: stoniness, somewhat excessively drained

Land use classification Horticultural class

Urban use class (1) (3a} Severe: stoniness, low AMSC

Engineering uses

Foundations for buildings Roads and streets

Negligible

Soil suitability

Fair

Good

Fair

Poor

Good

31

Table 4 (continued)

Use cate- Selected use Soil limitations Soil gory suita-

LISMORE STONY SILT LOAM L2 EYRE STONY SILT LOAM E2 (continued)

Source of Topsoil source Severe: less than 25 cm stone-fill free topsoil material Roadfill source Negligible

Specific Home vegetable gardens Severe: less than 25 cm stone-urban uses free topsoil, low AMSC

~--·-

Playing fields and parks Severe: less than 25 cm stone-free soil, levelling would bring stones to surf ace

Unsealed paths Severe: many surface stones Vegetation Trees Severe: small rooting zone, establishment Shrubs low AMSC

Grasses Severe: low AMSC

TEMPLETON DEEP SILT LOAM Tl TEMPLETON DEEP SILT LOAM ON FINE SANDY LOAM T2 TEMPLETON DEEP FINE SANDY LOAM ON LOAMY SAND T3

Land use I

Value for food prod- Slight: requires irrigation classi- uction class (la) fication Horticultural class (la) Slight: requires irrigation,

medium AMSC Urban use class (1) -Negligible

Engineer- Foundations for Moderate: scs - fair to poor;

·---

ing uses buildings WCM - fair to good; PSS - low to Roads and streets medium; PC - semipervious to

pervious . -

Source of Topsoil source Neqliqible fill Roadf ill source Severe: greater than 90 cm material to gravels

Specific Home vegetable gardens .. Slight: medium AMSC ~·-----

urban uses Playing fields and parks* Negligible Unsealed paths Moderate: slushv when wet Vegetation Trees establish- Shrubs Slight: medium AMSC ment Grasses

bility

Poor

Good

'

Poor

Good

Fair

Good Poor

Good

Fair

Good

* With frequent heavy use in wet weather these soils could become slushy

Table 4 (continued)

Use category

Selected use

32

Soil limitations

TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP SILT LOAM T4 TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP SILT LOAM ON FINE SANDY LOAM T5 TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP FINE SANDY LOAM T6 TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP FINE SANDY LOAM ON LOAMY SAND T7

Land use Value for food prod- Slight: requires irrigation classi- uction class (la) fication Horticultural class (la) Slight: requires irrigation,

medium AMSC -Urban use class (1) Negligible

Engineer- Foundations for Moderate: scs - fair to poor; ing uses buildings WCM - fair to good; PSS - low

Roads and streets medium; PC - semipervious to impervious

-- -- ~~

Source of Topsoil source Negligible fill Road fill source Moderate: between 45 to 90 cm material to gravels

Specific Home vegetable gardens Slight: medium AMSC urban uses Playing fields and Negligible

parks* Unsealed paths Moderate: slushv when wet Vegetation Trees establish- Shrubs Slight: medium AMSC ment Grasses

HALKETT DEEP SANDY LOAM ON SAND (H)

Land use Value for food prod- Moderate: requires irrigation classi- uction class (2a) fication Horticultural class (4) Moderate: requires irrigation,

medium AMSC Urban use class (1) Negligible

Engineer- Foundations for

··-

WCM to

ing uses buildings Slight: removal of dunes necessary Roads and streets

Source Topsoil source Negligible of fill Roadfill source Moderate: between 45 to 90 cm to material gravels

Specific Home vegetable gardens Slight: medium AMSC urban usei: Playing fields and parks Severe: dry out quickly in summer,

erode if used freauentlv Unsealed paths Severe: erodib;1;+-., Vegetation Trees establish- Shrubs Slight: medium AMSC ment Grasses

Soil suitability

Good

Fair

Good

Fair

Good

~----

Fair

Good

Fair

Good

Fair

Good

Poor

Good

* With frequent heavy use in wet weather these soils could become slushy

33

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful for the constructive conunents of Mr T.H. Webb, and

Drs M.L. Leamy and R.D. Northey.

