Noyes, A. M., Balks, M. R., Moon, V. G., & Lowe, D. J. (2016). Soil recovery following landsliding at Whatawhata Research Station, Waikato, New Zealand: preliminary results. In Proceedings of Hill Country Symposium 2016, Rotorua(pp. 83–88). New Zealand Grassland Association, New Zealand Society of Animal Production, and New Zealand Grassland Trust.
Abstract
This research investigates soil recovery following landslides at the Whatawhata Research Station 20 km west of Hamilton. Six landslides were studied, ranging in age from pre-1953 to 2014. The landslides were divided into four zones: shear zones (mean of 25% of landslide area), intact accumulation zones (20%), transition zones (40%), and re-deposition zones (15%), along with a control. Soils were well developed in the control and intact accumulation zones and least recovered in the shear and re-deposition zones. Mean A horizon depths ranged from 2 cm in the shear and re-deposition zones to 7 cm in the transition zone, 17 cm in the intact accumulation zone, and 20 cm in the control. Mean soil carbon contents were lower (P<0.05) in the landslide zones (range of 3.2-5.2%) than in the controls (8.2%). Older landslides showed great recovery; however, the differences between zones within the landslides were greater than the differences between landslides.
Publisher
New Zealand Grassland Association, New Zealand Society of Animal Production, and New Zealand Grassland Trust
Rights
This article is published in Proceedings of Hill Country Symposium 2016. Used with permission.
