Central’s farmers and growers can learn more about the region’s soil from a series of factsheets released by Otago Regional Council (ORC).

ORC land and soil scientist Erik Button said not all soils are the same and their strengths and weaknesses vary due to when, where and what they were formed from.

“Understanding these aspects of your soil will help you achieve the best outcomes for both production and the environment.” 

Formation of soil is further determined by climate, organisms, land features, time and the geological material the soil forms in. 

With Otago’s diverse geology, climates and landscapes, a range of very different soils have formed that have different opportunities and vulnerabilities.  

Of the 15 New Zealand soil classification soil orders that exist nationally, 10 are found in Otago with eight of these making up 99 per cent of soils in the region. 

Profiles of the eight soil orders that make up almost all of Otago’s soils from most to least common; Brown, Pallic, Semiarid, Podzol, Recent, Raw, Gley and Melanic soil. PHOTOS: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research 2023.

The factsheets highlight what makes each Otago soil different, where in Otago they can be found, their environmental vulnerabilities and management considerations for productive and sustainable land management. 

They can help land managers design farm plans by identifying these vulnerabilities and how they can be managed to avoid degradation of the soil and impacts on the wider environment. 

At a recent ‘Know Your Soils’ day run by Thomsons Catchment project Lincoln University professor of soils and physical science Jim Moir said the new ORC soils web content was the best of any regional council in New Zealand. 

The factsheets serve as educational resources for anyone wanting to learn more about soil and better understand Otago's natural resources. 

Each of the eight most common soil orders in Otago has a factsheet and there is a general overview factsheet covering all orders. 

The new factsheets were developed in collaboration with scientists and led by feedback from an industry body and an Otago catchment group. 

Erik has been working on other new soil online content, including guidance on sustainable soil and fertiliser management, as well as information on ORC’s soil health monitoring programme and regional data collection.  

These resources are a part of ORC’s new website which includes an A-to-Z search function. 

For more information or questions contact [email protected]

Find the ORC information about Otago soils here and ORC’s managing soil webpage here.