SOIL DEVELOPMENT ALONG A COASTAL SAND DUNE CHRONOSEQUENCE UNDER
LOWLAND TEMPERATE RAIN FOREST:
THE HAAST SOIL CHRONOSEQUENCE, WESTLAND, NEW ZEALAND
BENJAMIN L. TURNER, LEO M. CONDRON, ANDREW WELLS, AND KELLY M. ANDERSEN
This file contains descriptions of soil profiles along the Haast sand dune sequence, New Zealand.
There is a description of a profile pit on each of eleven dunes ranging in age from 181 years to
6500 years. The soils were classified according to US Soil Taxonomy.
DUNE UNIT 1, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
ENTISOL: Mesic, Mixed, Typic Udipsamments
February 2007
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
181 years B.P.
~3m
Upper backslope of dune
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Scrubby vegetation of low bushes, grasses, and scattered small trees
Well drained
Few leaves on surface
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
Evidence on one location for a buried (but weakly developed) A horizon
A—0 to 20 cm; very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) structureless sand; few fine and medium roots; not sticky or
plastic; smooth gradual boundary.
C—20+ cm; structureless sand; very few fine roots; not sticky or plastic.
DUNE UNIT 2, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
ENTISOL: Mesic, Mixed, Typic Udipsamments
19 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
290 years B.P.
~2m
Upper backslope of dune
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Large conifers (Dacrydium cupressinum) and abundant trees ferns
Well drained
Shallow litter layer
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
A1—0 to 12 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; weak medium subangular blocky
structure; many medium, common coarse, and few fine roots (plus one very coarse root on profile
face); not sticky and not plastic; clear smooth boundary.
A2—12 to 30 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; weak coarse subangular blocky
structure; common coarse and medium, and few fine roots; not sticky and not plastic, clear smooth
boundary.
B—30 to 74 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) structureless sand; few medium and very few fine roots;
few old root channels; not sticky and not plastic; clear wavy lower boundary.
BC—74 to 89 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; few medium and very few fine roots; not
sticky and not plastic; gradual smooth boundary.
C—89 to 120+ cm; olive gray (5Y 4/2) structureless sand; no roots.
DUNE UNIT 3, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
ENTISOL: Mesic, Mixed, Typic Udipsamments
19 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
392 years B.P.
~3m
Upper backslope of dune
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Large conifers (Dacrydium cupressinum) and abundant trees ferns
Well drained
Shallow litter layer
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
A1—0 to 8 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; weak fine subangular blocky
structure; slightly sticky, not plastic; many fine and medium roots; abrupt smooth boundary.
A2—8 to 25 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; weak to moderate coarse
subangular blocky structure; slightly sticky, not plastic; common coarse and very coarse, and
common medium and fine roots; clear smooth boundary.
B—25 to 43 cm; dark olive brown (2.5Y 3/3) structureless sand; common old root channels; not
sticky and not plastic; common medium and very few fine roots; clear smooth boundary.
BC—43 to 62 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; few medium roots; few old root channels;
gradual smooth boundary.
C—62 to 120+ cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; very few medium roots; very few old
root channels.
DUNE UNIT 4, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
ENTISOL: Mesic, Mixed, Typic Udipsamments
19 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
517 years B.P.
~4m
Upper backslope of dune
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Large conifers (Dacrydium cupressinum) and abundant trees ferns
Well drained
Shallow litter layer
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
A1—0 to 8 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; weak medium subangular blocky
structure; slightly sticky, not plastic; common fine, very fine and medium, and few coarse roots;
abrupt smooth boundary.
A2—8 to 28 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; moderate coarse subangular blocky
structure; firm; common fine, medium and coarse roots; not sticky and not plastic; clear smooth
boundary.
B1—28 to 42 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; many medium and few fine roots;
common old root channels; not sticky and not plastic; gradual smooth boundary.
B2—42 to 71 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; few coarse and medium roots; few old
root channels; gradual smooth boundary.