REFERENCES

BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION 1957: Site Investigations. British Standard Code of Practice CP 2001

COWIE, J.D. 1974: Soils of Palmerston North City and Environs, New Zealand. N.Z. Soil Survey Report 24

COX, J.E. 1978: Soils and agriculture of Part Paparua County, Canterbury,

New Zealand. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 34 128 p.

KEAR, B.S.; GIBBS, H.S.; MILLER, R.B. 1967: Canterbury and North Otago, New Zealand. 92 p.

Soils of the plains and downs, N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 14

LINCOLN COLLEGE LANDSCAPE CONSULTING SERVICE AND MWD LANDSCAPE SECTION 1974:

Rolleston New Town Site - A Landscape Survey and Evaluation.

NORTHEY, R.D. 1968: Correlation of engineering and pedological soil

classification. Chapter 9.4, pp.146-162 in 'Soils of New Zealand'. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 26 (2) 221 p.

N.Z. SOIL BUREAU 1968a: General survey of the soils of South Island, New

Zealand. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin 27 404 p.

N.Z. SOIL BUREAU 1968b: Soil descriptions and analytical data. Chapter

11.2, pp.8-126 in Soils of New Zealand. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin

26(3) 127 p.

OBORN, L.E.; SUGGATE, R.P. 1959: Sheet 21, Christchurch (lst ed.) "Geological Map of New Zealand 1:250 000". Department of Scientific

and Industrial Research, Wellington.

RAESIDE, J.D.; RENNIE, W.F. 1974: Soils of the Christchurch Region, New

Zealand: The soil factor in regional planning. N.Z. Soil Survey Report 16

STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND 1973: The code of practice for design

of foundations for buildings not requiring specific design. NZS 4204 P

SUGGATE, R.P. 1973: Sheet 21, Christchurch (2nd ed.) "Geological Map of

New Zealand 1: 250 000". Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington.

TAYLOR, N.H.; POHLEN, I.J. 1968: Classification of New Zealand soils.

Chapter 2, pp.15-46 in 'Soils of New Zealand'. N.Z. Soil Bureau Bulletin

26 (1) 142 p.

TAYLOR, N.H.; POHLEN, I.J. 1970: Soil survey method. Soil Bureau Bulletin

25 242 p.

34

APPENDIX - SOIL PROFILE DESCRIPTIONS

The following soil descriptions are records of profiles at specific

sites which are considered representative of the soil type described.

Notes are given to explain some of the terms.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Map symbol:

Topography:

Drainage:

refers to the symbol designating the soil type on the

soil map of Rolleston New Town Site.

gives the site microtopography and its position in the

landscape.

both the overall and internal drainage are given in terms of

the classes defined by Taylor and Pohlen {1970), and refer

to natural site conditions before either artificial drainage

or irrigation is applied.

Profile descriptions: use terminology of Taylor and Pohlen {1970).

LISMORE SHALLOW SILT LOAM MAP SYMBOL Ll

LOCATION: On north side of Lowes Road approximately 1 km W of junction

with Springston-Rolleston Road.

GRID REFERENCE: M36/598 336

TOPOGRAPHY: Very gently undulating. Near edge of high terrace scarp.

PARENT MATERIAL: Fine textured alluvium and loess on gravels

MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL: 600 mm

DRAINAGE: Overall: well drained Internal: medium

HORIZON

A

AB

DEPTH (THICKNESS)

0-19 cm {19)

19-26 cm (7)

dark greyish brown (lOYR 4/2) silt loam; friable; weakly developed medium and fine nut breaking to weakly developed fine nut and medium and fine crumb

structure; few medium worm casts; many very fine

roots; distinct irregular boundary,

mixed light olive brown (2.SY 5/4) and dark greyish brown (lOYR 4/2) silt loam; friable; weakly developed

coarse blocky breaking to weakly developed fine and

very fine nut structure; many fine and medium worm

casts; many very fine tubular and microtubular pores;

many very fine roots; distinct irregular boundary,

HORIZON

c

DEPTH (THICKNESS)

26-45 cm (19)

on

35

light olive brown(2.5Y 5/4) silt loam; friable; weakly developed coarse blocky breaking to weakly developed medium blocky and fine nut structure; many medium and fine worm casts; many micro and very fine tubular pores; few very fine reots; indistinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown to light yellowish brown {2.5Y 5.5/4) stony fine sandy loam; friable; structureless; 15% fine stones and coarse greywacke gravels, weakly weathered, subrounded and rounded; many micro and very fine tubular pores; few very fine roots.

