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Allophanic Soils

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The Soils of Aotearoa New Zealand

Part of the book series: World Soils Book Series ((WSBS))

Abstract

Allophanic Soils cover 5% of New Zealand, predominantly in the Taranaki, Waikato, and western Bay of Plenty regions. Allophanic Soils are usually formed in deep accumulations of tephra (volcanic ash) and other volcanic debris, or occasionally on rapidly weathering rocks, usually with good drainage and relatively high rainfall. Thus they occur in the North Island around Mt Taranaki and in areas peripheral to the Pumice Soils where tephras from the central North Island volcanoes and Mt Taranaki have accumulated, typically millimetre by millimetre, over millennia. Most Allophanic Soils originated by developmental and/or retardant upbuilding pedogenesis. Many are ≥20,000 years old. Allophanic Soils provide an excellent medium for plant growth because of their friability, low bulk density, fine structure, high water-storage capacity, and ability to support deep-rooting plants. Allophanic Soils contain significant amounts of a globally uncommon clay mineral, allophane, which is formed mainly from the dissolution products of volcanic glass. Allophane, an Al-rich aluminosilicate, comprises tiny spherules with a huge surface area which strongly adsorbs anions, notably of phosphorus and sulphur. Allophane will adsorb a proportion of the phosphorus applied as fertiliser, making it unavailable for plant uptake, but can be used to advantage to adsorb phosphorus from irrigated effluent.

In the North Island where tephras fall

Allophanic Soils have it all,

Plants will thrive without much toil

Roots reach down to moist subsoil

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand

    Dr. Allan E. Hewitt

  2. School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Dr. Megan R. Balks

  3. School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Prof. David J. Lowe

Authors
  1. Dr. Allan E. Hewitt
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  2. Dr. Megan R. Balks
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  3. Prof. David J. Lowe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allan E. Hewitt .

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Hewitt, A.E., Balks, M.R., Lowe, D.J. (2021). Allophanic Soils. In: The Soils of Aotearoa New Zealand. World Soils Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64763-6_2

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