Download - New Zealand Society of Soil Science

Obituary – Elwyn Griffiths
New professor in Carbon Cycling at Massey University
CarbonNet Report
Volume 57 No 5 October 2009

New Zealand Soil News
Newsletter of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science
ISSN 0545-7904 (Print)
ISSN 1178-8968(Online)
Volume 57 Number 5 October 2009
Contents
Page
Editorial Iris Vogeler 154
Obituary Elwyn Griffiths 155
Announcements New Professor in Carbon Cycling at Massey University 161
Articles CarbonNet Report 162
News from Correspondents 164
NZSSS Norman Taylor Memorial Lecture 174
Notice of Special General Meeting 174
Minutes 175
Abstracts 178
David J Palmer et al Developing national-scale terrain attributes for New Zealand (TANZ)
David J Palmer et al A dynamic framework for spatial modelling Pinus radiata soil water
balance (SWatBal) across New Zealand
Gregor W Yeates et al Changes in soil nematode populations indicate an annual life cycle at
Cape Hallett, Antarctica
Gregor W Yeates et al Long-term changes in topsoil nematode populations in grazed pasture
under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide
Yudzuru Inoue et al Interpretation of pre-AD 472 Roman soils from physicochemical and
mineralogical properties of buried tephric paleosols at Somma
Vesuviana, southwest Italy
David J Palmer et al Comparison of spatial prediction techniques for developing Pinus
radiata productivity surfaces across New Zealand
M. Calabi Floody et al Natural nanoclays: applications and future trends – a Chilean
perspective
G Erika Marina Vistoso et al Kinestics of molybdate and phosphate sorption by some Chilean
Andisols
Christoph Muller et al Effect of elevated CO2 on soil N dynamics in a temperate grassland soil
Conferences 183
152

Your contributions are required - New Zealand Soil News is your newsletter.
News, views, letters, articles (serious or otherwise)—send to:
Isabelle Vanderkolk
Climate Land and Environment Section
AgResearch Ltd
Private Bag 11008
Palmerston North 4442
FAX: (06) 351 8032
email: isabelle.vanderkolk@agresearch.co.nz
Deadline.............. for the December issue of Soil News is 28 th November 2009
New Zealand Soil News
Visit our website:
http://nzsss.rsnz.org/
Editor I Vogeler- iris.vogeler@agresearch.co.nz
Compiler I Vanderkolk – isabelle.vanderkolk@agresearch.co.nz
Printing Massey University Printery
Correspondents I Lynn, Landcare Research, Lincoln; J Moir, Lincoln University;
S. Bowatte, AgResearch Grasslands; M Hubbard, Massey University;
S Lambie, Landcare Research (Massey University), Palmerston North;
D J Lowe, Waikato University; M Laffan, Soil Professionals, Australia;
M Taylor, Environment Waikato, Hamilton; G N Magesan, Scion, Rotorua;
D Houlbrooke, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel; R Stenger, Lincoln
Environmental, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton; E. Lawrence, Plant & Food
Research, Lincoln; A Ghani, AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton;
S Sivakumaran, Plant & Food Research.
New Zealand Society of Soil Science Officers 2008–2010
President
Vice President
Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
Council
B.E. Clothier, Plant & Food Research, Palmerston North
A. Hewitt, Landcare Research, Lincoln
A.D. Mackay, AgResearch, Palmerston North
P M Fraser, Plant & Food Research, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch
C A M de Klein, AgResearch, Invermay
G N Magesan, Scion, Rotorua, R D McLenaghen, Lincoln University;
L Schipper, Waikato University; I Vogeler, AgResearch, Palmerston Nth,
D. Houlbrooke, AgResearch, Invermay, R. Hill, Environment Waikato, M Hedley,
Massey University
NZSSS subscriptions
NZSSS subscriptions become due on 1 July each year. Individual members who do not pay their
subscription before 31 October in a given year will be asked to pay an additional $NZ10.00 as a
penalty for late payment.
If paid by 31 st October:
After 31 st October:
Member (NZ) $60.00 $70.00
Student Member $35.00 $45.00
Member (Overseas) $60.00 $70.00
Retired Member $35.00 $45.00
Library $70.00
Summit Quinphos is a corporate member of NZSSS
153

