Analyses of Soils.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XIII, Issue 1, 20 July 1916, Page 38

Analyses of Soils.

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Dune - sands from Rangitikei, Wellington, and Waikato Heads, Auckland (E976/1-2 and E 1027), were analysed for the Lands Department in connection with the problem of - foresting the dunes. Organic matter, and therefore nitrogen' and humus, is lacking, but the . mineral plant-food, both available and total, is present in remarkably good quantities.

Kaipara, North Auckland (ElOBO/1-4), are various soils on which it is desired to plant orchards. They are generally deficient in total and available phosphoric acid, and . sometimes in available potash.. No. 1 is from limestone country originally growing kauritrees ; No. . 2 is on limestone growing heavy manuka and cabbagetrees but . not kauri, and is not considered so suitable for fruitgrowing ; No. 3 supported light manuka and tauhinu (Pomaderris phylicaefolia) ; No. 4 was originally heavy manuka and cabbage-trees.

Maruia Plains, Nelson (£1233).' —A soil collected by the Geological Survey at the foot of the Spenser Mountains. These are micaceous soils, rich in available and total phosphoric acid and in total potash, lime, and magnesia, the ratio of the latter two being slightly unbalanced. They are similar to the grey mica-schist silts of the West Coast (see my 1908 Annual Report, p. 246, and Wirebasket Bulletin, No. 2, p. 8).

Clarence River, Kaikoura, soil (E 1268. —This is a country of which very little is known. The lime and magnesia ratio is 1-1, and the amount of total and available phosphoric acid is low.

Wanganui garden soil or sand (E 1537. — A soil which refused to grow anything, and probably owes its sterility to want of humus and consequent parching. Analysed for the Horticulture Division.

Hastings, Hawke’s Bay (F159/1-2). —These are soils analysed for the Fields Division. No. 1 is deficient in available phosphoric acid and low in total phosphoric acid; well supplied with available potash. No. 2 is low in total phosphoric acid.

Ruakura Experimental Farm, Hamilton, soil (G 394. — This is a remarkable swamp soil which in patches refuses to take the moisture and remains permanently dry, no crops growing on it. Analysis shows that all plant-food is present in good and even (in some cases) high amounts. The peculiar physical conditions which make it permanently dry have yet to be determined.

Ashhurst, Wellington (G 488. —This is another example of waterproof soil— i.e., a soil which will not wet. The ordinary chemical analysis shows nothing unusual.

Lower Wair arap a soil (G 499 from. Turanganui, near the : outlet of the Wairarapa Lake. This shows a deficiency in phosphoric acid, total and available, ' and slightly unbalanced lime-magnesia ratio. ‘ . ■■

Ward, Marlborough, soil (G 686. —This is an example of a fertile soil resting on Amuri limestone debris at the foot of limestone hills near Ward. The available mineral plant-food is high, but the total phosphoric acid is low, so low, indeed, that in a soil with less lime it would be deemed deficient. The remarkable fact that highly productive soils with much lime may contain very little total phosphoric acid, even lower than the above sample, has been pointed out by Hilgard in his classic work on American soils.

British East Africa soils (C 1026 and E 1398) the latter from the K edong Valley Escarpment —were analysed at the request of the Fields Division for a gentleman in East Africa who had rendered service to the Department. The analyses show great deficiency of available and total phosphoric acid, coupled with extremely high total and available potash, and are comparable with no soils in New Zealand.