36

LISMORE STONY SILT LOAM MAP SYMBOL L2

LOCATION: On north-western side of Brookside Road, 3 km SW of Rolleston Township


TOPOGRAPHY: Very gently undulating with braided former stream channels on high terrace

PARENT MATERIAL: Fine to coarse textured alluvium and loess


DRAINAGE: overall: somewhat excessively drained Internal: medium

HORIZON DEPTH

A

(THICKNESS)

0-15 cm (15)

15-35 cm (20)

35-45 cm (10)

45-205 cm (160)

on

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) gritty silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium nut breaking to moderately developed medium and fine crumb structure; many medium to fine roots; distinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.SY 5/4) stony silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine crumb structure; many medium and fine roots; many medium and fine rounded greywacke stones; distinct smooth boundary,

olive brown (2.SY 4/4) sand; firm; massive; few medium root~; distinct smooth boundary,

olive (SY 4/3) very stony sand; friable; single grain; few fine roots; abundant medium and fine rounded greywacke stones; distinct smooth boundary,

olive brown (2.SY 4/4) loose stony gravels.

37

TEMPLETON DEEP SILT LOAM MAP SYMBOL Tl

LOCATION: 500 m N of Springston on western side of Waterholes Road


TOPOGRAPHY: Flat to gently undulating with some meandering ancient stream channels on intermediate terrace

PARENT MATERIAL: Silty or sandy alluvium and loess

MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL: 600 nun

DRAINAGE: Overall: moderately well to well drained Internal: slow to medium

HORIZON DEPTH

A p

AB

(THICKNESS)

0-11 cm (11)

11-17 cm (6)

17-26 cm (9)

26-40 cm (14)

40-52 cm (12)

52-63 cm (11)

63-95 cm (32)

on

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed very fine nut and crumb structure; some cast granules; many roots; distinct irregular boundary,

very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) silt loam; friable; moderately developed fine and very fine nut and granular structure breaking to very fine nut and crumb structure; many roots; few worm casts; distinct irregular boundary,

intermingled very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) and yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4) silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed very fine nut and crumb structure; few fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4) silt loam; friable; massive, breaking to weakly developed medium nut structure; many pores; few worm casts; few faint strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; few fine concretions; indistinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silt loam; friable to firm; massive; few pores; few medium yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4), strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) mottles; distinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silt loam; firm; massive; many pores; many distinct medium yellowish brown (lOYR 5/6) and dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) mottles; distinct irregular boundary,

pale olive (5Y 6/4) silt loam; firm;massive; few pores; some clay skins; few distinct yellowish brown (lOYR 5/6) and dark brown to brown (lOYR 4/3) mottles; distinct irregular boundary,

gravels with a sandy matrix.

38

TEMPLETON DEEP SILT LOAM ON FINE SANDY LOAM MAP SYMBOL T2

LOCATION: On western side of Weedons Road 1 km NW of intersection with Selwyn Road






HORIZON DEPTH

A

AB

c

(THICKNESS)

0-21 cm (21)

21-25 cm (4)

25-35 cm (10)

35-68 cm (33)

on

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut structure; many fine roots; distinct wavy boundary,

intermingled very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) and olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) silt loam; friable; weakly developed medium nut breaking to weakly developed fine nut and granular structure; few fine roots; distinct irregular boundary,

olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) fine sandy loam; friable; weakly developed medium blocky breaking to weakly developed medium and fine nut and fine granular structure; few fine roots; many very fine distinct pores; distinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown to light yellowish brown (2.5Y 5.5/4) sandy loam; friable; weakly developed medium blocky breaking to weakly developed medium and fine granular structure; few fine roots; many fine distinct pores; olive brown to light olive brown (2.5Y 4.5/4) sandy loam bands 2.5 cm to 7.5 cm thick; distinct wavy boundary,

olive (5Y 5/4) loamy sand; loose; single grain; few indistinct diffuse yellowish brown (lOYR 5/8) mottles.

