| New Soil Order classification | MELANIC
Occur on limestone or basalt bedrock. |
| Old Soil Group classification | Rendzina and intergrades of yellow grey earths and yellow brown earths. | |
| Common names associated with this Soil Order | Bluff, Te Mata, Te Aute, Te Onepu, Tirohia, Awatea, Kairakau. |
| Physical characteristics | - Naturally fertile.
- Highly exchangeable base of calcium and magnesium and generally plenty of lime so a high pH.
- Can have a high shrink/swell capacity making them sticky. Structurally very resilient to cropping and other pastoral use.
- High biological activity.
|
| Drainage and moisture availability | - Very similar to the allophanic soil characteristics listed previously.
|
| Rooting depth | - Excellent. Soils are consistently deeper than 60cm. Allows trees to tap the nutrient reserves and moisture zones.
|
Te Onepu soil, Te Aute Road
Source: Simon Stokes