Laboratory No. Locality. I" G y JX jX» x s rA . • H' f ;s Description. Volatile Matter. Total Nitrogen. Citric-acid Extract in Twenty Hours. I (Dyer’s Method, Hall’s Modification.) “Available” Plant-food. ■ ; Hydrochloric-acid Extract. “Total” Plant-food. Footnotes. At ioo° C. On Ignition. Potash (K 2 0). Phosphoric Acid (P2O5). Colour Of Extract - - on Ignition;:;. X ’ SO.... ■ 3. ’cn X* ’ go rt •• ■ in z-s om Phosphoric Acid . (P 2 O B ). - q 1 , Description. Volatile Matter. Total Nitrogen. Citric-acid Extract in Twenty Hours. (Dyer’s Method, Hall’s Modification.) “ Available ” Plant-food. Hydrochloric-acid Extract. “ Total ” Plant-food. Footnotes. At ioo° C. On Ignition. Potash (K 2 0). Phosphoric Acid (P2O5). Colour of Extract on Ignition.. Lime (CaO). Magnesia (M 2 0). cn PhCS Phosphoric Acid (P 2 O 5 ). X' \r ■II89-I Mokotua, Southland . . Light yellowish-brown clay 13-63 17-07 0-230 0-013 0-009 0-26 0’43 0-14 o-xo (a) rii8§-f : 1189-2 Southland . Mokotua,' r*'*’ ' . ’ ■(> ■ • . Ditto 15-17 I5-98 0-290 0-015 o-oxo 0-29 0-48 0-14 O-II (a) Light yellowish-brown 13-63 17-07 0-230 0-013 0-009 x ~ 0-26 0’43 ..P’i4 o-io («) f • ?J D 105-1, Collingwood, Nelson . . Fine sandy loam 4-96 7’27 0-250 0-020 o-oxo 0’44 0-28 0’33 0-04 (&) S v' ~ r clay X 89-2 II 105-2 .. 9-06 6'59 0*020 0-0X2 0-62 0.36 0-33 0-05 (c) „. • t' ‘"-i - " $«- • . ■ ■. • Ditto 15-17 I5-98 0-290 0-015 o-oio - 0-29 6.-48 . - O ’ I 4-o-ii (a) D..105-L, 105-3 Coarse sandy loam .. 6’95 7-17 0-036 0-007 0’49 0-27 0-25 0-04 (tZ) Collingwood, ’Nelson .. Fine sandy loam .4-96 7-27 0-250 0-020 o-oio 0’44 0-28 ■P-33 0-04 (&) ;105-2 : 105-4 • • 9-06 6’59 0-020 0-012 0-62 0.36 -'0-33 0-05 (c) Kohatu, Nelson Fairly friable grey soil 6-o6 6-88 0-019 0-0X2 0-58 0’35 0-25 0-05 GO 105-3 1020 2-68 6-41 0-140 0-017 O-O4I 0-83 4-02 o-x8 o-xo (/) « • L.v’m. fl fl • • Coarse sandy loam .. 6-95 7-17 0-036 0-007 o-49 0-27 0-25 0-04 105-4 1210 Fairly friable grey soil 6-o6 6-88 0-019 0-012 0-58 0’35 0-25 0-05 ,(e)Coonoor, Pahiatua Brown clay soil 9-56 I3-9I o-37° 0-030 0-027 Brown 0’57 0-71 0’43 0-17 1020 1233-1 Nelson . Kohatu, Blueskin, Otago 2-68 6-41 0-140 0-017 O-O4I 0-83 4-02 0-18 o-io (/) Quartz sand 2-66 n-44 0-294 0-025 0-005 0-25 0-19 0-13 0-06 te) 1210 1233-2 Yellow sandy soil .. 1-78 i-37 0-031 0-064 0-042 0’37 0-30 0-13 0-08 Coonoor, Pahiatua ' .. Brown clay soil 9-56 I3-9I o-37° O-O3O 0-027 Brown °’57 0-71 0’43 0-17 1233-1 1233-3 Otago i) sand Quartz soil Grey 2-66 3-18 n-44 2-58 0-294 0-037 0-025 O-IIO 0-005 0-048 0-25 I-I2 0-19 0’73 0-13 0-26 0-06 0-14 1233-2 1233-4 Yellow sandy soil .. 1-78 i-37 0-031 0-064 O-O42 0’37 0-30 0-13 0-08 (A) .. .. . . Light-brown sandy soil 2-64 2-41 0-052 0-123 0-029 0-28 0-25 0-32 0-12 1233-3 E 57-1 ; ’ • « » Cheviot, Mendip Grey sandy soil 3-i8 2-58 0-037 O-IIO 0-048 I-I2 0’73 0-26 0-14 Canterbury Light-brown fine sandy clay soil 21-18 8-14 0-252 0-005 0-007 0-41 0-28 0-26 0-08 1233-4 07-1 1 Light-brown sandy soil 2-64 2-41 0:052 0-123 0-029 0-28 0-25 0-32 0-12 Pakihi lands, Hokitika, Westland 1-77 8-93 0-229 0-018 0-002 0-06 0-05 0-06 o-ox E, 57-1. 107-2 Cheviot, Mendip Ditto 6-io 8’44 0-185 O-OII Trace 0-05 0-05 0-05 o-ox Light-brown fine sandy 21-18 . 8-14 0-252 0-005 O-OO7 0-41 0-28 0-26 0-08 . '■> A 107-3. Canterbury. • Canterbury. . 33-64 22-15 o-55i 0-018 Trace 0-08 0-06 o-xo o-ox < clay soil Si 07-1 7582. Brown fairly friable soil 2-93 9-46 0-312 0-027 0-027 Light brown .. 0-89 o-6o 0-42 o-x6 Pakihi lands, Hokitika, i-77 8-93 0-229 0-018 0-002 • ■ ' . 0-06 0-05 0-06 o-bi - f Westland . ..107-2 708-1 Kapuka, Southland Brown fairly friable loam 24-12 11-04 0-300 0-017 o-oxo Light brownishgrey 1-17 0’73 0-23 0-09 Ditto ■■.■ • . 6-io 8’44 0-185 O-OII Trace 0-05 0-05 0-05 o-oi --107-3: 708—2 33-64 22-15 o-55i 0-0x8 Trace 0-08 0-06 o-io o-oi Ditto 27-74 12-05 0-34° 0-021 o-oio Light brown . . 1-03 0-51 0-19 o-xo Y Burwood, Canterbury.. Brown fairly friable 2-93 9-46 0-312 0-027 0-027 Light brown .. 0-89 o-6o 0-42 0-16 soil ‘1708-1 1 708-3 26-59 11-91 0-320 0-0x8 0-017 Reddish brown I -20 o-59 0-21 0-09 Kapuka, Southland Brown- fairly friable 24-12 11-04 0-300 0-017 o-oio Light brownish-1-17 0’73 0-23 0-09 •1? -z 708-4 loam ,, grey 25-01 xo-8o 0-280 0-017 0-009 Light brownishgrey 1-17 0-62 0-22 0-07 Ditto .. . . 27-74 12-05 0-34° 0-021 o-oio Light brown . . 1-03 0-51 o-ig o-io ■4'708—2' 5-708-3 11-91 0-320 0-018 0-017 Reddish brown 1-20 o-59 0-21 0-09 26-59 fl. • . . ... 25-01 io-8o 0-280 0-017 0-009 Light brownish-1-17 0-62 0-22 0-07 grey : 708—4