39

TEMPLETON DEEP FINE SANDY LOAM ON LOAMY SAND MAP SYMBOL T3

LOCATION: 2SO m SE of State Highway 1, l.S km east of Rolleston Township

GRID REFERENCE: M36/613 3SS

TOPOGRAPHY: Flat to gently undulating with some meandering ancient stream

channels on intermediate terrace

PARENT MATERIAL: sandy alluvium and loess



HORIZON DEPTH

A p

AB

c

(THICKNESS)

0-7 cm (7)

7-22 cm (lS)

22-30 cm (8)

30-40 cm (10)

40-SO cm (10)

S0-70 cm (20)

on

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut and crumb breaking to moderately developed very fine nut and crumb structure; many fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed very fine nut and crumb structure; many fine roots; many worm casts; indistinct irregular boundary,

intermingled very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) and dark brown to brown (lOYR 4/3) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed very fine nut and crumb structure; few fine roots; few fine pores; distinct irregular boundary,

dark brown to brown (lOYR 4/3) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed fine blocky breaking to weakly developed very fine blocky and crumb structure; few fine roots; few worm casts; indistinct irregular boundary,

brown (lOYR 4.S/3) fine sandy loam; firm; weakly developed fine blocky breaking to weakly developed fine crumb structure; many fine pores; few fine distinct yellowish brown (lOYR S/6) mottles; distinct irregular boundary,

olive brown (2.SY 4/4) silt loam; firm; massive; abundant fine pores; many fine distinct dark brown (7.SYR 4/4) and yellowish brown (lOYR S/6) and few olive grey (SY S/2) mottles; distinct irregular boundary,

olive (SY 4/3) loamy sand; friable; massive, breaking to single grain.

40

TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP SILT LOAM MAP SYMBOL T4

LOCATION: On eastern side of Rattletrack Road, 1 km N of Ellesmere Junction Road






HORIZON DEPTH

A

D r

(THICKNESS)

0-23 cm (23)

23-30 cm (7)

30-47 cm (17)

on

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to weakly developed fine crumb structure; many fine roots; distinct regular boundary,

dark yellowish brown (lOYR 4/4) silt loam; very firm; massive, breaking to weakly developed fine blocky structure; few fine roots; few fine worm casts; diffuse irregular boundary,

olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) silt loam; very firm; massive; very few fine roots; distinct smooth boundary,


41

TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP SILT LOAM ON FINE SANDY LOAM

MAP SYMBOL T5

LOCATION: On northern side of Selwyn Road 250 m south of intersection with Weedons Road





DRAINAGE: overall: well drained Internal: medium

HORIZON DEPTH

AB

(THICKNESS)

0-9 cm (9)

9-29 cm (20)

29-36 cm (7)

36-43 cm (7)

43-54 cm (11)

54-65 cm (11)

65-88 cm (23)

on

very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut and crumb breaking to moderately developed fine crumb structure; many fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium nut breaking to moderately developed fine nut and crumb structure; many fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

intermingled very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) and yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed fine nut breaking to moderately developed very fine nut and crumb structure; many fine roots; few worm casts; distinct irregular boundary,

yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4) fine sandy loam; friable to firm; weakly developed medium and fine nut breaking to weakly developed fine crumb structure; few roots; few medium worm casts; indistinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; firm; massive, breaking to very weakly developed medium blocky structure; few fine roots; many very fine distinct pores; indistinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; firm; massive, breaking to very weakly developed crumb structure; few fine roots; many distinct very fine pores; few diffuse strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; indistinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown to light yellowish brown (2.5Y 5.5/4) silty clay loam; firm; massive; very few very fine roots; many distinct fine pores; many distinct and diffuse strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) medium to large mottles; distinct irregular boundary,


42

TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP FINE SANDY LOAM MAP SYMBOL T6

LOCATION: 500 m NE of Lincoln-Rolleston Road, 3 km SE of Rolleston Township



PARENT MATERIAL: Sandy alluvium and loess

MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL: 600 nun

DRAINAGE: overall: well drained Internal: medium

HORIZON DEPTH

AB

D r

(THICKNESS)