B3—71 to 89 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; very few old root channels; gradual
smooth boundary.
C—89 to 130+ cm; olive gray (5Y 4/2) structureless sand.
DUNE UNIT 6, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
ENTISOL: Mesic, Mixed, Typic Udipsamments
19 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
787 years B.P.
15-20 m
Top of dune on a relatively flat area
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Large conifers (Dacrydium cupressinum), with subcanopy of Weinmania
racemosa and abundant tree ferns and smaller ferns
Well drained
Shallow litter layer
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
A1—0 to 3 cm; black (10YR 2/1) loamy sand; poorly consolidated, with bleached sand grains; many
fine and medium roots growing up into the horizon; abrupt smooth boundary.
A2—3 to 15 cm; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) loamy sand; weak subangular blocky structure; not sticky
and not plastic; few coarse, many medium, and common fine roots; abrupt smooth boundary.
AB—15 to 26 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sand; very weak coarse subangular blocky structure;
not sticky and not plastic; common medium and very coarse and few fine and very fine roots;
gradual smooth boundary.
B1—26 to 38 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sand; very weak coarse subangular blocky
structure; not sticky and not plastic; few medium and fine roots; clear smooth boundary.
B2—38 to 51 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sand; very weak coarse blocky structure; slightly more
compact than B1; few medium and very few fine roots; few old root channels; gradual smooth
boundary.
BC—51 to 73 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) structureless sand; massive to very weak blocky
structure; not sticky and not plastic; very few fine roots; gradual smooth boundary.
C—73 to 135+ cm; olive (5Y 5/3) structureless sand; no roots; very few old root channels.
DUNE UNIT 8, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
ENTISOL: Spodic Udipsamments
18 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
1826 years B.P.
~5m
Backslope of dune
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Mixed conifers and woody angiosperms, rare tree ferns (see detailed
vegetation survey for this dune)
Well drained
Thick layer of moss and decaying leaves; hummocky topography; common
tree stumps, upturned logs, etc.
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
Oe—0 to 11 cm; organic horizon, up to 15 cm thick, with many very fine, fine, and medium roots;
abrupt smooth boundary.
E—11 to 26 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loamy sand; weak to medium coarse subangular
blocky structure; firm; common fine, medium and coarse roots; not sticky; clear wavy boundary.
B1—26 to 40 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) loamy sand; very weak coarse subangular blocky structure;
few medium and coarse, and very few fine roots; not sticky; gradual smooth lower boundary.
Bs—40 to 66 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) structureless sand; very few fine roots; few
mottled patches of iron/organic matter enrichment; diffuse smooth boundary.
BC—66 to 119 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand, with patches of iron/organic matter
enrichment, becoming less common with depth (approx. 40% darker material); gradual smooth
boundary.
C—119 to 140+ cm; olive (5Y 4/3) structureless sand.
DUNE UNIT 11, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
ENTISOL: Spodic Udipsamments
18 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
3384 years B.P.
~ 12 m
Upper backslope of dune
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Mixed conifers and woody angiosperms, including some very large
Dacrydium cupressinum
Well drained
Thick layer of moss and decaying leaves
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
Oe—0 to 8 cm; partially decomposed organic horizon; many very fine, fine, and medium roots (plus
one very coarse root); clear smooth boundary.
A—8 to 16 cm; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) sandy loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure;
firm; slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium, coarse,
and very coarse roots; clear smooth boundary.
B—16 to 44 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure;
friable; not sticky and not plastic; few fine and very fine roots; clear smooth boundary.
Eb—44 to 55 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) loamy sand; buried E horizon; weak platy structure, tending
to structureless; soft; not sticky; very few fine roots; clear smooth boundary.
2B—55 to 95 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure;
slight iron/organic matter enrichment; not sticky and not plastic; very few fine roots; gradual
smooth boundary.
BC—95 to 135 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) structureless sand; no roots; gradual smooth
boundary.
