Temperate forest soils of Tasmania and northern South Island, New Zealand : properties, distribution, genesis and implications for sustainable use : a collection of published papers and a review

The thesis is a review of twenty publications including refereed papers, soil survey reports and bulletins, soil maps and books. Also included are two major unpublished reports. The primary objective of the research has been the provision of information relevant to the sustainable use of temperate forest soils. A secondary aim was to investigate soil-forming processes. To achieve these objectives, the research has included four main aspects: (1) Soil surveys to determine the properties and distribution of soils. (2) Assessment of potential soil degradation hazards resulting from forest practices. (3) Evaluation of the productive capacity of the soils and their suitability for plantation forestry. ( 4) Studies of some aspects of the genesis of temperate forest soils. Research of temperate forest soils commenced with a soil survey of the Charleston-Punakaiki region on the west coast of northern South Island, New Zealand in the mid-l 970's. A report including ratings of soil limitations affecting the growth of softwood plantations and a soil map at 1: 50 000 scale covering 36 500ha were completed. Subsequent studies concentrated on the assessment of landslide hazard and the effects of windthrow and selective logging on soil depth. Between 1978-1982 a soil survey was carried out in the Malborough Sounds region in northern South Island, New Zealand to assess soil limitations affecting plantation growth and the potential impacts on site disturbance and sediment generation from various forest practices. A soil report and map at a scale of 1: 100 000 covering about 50 000 ha were completed as part of the project. Transect studies of regolith characteristics and soil processes were also carried out. Mapping was initiated in Tasmania in 1990 to provide soil information suitable for use by forest managers for compliance with the Forest Practices Code. Soil reports and maps at 1 :50 000 were completed for 154 000ha in the north of the State together with a handbook outlining the properties and management requirements of 35 important forest soils from around Tasmania. Methodologies were also developed for assessing soil erodibility, site productivity and site suitability for plantations. Specific research was carried out to investigate impacts on soils from cable-logging steep slopes, and soil texture-profiles in relation to bioturbation by earthworms. The studies in northern South Island, New Zealand and Tasmania reviewed by the author have added substantially to information on temperate forest soils, particularly in relation to their properties, distribution and management practices required for sustainable use.