0-10 cm (10)

10-17 cm (7)

17-25 cm (8)

25-50 cm (25)

50-76 cm (26)

on

very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut and crumb breaking to moderately developed very fine crumb structure; many fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed very fine crumb structure; many roots; many worm casts; indistinct irregular boundary,

intermingled very dark grey (lOYR 3/1) and dark yellowish brown (lOYR 4/4) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed fine crumb structure; many roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4) fine sandy loam; friable to firm; very weakly developed medium and fine blocky breaking to very weakly developed fine nut and crumb structure; few roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy loam; friable to firm; massive, breaking to very weakly developed fine crumb structure; few roots; distinct irregular boundary,


43

TEMPLETON MODERATELY DEEP FINE SANDY LOAM ON LOAMY SAND

MAP SYMBOL T7

LOCATION: 150 m NW of Selwyn Road, 250 m SW of intersection with SpringstonRolleston Road



PARENT MATERIAL: Sandy alluvium and loess



HORIZON DEPTH

AB

D r

(THICKNESS)

0-20 cm (20)

20-26 cm (6)

26-45 cm (19)

44-55 cm (11)

55-67 cm (12)

on

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed medium and fine crumb structure; many fine roots; distinct irregular boundary,

intermingled very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) and light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; firm; moderately developed fine blocky breaking to weakly developed fine nut and granular structure; few fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy loam; very firm; massive, breaking to weakly developed fine nut and granular structure; few fine roots; few to many indistinct medium olive (SY 5/3) mottles; few fine and medium pores; distinct regular boundary,

olive(5Y 5/4) fine loamy sand; firm; massive; abundant very fine pores; few to many indistinct medium yellowish brown (lOYR 5/5 to 5/6) mottles; distinct regular boundary,

olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) silt loam; very firm; massive; few to many indistinct to distinct fine brownish yellow (lOYR 6/8) mottles; distinct regular boundary,


44

EYRE SHALLOW SILT LOAM MAP SYMBOL El

LOCATION: In paddock corner NW of intersection of Lowes Road and Springston-Rolleston Road


TOPOGRAPHY: Very gently undulating with braided fonner stream channels on intennediate terrace




HORIZON DEPTH

A

AB

c

(THICKNESS)

0-20 cm (20)

20-30 cm (10)

30-45 cm (15)

on

dark greyish brown (2.5Y 4/2) silt loam; friable; weakly developed medium nut breaking to moderately developed medium and fine crumb structure; many fine roots; distinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) gritty silt loam; friable; weakly developed medium nut breaking to moderately developed medium and fine crumb structure; many medium roots; abundant worm casts; distinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) very gritty stony silt loam; firm; weakly developed fine crumb structure; few fine roots; many fine greywacke stones; indistinct irregular boundary,

olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) stony loamy coarse sand; firm (loose bands); single grain; abundant fine and medium rounded and subrounded greywacke stones.

45

EYRE STONY SILT LOAM MAP SYMBOL E2

LOCATION: On south side of Selwyn Road, l km E of junction with SpringstonRolleston Road


TOPOGRAPHY: Very gently undulating with braided former stream channels on intermediate terrace



DRAINAGE: Overall: somewhat excessively drained Internal: medium

HORIZON DEPTH

A

c

(THICKNESS)

0-20 cm (20)

21-34 cm (13)

on

dark greyish brown (lOYR 4/2) stony silt loam; friable; moderately developed medium and coarse blocky breaking to weakly to moderately developed fine crumb and medium granular structure; 7% medium and fine, weakly weathered, rounded and subrounded greywacke stones; many medium casts; few fine tubular pores; many very fine and fine roots; distinct irregular boundary,

olive brown (2.SY 4/4) very stony sandy loam;. friable; weakly developed medium granular structure breaking to structureless; 40% fine, weakly weathered, rounded and subrounded greywacke stones; many very fine roots; distinct irregular boundary,

dark greyish brown to olive brown (2.SY 4/3) very stony loamy sand; loose; structureless; > 50% fine to coarse greywacke gravels and fine greywacke stones, weakly weathered, rounded and subrounded; few very fine roots.

