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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 48(1)

Soil spatial variability of drainage properties in relation to phosphate retention and mineralogy on a river terrace of northern Manawatu, New Zealand

A. Senarath A C , A. S. Palmer B and R. W. Tillman B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand.

B Soil & Earth Sciences, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

C Corresponding author. Email: asenarath@kol.co.nz

Australian Journal of Soil Research 48(1) 69-76 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR09042
Submitted: 10 March 2009  Accepted: 9 September 2009   Published: 26 February 2010

Abstract

Spatial variability of soil drainage, topsoil phosphate retention (P-retention), and clay mineralogy were investigated in soils on a Manawatu river terrace developed from a mixture of loamy tephra, loess, and quartzo-feldspathic alluvial parent material. The cause of short-distance variation in soil drainage was investigated on an area of 60 ha from the Last Glacial river aggradation terrace (200–240 m a.s.l.). Three small window areas of 7.5 ha were then selected for grid sampling at 50-m centres within each of 3 map units with contrasting drainage class. Each of the window areas was found to contain 3–4 different drainage classes. Topsoil P-retention also varied (from 20 to 84%) within the window areas. We found a close relationship between soil drainage, P-retention, and clay mineralogy. Well-drained soils have high P-retention and the clay fraction contains 12–13% allophane. Poorly drained soils have low P-retention and the clay fraction has no allophane and contains mainly Kandite (Kaolinite and Halloysite). The short-distance variability in drainage is attributed to slight textural variations of the original alluvial parent material. This gives rise to the formation of different soil structures, which in turn influence the soil hydraulic conductivity and thence variable drainage properties, which influence the clay mineralogy and P-retention.

Additional keywords: P-retention, soil structure, allophane, soil formation.


Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the technical staff of the Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, for help in the field and laboratory experiments; farmers of the Kiwitea study area for their co-operation during the soil survey and field experiments, and Trevor Webb, Landcare Research, Lincoln, for his valuable comments and suggestions.


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