1. Introduction
This report will use data from the New Zealand Land Resource Inventory (NZLRI) to describe and subsequently assess seven sites in the area around Lincoln and the Port Hills in Canterbury, New Zealand. The data will provide an insight into what land uses would be suitable for each site. This will then be compared against the current land use, as recorded during a site visit on 8 March 2016.
2. Description of Study Area
2.1. Location, topography and boundaries
The study area is shown in Figure 1, with each of the study sites marked. It is located in the Lincoln/Port Hills area. Sites 1 and 2 are on the low lying Canterbury Plains. The primary rock type is alluvium originating from the Waimakariri River system. The climate on …show more content…
This does not support good cropping or pasture growth. Additionally as he soil does not have good structure it often forms dunes, as the sand particles are too heavy to be picked up by the wind. Additionally, good management is needed for a successful pasture as often nutrients can be easily leached through the soil profile. The PRSIAV is 25 for the site, and could be expected to be higher, as the tree rooting depth is reasonable. Consequently a sustainable land use for this site would be forestry, as it is not very productive as pastoral land
5.3. Site Three
The soils at site 3 have poor structure which results in a moderate about of tunnel gully erosion. The rainfall then cannot percolate through the fragipan thus creating the tunnel gullies Additionally on this site there is a lot of gorse, which makes the pastoral use of land difficult. Consequently forestry is a suitable land use as it reduces soil moisture due to the umbrella effect, and it should reduce the ability of gorse to grow. However, the tree growth is not great, but some income may be better than letting the paddock return to gorse.
5.4. Site …show more content…
Firstly, it is difficult to farm of carryout a forestry operation due to the steepness of this land. Furthermore, due to the lack of soil in many of these areas, the productivity of the land is low, as demonstrated through both CCAV and PRSIAV. Additionally the altitude of these climates, can make it difficult for most types of vegetation to grow successfully. This is particularly true on the wetter southern faces, where natives and gorse tend to take over. Subsequently, the most suitable land use is as conservation land and it isn’t easy or worthwhile to
This report will use data from the New Zealand Land Resource Inventory (NZLRI) to describe and subsequently assess seven sites in the area around Lincoln and the Port Hills in Canterbury, New Zealand. The data will provide an insight into what land uses would be suitable for each site. This will then be compared against the current land use, as recorded during a site visit on 8 March 2016.
2. Description of Study Area
2.1. Location, topography and boundaries
The study area is shown in Figure 1, with each of the study sites marked. It is located in the Lincoln/Port Hills area. Sites 1 and 2 are on the low lying Canterbury Plains. The primary rock type is alluvium originating from the Waimakariri River system. The climate on …show more content…
This does not support good cropping or pasture growth. Additionally as he soil does not have good structure it often forms dunes, as the sand particles are too heavy to be picked up by the wind. Additionally, good management is needed for a successful pasture as often nutrients can be easily leached through the soil profile. The PRSIAV is 25 for the site, and could be expected to be higher, as the tree rooting depth is reasonable. Consequently a sustainable land use for this site would be forestry, as it is not very productive as pastoral land
5.3. Site Three
The soils at site 3 have poor structure which results in a moderate about of tunnel gully erosion. The rainfall then cannot percolate through the fragipan thus creating the tunnel gullies Additionally on this site there is a lot of gorse, which makes the pastoral use of land difficult. Consequently forestry is a suitable land use as it reduces soil moisture due to the umbrella effect, and it should reduce the ability of gorse to grow. However, the tree growth is not great, but some income may be better than letting the paddock return to gorse.
5.4. Site …show more content…
Firstly, it is difficult to farm of carryout a forestry operation due to the steepness of this land. Furthermore, due to the lack of soil in many of these areas, the productivity of the land is low, as demonstrated through both CCAV and PRSIAV. Additionally the altitude of these climates, can make it difficult for most types of vegetation to grow successfully. This is particularly true on the wetter southern faces, where natives and gorse tend to take over. Subsequently, the most suitable land use is as conservation land and it isn’t easy or worthwhile to