799 Turakina, soil 3'45 7-62 . 0-228 0-024 0-060 Brown i 0-40 O-IO 0-21 963-1 .Hawke’s Bay Brown loose pumice soil 8-66 10-82 0-222 0-043 0-005 brown.. Light 0-25 0-13 0-07 0-05 963-2 • >> pumice soil 4-88 5-82 0-097 .0-031 0-003 brownish- Light grey 0-13 o-xo 0-05 0-04 963-3 )> • • Yellow coarse pumice soil 3'9i 4-10 0-070 0-028 0-002 White \ 0-12 o-og 0-04 0-03 >} }> • • Yellow coarse pumice soil 3'9i 4-10 0-070 0-028 0-002 White 0-12 0-09 0-04 0-03 967 Waitakaruru, - Plains soil 18-23 32-12 0-854 0-066 0-034 Brown O-58 o-33 O-IO 0-26 976-i sand-dunes Sand 0-08 o-35 0-014 0-031 brown . 1-58 o-54 0-15 0-06 (i) 976-2 1 Heads 0-14 °-44 0-012 0-081 , greyish1'52 o-49 0-19 0-06 (,7) brown 1-52 0'49 o-xg 0-06 (.7) 1027 0-20 °'33 0-013 0-0X2 i'99 0'74 o-og ' 0-05 (A) Waikato Heads ,, 0-20 o-33 0-013 0-012 Light greyish - brown 1'99 0'74 0-09 0-05 W 1085-1 Auck-Kaipara, land Very dark-grey soil clay 8 10'47 0-308 0-012 0-005 1 1 0-58 0-28 0-07 1085-2 Ditto Ditto 8-66 12-44 0-286 0-016 0-004 o-6o o-54 0-36 0-05 1085-3 Loose grey silty soil. . 1-71 4-17 0-083 0-009 Trace 0-06 0-05 0-03 Trace It • • . . ' Loose grey silty soil.. 1-71 4'17 0-083 o-oog. Trace 0-06 0-05 0-03 Trace 1085-4 friable loam Fairly 5'45 7-67 0-142 0-009 Trace 0-09 0-06 0-03 Trace 1233 Plains, silt . . 1'58 4-62 0-152 0-014 0-050 Brown . 1-02 1-26 0-58 0-20 1268 Estate, koura brown 3’8x 8-31 0-236 O-OII 0-009 Brownish-grey 0-56 0-56 0-32 0-09 139? East soil 3'92 4-70 0-108 O-I2I Trace greyish- . brown 0-42 0-15 0-76 Trace 1537 Wanganui Sand 1-02 3’90 0-40 0-25 0-05 0-07 F Bay soil clay 8'47 6-31 0-082 0-062 0-003 brown . I-2I 0-38 1'32 0-09 159-2 Waikato . Ruakura, soil . clay 7'°3 6-91 0-060 0-148 0-040 . i-97 0-32 o-6x 0-06 394 Swamp 24-17 34'74 0-726 0-024 0-074 0-189 0-069 0-041 0-132 488 Ashhurst, soil Waterproof' 3'55 13-24 0-367 0-019 0-027 o-749 0-308 0-212 0-072 499 Lower rarapa 14-47 7’45 0-184 0-028 0-006 0'335 0-400 O-37I 0-053 686 Marlborough . 2'94 8-88 0-248 0-038 0-024 2-527 0-461 0’502 0-038 (0 Light reddish - brown soil 2-94 8-88 0-248 0-038 0-024 2-527 0-461 . 0-502 0-038 (0 C1026 East 5-50 6-26 0-109 O-I2I Slight trace 0'47 0-25 o-6x 0-0:2 Light reddish - brown soil 5-50 6-26 0-109 0*121 Slight trace 0'47 0-25 o-6i 0-02

(Results are percentages calculated on the soil dried at 100° Centigrade.)