Editorial – by Iris Vogeler
I have just returned from a trip to Europe, where I attended the Water Resources Management
Conference that took place in the island of Malta. Water management is a topic of growing concern
all over the world, and water has become a very precious resource.
The Maltese Islands are densely populated and with an average annual rainfall of 578 mm one can
easily understand that potable water has always been a challenge. There are no surface waters that can
be exploited easily, and groundwater is under increasing competition. Historically Maltese people
have coped with water scarcity through a limited allocation of water per person. Since the early
1970‘s a large portion, now over 50%, of the urban water demand has been coming from de-salination
plants. The population and tourists are now served with good quality drinking and the ―water culture‖
takes only limited interest in efficient use of water resources. Between 200 and 2007 the largest
consumption of water, with 25%, was by Hotels and Restaurants, and agriculture and related services
only used 5%. Farmers are generally more conscious of the importance of water conservation, but
increased irrigation demand has resulted in increased salinity of the aquifer systems as a result of
seawater intrusion. Currently the aquifers are extracted at twice the recommended amount, and
climate change with predicted rainfall decreases in the Mediterranean of 30% will exacerbate the
problem. Nitrate contamination due of intensive farming and dependence of oil imports for
desalination are of rising concern. With these problems Malta was a perfect scene setting for the
Water Resource Management Conference.
One of the foci the conference, I would like to draw attention to, was the EU Water Framework
Directive (WFD, 2000) and the Groundwater Directive (2006) with the objective to harmonise water
environmental policy and regulation across Europe. Twelve "Water Information Notes" give an
introduction and overview of key aspects of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. If
you are interested look at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/participation/notes_en.htm.
In NZ we are pretty lucky: less than 5 percent of New Zealand's freshwater was allocated in 2006
(irrigation accounted for 77% of the allocation) and we do not have any neighbouring countries to
compete with. However, increasing demands and climate change predictions reinforce the need for
careful water resource management in New Zealand. And let‘s see how water footprinting shapes up
for us. Have a look at Brent Clothier‘s thoughts on this (NZ Herald, 15.9.2009). Leaving it with these
thoughts I and wish you all the best for the remaining year.
Valletta, Capital of Malta
Iris Vogeler
154

Obituary – Elwyn Griffiths (22.8.1931 - 5.8.2009)
Obituary by his wife Elizabeth, and notes of appreciation from colleagues.
Elwyn Griffiths, who died on August 5th, will be
remembered as a soil scientist, and particularly as an
irrigation consultant, by orchardists, viticulturalists,
pastoral and cropping farmers and others, especially in
Hawke's Bay but also in other parts of New Zealand.
Born in 1931 in rural Wales, he overcame extreme
poverty and ill health to gain a scientific education at
Cardigan Grammar School and the University College of
Wales, Aberystwyth, majoring in chemistry, botany, and
zoology. His National Service in the British army took
him briefly to Germany and Korea. He hated the often
mindless disciplines of army life and the class-ridden
ignorance of many officers.
His first job after graduating was in a testing laboratory
Photo: Griffiths family
in Slough, near London; however, during the Suez Crisis
of 1956 he feared British involvement in another war, so
applied and was accepted for a post advertised by the Department of Conservation and Extension in
the then Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Here he was introduced to the art and science of
surveying, testing and classifying soils in order to decide which areas might be suitable for agricultural
development, with or without irrigation. The survey team spent the cooler, winter months in the field,
often encamped in wild game-filled bush country, and the warmer wet summer in the soil laboratory in
Salisbury (now Harare). In 1960 Elwyn married Elizabeth Albrecht, a South African teaching in
Salisbury. In 1963, first Winston Field then the hardline pro-apartheid Ian Smith came to power,
absolutely opposed to even the idea of ultimate black rule. Correctly for-seeing trouble, Elwyn
accepted an offer from Hunting's Surveys, a British firm contracted to the government of Pakistan, to
help investigate the problems of salinization and desertification of soils along the lower Indus River,
and to suggest ways of ameliorating and, if possible, reversing the process caused by centuries of everincreasing
irrigation. After nearly two years in Pakistan, war broke out - again - between Pakistan and
India; funding for the reclamation project dried up and Elwyn, amongst other expatriates, had to find
new work.
Elwyn had been favourably impressed by the new Zealanders he had met in Korea, so he applied to
join New Zealand's Soil Bureau, DSIR, and the family came to New Zealand in March 1966. Initially
based in Christchurch, he produced major surveys of Banks Peninsula and Waikari in North
Canterbury, as well as being involved in big irrigation schemes on the Waitaki, Maniatoto, and Upper
Clutha.
From December 1971, a tour through South Africa, parts of England and Wales, Iceland (which, like
New Zealand, has volcanic soils, braided rivers and loess), Illinois and California was partly funded by
the Soil Bureau, provided that Elwyn visited as many soil science establishments as he could, and
wrote detailed reports on his experiences.
In June 1972 Elwyn settled in Havelock North, working at the DSIR campus in Goddard Lane. Here
he stayed until 1991, when turning 60 meant compulsory retirement from the DSIR. He formed
Grifftech Limited, to continue his work of informing, advising, and generally helping potential
growers to avoid future problems, and established growers with existing ones. Many of the latter, for
instance, had fruit trees dying from phytophthera. Elwyn showed how essential it is to consider the
type of soil, depth to water table, expected rainfall, etc, when planning irrigation, and then to tailor the
method of irrigation to suit particular sites. He encouraged growers to measure soil moisture regularly,
instead of simply watering to a timetable, thereby avoiding over/under watering. He explained how
important soil structure is, and how working wet soil destroys that structure, and how heavy
155

