A soil-landscape model of Blind River/Otuwhero, Marlborough : a case study
Loading...
Date
2024
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
© The Author
Abstract
Soils form in complex, four-dimensional, dynamic systems across landscapes. The role of a pedologist is to explore and describe the complexity and variability of soils within that landscape. The most common method used to document soils in the landscape is the soil map. Modern soil mapping has migrated to digital platforms where a much greater range of soil attribute information can be delivered at more appropriate scales. However, often soil mapping projects are carried out without specific reference to the landforms that the studied soils lie upon, in other words a soil-landscape model (S-LM) is often not included with the finished mapping outputs. The inclusion of an explicit soil-landscape model alongside a soil map is important for several reasons such as prediction of variability in soils across a landscape, reduction is survey costs, maintenance of an historic record and development of soil attribute mapping that allows interpolation of soil properties across the landscape rather than confining and defining soils into ‘crisp’ soil polygons. Map users who understand the S-LM can apply its principles across the wider landscape and to smaller landforms than would otherwise be captured on a broader-scale soil map. This study reviews soil-landscape modelling literature then combines Geographic Information System analysis with field work to establish a S-LM for the Blind River / Otuwhero region of Marlborough, New Zealand.
Description
Research report for Master of Science in Soil Science 189.887
Keywords
Soil science, Soil, Marlborough, Blind River, Landscape, Soil Landscape Model, Geographic Information System, GIS