C—135 to 165+ cm; olive gray (5Y 4/2) structureless sand; no roots.
DUNE UNIT 12, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
SPODOSOL: Typic Placorthod
18 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
3903 years B.P.
~8m
Upper backslope of dune, relatively steep slope (~25 deg.) compared to
other dunes
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Mixed conifers and woody angiosperms; unusual, as old forest, with young
Dacrydium cupressinum and Prumnopitys ferruginea, but no silver beech
(Nothofagus menziesii); many ferns in understory
Well drained
Thick layer of moss and decaying leaves
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
Oe—0 to 14 cm; partially decomposed organic horizon; common decomposed moss fronds; many
fine, very fine, medium and coarse roots; clear wavy boundary.
Oa—14 to 18 cm; highly decomposed organic horizon; many fine, very fine, medium, and coarse
roots; abrupt smooth boundary.
A—18 to 28 cm; very dark gray (7.5YR 3/1) loamy sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure;
slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common coarse medium, and fine roots, including 3-4 large
roots at the abrupt smooth boundary.
E1—28 to 44 cm (up to 22 cm thick); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy sand; moderate coarse angular
blocky structure; not sticky and not plastic; common fine and medium roots; abrupt smooth
boundary.
Bsm—44 to 45 cm (~0.5 cm thick); dark brown (7.5YR 3/4), continuous, strongly cemented iron pan, 35 mm thick.
Bs—45 to 135 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) sand; weak platy, tending to weak coarse
subangular structure; patchy iron/organic enrichment throughout; very few fine and medium
roots; diffuse smooth boundary.
C—135 to 160+ cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; few old root channels.
E2—A light-colored layer on left wall of profile pit below the iron pan, 5 to 15 cm thick; olive gray
(5Y 5/2) loamy sand; clear irregular boundary.
DUNE UNIT 13, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
SPODOSOL: Typic Placorthod
18 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
4422 years B.P.
~4m
Upper backslope of dune, relatively steep slope (~30 deg.)
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Mixed conifers and woody angiosperms; some large rimu (Dacrydium
cupressinum), a few miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea), Kamahi (Weinmannia
racemosa), and silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii)
Well drained, but closer to the water table than other dunes
Thick layer of moss, fallen logs, and decaying leaves
None observed
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
Oe—0 to 35 cm; moderately decomposed organic horizon; many very coarse, coarse, medium, fine,
and very fine roots; abrupt wavy boundary.
E—35 to 42 cm; dark gray (10YR 4/1) sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable;
common fine, medium, and coarse roots; not sticky and not plastic; clear wavy boundary.
Bh—42 to 53 cm; very dark gray (7.5YR 3/1) sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure;
slightly more organically enriched than E1; clear wavy boundary.
Bsm—53 to 54 cm; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2), continuous, cemented iron pan, ~ 10 mm thick; occasional
roots penetrating through the pan into the horizon below.
Bs—54 to 62 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) loamy sand; mottled with patches of dark and
light brown sand, perhaps due to locations of root penetration of the pan; very coarse weak platy
structure; firm; few medium and fine roots; not sticky and not plastic; clear smooth boundary.
BC1—62 to 82 cm; mixed patches of light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) and olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) sand,
with darker iron/organic rich old root channels; moderate very coarse subangular structure,
tending to platy; firm; very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/3) iron precipitate as a film on ped faces;
gradual smooth boundary.
BC2—82 to 105 cm; olive (5Y 4/3) sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure, tending to
structureless; firm; few enriched old root channels, but no roots; diffuse smooth boundary.
C—105 to 165+ cm; olive gray (5Y 4/2) structureless (platy?) sand; some firm layers; no roots.
DUNE UNIT 15, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Notes:
SPODOSOL: Typic Placorthod
18 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
5461 years B.P.
