Soil classification in New Zealand - Legacy and lessons

Abstract

A brief review of the history of soil classification in New Zealand is made in order to place the most recent work in its historical context. The first comprehensive system was inspired by the Russian concepts of zonality, and was published as the New Zealand Genetic Soil Classification by Taylor in 1948. It may be regarded as a grand soil-landscape model that related soil classes to environmental factors. Although successful in stimulating the reconnaissance survey of New Zealand soils, it failed to support the requirements of more intensive land use. Soil Taxonomy was tested as an alternative modem system for a period of 5 years but was found to make inadequate provision for important classes of New Zealand soils. The New Zealand Soil Classification was developed using many of the features of Soil Taxonomy while preserving successful parts of the New Zealand Genetic Soil Classification. Historical lessons include the increasing importance of electronic databases and regional correlation, the importance of nomenclature, the necessity of a national system and the divorce of soil classification from soil-landscape modelling.