SURVEYS OF SOILS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 24 (Supplement)

SURVEYS OF SOILS

IMPORTANCE IN FARMING RESULT OF RESEARCH WORK. The importance of soil su veys to New Zealand agriculture was emphasired by Mr. Rigg, director of the Cawthron Institute, in his presidential address to the agriculture section f the Science Congress at Dunedin. He said that in 1930 the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, with the co-operation of the Cawthron Institute, established the reconnaissance soil survey of the central North Island territory. More recently the department had conducted a general survey of Taranaki soils and work was now progressing on detailed soil surveys' of the Waipa country, Waikato," and of Ashburton c. anty, Canterbury. “The work which has been done by the Cawthron Institute in the Nelson district and by the Department of Scientific and Industrial- Research in Taranaki, the Waikato and the Central North Island territory is affording increasing evidence of the value of soil survey in the elucidation of problems relating to animal health and plant nutrition, and is providing more exact basis for advisory work and agricultural de-; velopment,” said Mr. Rigg.

. BUSH-SICKNESS. *j—'-e work of the Cawthron Institute | has shown that ‘bush-sickness’ in the i Waimea county, Nelson, is associated I, with soils derived from granite and quartzite. “The association of - these stock ailments with distinct types of soil illustrates the value of the soil map in defining country which is likely to be affected with stock ailment. The reconnaissance soil survey of the volcanic soils of the North Island has enabled likewise a much clearer picture to be drawn of the factors associated with ‘bush-sickness.’ The mapping of soils associated with stock .ailments and the examination of the chemical and physical properties of « such soils is a matter of great importance not only in the elucidation of stock ailments but in the application of the results of investigations to the stock industry. ’ / ■ : “Furthermore, the correlation of stock a / ilment with known properties of soils should enable prediction to be made concerning the probable incidence of stock ailment in other parts of New Zealand where similar soil types are encountered.” . * Mr. Rigg said that while it must be admitted that probably all New Zealand soils required phosphatic manures for ( the maintenance of optimum pasture production, the quantity and the type of phosphatic fertilisers rriost desirable was dependent on climatic conditions and on special soil properties. The use of i potassic manures in New Zealand had in the past been considered of comparatively little importance, but indications were not lacking that potash was definitely required >on many high producing pastures. .

*. POTASH DEFICIENCES. t . In Taranaki certain localities had been found to be associated with low potash status of the soil,.and field tests conducted by the Department of Agriculture had shown that an actual response was obtained from the use. of potassic fertilisers in these localities. “The work which has been done ithroughout* New Zealand in connection with the. use of fertilisers demonstrates quite clearly that there is no standard treatment of lime and of fertilisers for different parts of New. Zealand,” said Mr. Rigg. ' ■]■ “The value of -.soil survey work in the case of stock ailment, physiological ailment of plants and the use of fertilisers is perhaps outstanding in a country like New Zealand where soil and climate vary markedly even in restricted areas, t Its value is no less great in connection with the .correct utilisation of New Zealand soil resources and the development of any national programme of agriculture.”