46

HALKETT DEEP SANDY LOAM ON SAND (DUNE CREST) MAP SYMBOL H

LOCATION: On eastern side of Goulds Road, 500 m N of Ellesmere Junction Road


TOPOGRAPHY: Rolling, on dunes

PARENT MATERIAL: Dune sands


DRAINAGE: Overall: well to somewhat excessively drained Internal: rapid

HORIZON DEPTH

A

B

c

(THICKNESS)

0-11 cm (11)

11-20 cm (9)

20-28 cm (8)

28-40 cm (12)

on

very dark greyish brown (2.5Y 3/2) sandy loam; friable; weakly developed medium nut breaking to weakly developed fine granular and fine nut structure; many fine roots; many worm casts; sharp smooth boundary,

intermingled very dark greyish brown (2.5Y 3/2) and yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4) sandy loam; friable; weakly developed coarse nut breaking to weakly developed fine nut and crumb structure; few fine roots; few fine faint yellowish brown (lOYR 5/6) mottles; indistinct irregular boundary,

yellowish brown (lOYR 5/4) loamy sand; friable; single grain; few fine roots; few fine faint dark yellowish brown (lOYR 4/4) mottles; indistinct irregular boundary,

olive brown to light olive brown (2.5Y 4.5/4) sand; friable; single grain; very few roots; distinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sand; loose; single grain; very few roots.

47

HALKETT DEEP SANDY LOAM ON SAND {DUNE FLANK) MAP SYMBOL H

LOCATION: In corner of paddock on north-eastern side of intersection of Railway Road and Two Chain Road


TOPOGRAPHY: Rolling, on dunes

PARENT MATERIAL: Dune sands


DRAINAGE: overall: well to excessively drained Internal: rapid

HORIZON DEPTH

AB

(THICKNESS)

0-16 cm (16)

16-25 cm (9)

25-34 cm (9)

34-51 cm (17)

51-58 cm (7)

58-72 cm (14)

7 2-93 cm (21)

on

very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed fine crumb structure; many fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

very dark grey to very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/1.5) fine sandy loam; friable; moderately developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed fine crumb structure; many fine roots; indistinct irregular boundary,

intermingled very dark greyish brown (lOYR 3/2) and light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; friable; weakly developed medium and fine nut breaking to moderately developed fine crumb structure; few fine roots; few worm casts; distinct irregular boundary,

light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy loam; friable; very weakly developed medium and fine blocky breaking to very weakly developed fine nut and crumb structure; few fine roots; few fine distinct pores; many faint medium light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) mottles; indistinct irregular boundary,

pale olive (5Y 6/3) loamy sand; friable; massive, breaking to very weakly developed fine crumb structure; very few roots; few fine distinct pores; thin olive brown to light olive brown (2.5Y 4.5/4) distinct, sharp and diffuse wavy bands; indistinct irregular boundary,

olive (5Y 5/3) loamy sand; friable; massive, breaking to very weakly developed fine crumb structure; very few fine roots; many dark yellowish brown (lOYR 4/4) indistinct diffuse medium mottles; indistinct irregular boundary,

olive (5Y 4.5/3) sand; friable to loose; massive; very few fine roots; many medium diffuse olive grey (5Y 5/2) mottles; distinct irregular boundary,


48

INDEX TO SOILS (Italic numbers refer to appendix)

Page

Eyre shallow silt loam 14 I 44 Eyre stony silt loam 14, 15 I 45

Halkett deep sandy loam on sand 14, 16 I 46

Lismore shallow silt loam 11, 12, 34

Lismore stony silt loam 12, 36

Templeton deep fine sandy loam on loamy sand 12, 39

Templeton deep silt loam 12, 37 Templeton deep silt loam on fine sandy loam 12, 38 Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam 14, 42 Templeton moderately deep fine sandy loam on loamy sand 14, 43 Templeton moderately deep silt loam 12, 13, 40 Templeton moderately deep silt loam on fine sandy loam 12, 41

soils of the rolleston new town site, canterbury, new zealand

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