HBRC > What We Do > Land > Soils of Hawke's Bay > Recent

New Soil Order classification	RECENT - ALLUVIAL AND STEEPLAND Occurs throughout the region in young landscapes, including alluvial floodplains, unstable steep slopes and slopes mantled with very young volcanic ash (less than 700 years BP).
Old Soil Group classification	Recent.
Common names associated with this Soil Order	On floodplain areas - Waipaoa, Waihirere, Esk, Tuki Tuki, Pakowhai, Twyford, Flaxmere, Omaranui, Argyll, Omahu, Ngatarawa, Havelock, Karamu, Ormond, Kaiti, Upokororo, Mangateretere.
Physical characteristics	Located in valley floors, river terraces, or very steep slopes where weathering of the bedrock is still the dominant soil forming process. Colluvial material could be added as it is eroded soil from slopes deposited on top of existing soils in the footslope area. Variable texture, due to location and source of soil forming material, generally silty. Structurally weak. High natural fertility. Higher clay content, - this is dependent on source of the parent material. Susceptible to change from further deposition or erosion.
Drainage and moisture availability	Soils will have a good to imperfect drainage pattern, depending on location. There are two basic types; low lying alluvial landforms will be well to imperfectly drained, while slopes will be well drained. Recent slope soils will have rapid gravity drainage and be very prone to moisture deficiencies.
Rooting depth	Excellent on the floodplain soils where depths greater than 60cm will consistently allow trees to tap the nutrient reserves and moisture zones. Limiting on steepland soils. When soil depth is 45cm or less (Recent slope soils), rooting depth can severely limit tree growth unless roots are able to penetrate fractured bedrock.

Recent alluvial silts on Tutaekuri floodplain

Source: Simon Stokes
Recent slope soil development on sandstone in the Mangapoike River catchment, Wairoa.
Note how shallow it is.

Source: Simon Stokes
Recent slope soil development on mudstone near Atua Road, Elsthorpe. Soil developing on an old eroded site. Note the lack of topsoil.
Source: Simon Stokes

Recent - Alluvial and Steepland