~4 m
Upper backslope of dune
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Mixed conifers and woody angiosperms
Well drained
Thick layer of moss and decaying leaves
None observed
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
Oe—0 to 15 cm; moderately decomposed organic horizon; many fine, medium, and coarse roots;
abrupt smooth boundary.
E1—15 to 20/26 cm (horizon ~ 4 cm thick); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy sand; moderate coarse
subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine and medium roots; clear smooth boundary.
Bh—20/26 to 21/27 cm (horizon 6 to 14 cm thick); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loamy sand;
moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; moister than E1, presumably due to impermeable
pan below E2; slightly sticky; firm; few fine and medium roots; abrupt wavy boundary.
Bsm—Continuous cemented iron pan 1 cm thick; occasional coarse root penetrating through to the B
horizon, apparently causing bleached patches below the pan.
Bs1—21/27 to 52 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) sandy loam; mottled patches of lighter and
darker (iron enriched) brown, with lighter patches apparently due to root penetration through the
pan; moderate coarse subangular blocky to platy structure; few coarse and very few fine roots;
firm; gradual smooth boundary.
Bs2—52 to 70 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) sand; moderate very coarse subangular blocky
structure; friable; very few fine and few coarse roots; gradual smooth boundary.
BC—70 to 140+ cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) massive sand; moderate very coarse subangular blocky
structure; firm; moderate resistance to penetration; no roots;
DUNE UNIT 17, Haast Dune Sequence, Westland, New Zealand
Classification:
Sampling date:
Soil moisture regime:
Soil temperature regime:
Season:
Dune age:
Dune height:
Slope and site position:
Parent material:
Vegetation:
SPODOSOL: Typic Placorthod
18 February 2009
Perudic
Mesic
Late summer
~6500 years B.P.
~15 m
Upper backslope of dune, relatively steep slope (~20 deg.)
Sand from schist, semi-schistose greywacke, and argillite
Mixed conifers and angiosperms; large silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii),
with understory of ferns (Blecknum discolor); see detailed plant census for
this dune
Drainage:
Surface features:
Faunal activity:
Diagnostic horizons:
Well drained
Thick layer of moss, fallen logs, and decaying leaves
None observed
An albic horizon (23–33/35 cm), a placic horizon (33/35–34/36 cm), and a
spodic horizon (40–75 cm)
Texture and color are field values (moist soil)
Notes:
Oi—0 to 16 cm; decaying moss and roots, including prominent podocarp roots with nodules; common
coarse and many very fine, fine and medium (live) roots; abundant white fungal hyphae, possibly
ectomycorrhizal hyphae associated with silver beech; clear smooth boundary.
Oa—16 to 23 cm; very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) moderately decomposed organic horizon; little
mineral material or recognizable plant matter; clear abrupt boundary.
E1—23 to 29/30 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) sandy loam; slightly organically-enriched
upper E horizon; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; plastic and slightly sticky;
common coarse and very coarse, and few fine and medium roots; abrupt wavy boundary.
Bh—29/30 to 33/35 cm; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loamy sand; moderate coarse subangular blocky
structure; firm; common coarse and very coarse, and few fine and medium roots; very abrupt
wavy boundary.
Bsm—33/35 to 34/36 cm; continuous cemented iron pan ~ 10 mm thick, including with 2-4 mm of
yellowish red (5YR 4/6) iron-rich material; clear resistance to root penetration.
Bs—34/36 to 52/75 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) sand, with very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2),
firm, iron-enriched patches, with weak coarse angular blocky structure; not sticky and not plastic;
incipient discontinuous pans at 52 cm on left of profile face, and at 62 cm in the center of the
face; strip of light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) loamy sand, firm, 2-4 cm thick, running parallel with
iron pan, with strong coarse subangular blocky structure; few medium and fine roots; diffuse
smooth boundary.
BC—75 to 108 cm; olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) structureless sand; slightly iron-enriched; diffuse smooth
boundary.
C—108 to 160+ cm; olive (5Y 4/3) structureless sand.