Soil studies in a high country catchment : Paddle Creek, South Canterbury

Abstract

The aims and objects of this study were fourfold.

1. It was a detailed mapping exercise of an area of high country which in the General Soil Survey (1:250 000) (Soil Bureau Bulletin 27, 1968), was covered by the Puketeraki and Kaikoura soil sets.

2. The second objective was to take the Puketeraki soil set and examine the variability encompassed within it, in order to define a number of soil variants, which together constitute a redefined - Puketeraki Association.

3. The third objective was a characterisation of some of the physical and hydraulic properties of the defined soil variants within the Puketeraki Association.

4. The fourth objective was to use a soil map delineating the soil variants, to subdivide the basin into zones of similar hydrological response, as a method for defining the response units required for building a hydrological response model. This aspect of the study was to be carried out under the auspices of the Tussock Grassland and Mountain Lands Institute.