Tolaga Bay Soils

The soils of Tolaga Bay Flats have been mapped in detail for the purpose of examining the potential of the soils for cropping including those crops suitable for food processing. The report briefly describes the physical and chemical properties of the soils. More descriptive detail about each soil is given in Appendix 1. The distribution of the soils is shown on the accompanying soil map at a scale of 1:25 OOO. The soils have been classified according to their limitations for pastoral, cropping, horticultural and urban uses, as well as their value for food production in terms of the Town and Country Planning Amendment Act 1973. The classifications show that for most uses the main limitation of many of the alluvial soils of Tolaga Bay Flats is one of poor to imperfect drainage. Well drained alluvial soils are suitable for intensive cropping and horticulture including grapes, sweet corn, tomatoes, maize. Soils with drainage limitations can also be used for growing crops suitable for food processing, provided adequate artificial drainage has been carried out.