machinery compacts wet soil, leading to severe problems later, not only in draining excess rainfall or
irrigation water out of the soil, but in getting the water to enter the soil in the first place, and then
penetrate down the root zone.
Except in Pakistan, Elwyn was always, until 1991, a Public Servant, and believed his function was to
serve the public whose taxes paid him and who shouldn't, therefore, be charged extra for assistance; he
bitterly resented the 'user-pays' of Rogernomics. He loved his work and had few other interests; he
tried to teach people, "Don't treat your soils like dirt!"
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, and by his children Daniel and Katherine (Kay).
Elizabeth Griffiths.
From Jim Watt - at the funeral of Elwyn Griffiths at Havelock North, 7th August 2009.
I speak first on behalf of the NZ Society of Soil Science. I have no special mandate to do so, except
that as a past national president I believe the Society would want to salute Elwyn, for the following
reasons:
His brilliant orchestration of the 1982 Hastings Conference. Based in the Hastings City
Council chambers, and with field trips to many topical corners of Hawke's Bay, that
Conference is noteworthy for its collation of the then existing soil information, for its
identification of opportunities, and for its placing the area on the map and before the soil
science fraternity, as an area that ranks in the top 5% of New Zealand's best soils.
His NZ wide addition of the soil factor in irrigation planning and management.
His special and unique contribution to the science and art of pedology. In particular, his
development of assessment criteria for predicting the ways and processes whereby soil accepts
water, stores water, and transmits water.
His understanding of the regolith in the area; the contribution of volcanic ash showers; the
Quaternary deposits of loess; and the evolution of the flood plains. On the Heretaunga Plains
and in Havelock North, his analysis of the bank exposure adjacent to the Crosses Road Bridge
is an example of his unravelling of a sequence of events right on our doorstep.
Colleen and I came to Hawke's Bay in 1975, and for the next 17 years I worked at Havelock North in
the same office of the NZ Soil Bureau as Elwyn. He was the District Pedologist in charge of soil
survey in the area. I came as a watershed and soil hydrologist, with an enthusiasm for developing
better ways of defining the physical behaviour of soils to water. Others in the Havelock North office
through the years included Gilbert Smith, Colin Payne, the late Brian Purdie, Brian Mclaughlan, Earl
Joe, and Keith Vincent. When Elwyn's arthritis threatened an end to field work, Richard Ward was
employed as Elwyn's personal technician - a unique acknowledgment by the then director of Soil
Bureau, Mike Leamy, of Elwyn's flare for innovative field work and need for practical physical
support.
With others though the country, our association culminated in the 1980's Soil Water Assessment and
Measurement Programme (SWAMP) and the preparation of an initial assemblage of information on
basic soil hydrology - a database which has been later used by the USDA, and in NZ as extensions of
soil knowledge and behaviour. In the development of this work we were especially inspired by the
Canadian work of McKeague and Topp. In later years the experience was to lead Keith Vincent and
me to pesticide-transport studies with Murray Close - field work that was pioneered in Hawke's Bay.
I learnt an extraordinary amount from Elwyn. I have to admit that at times we had our arguments, and
some robust discussions; and sometimes we didn‘t agree. But we 'delivered'!
Thank you Elwyn, for being you.
Rest in peace, my friend.
156

From Phil Tonkin
Elwyn joined the Soil Bureau DSIR in1966, being appointed to the office in St Elmo Courts in central
Christchurch. There he joined James Raeside and Bill Rennie. Elwyn and his wife Elizabeth had come
to New Zealand from Pakistan where he had been working as a soil surveyor.
David Ives joined the Soil Bureau DSIR in 1967 undertaking a two-year study leave to complete a
Masters Degree at Lincoln College before establishing a second Soil Bureau office on the Lincoln
Campus of DSIR.
I first met Elwyn in 1969 when I moved to Christchurch to take up a position as lecturer in Pedology
at Lincoln College with Professor T.W. Walker and Eddie Cutler.
I recall how generous Elwyn was in taking time to introduce me to the soils and landscapes of North
Canterbury. Elwyn was in the final stages of the Soil Survey of the Waikari District. Previously
Elwyn had completed a soil survey of the Ports Hills on Banks Peninsula. Both surveys were
hampered by the inadequate base map information then available and Harry Gibbs restriction on the
use of aerial photos. Elwyn was only allowed to purchase every second photo in a run and so could not
view the images stereoscopically. I also recall Elwyn chafing over the fact that Harry would not agree
to selected soils being sampled for chemical analysis in the Waikari District, insisting that the analyses
done for the earlier Canterbury surveys of the 1950‘s such as the Soil Survey of Kowai County would
suffice.
As Elwyn was surveying the soils on Banks Peninsula, he took the initiative to record the stratigraphy
of numerous loess sections, producing the first detailed description of their buried soils. Elwyn used
the buried soils to subdivide the loess pile into soil stratigraphic units. Significantly he recognized the
facies distinction between the multilayered loess on the northern and western flanks of the peninsular
which he named the Birdlings Flat loess after a quarry at that location, which contrasted with the more
uniformly textured loess on the inner flanks of the main harbours and the eastern and southern flanks,
which the named Barrys Bay loess from a location in Akaroa harbour. Elwyn‘s studies of the loess
were published in a special INQUA volume of the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics
in 1973. Elwyn‘s interest in the soil stratigraphy of loess in Canterbury brought him into conflict with
David Ives, which served to exacerbate an already strained relationship, brought about by David
establishing his independent base at Lincoln. This competition was further complicated with the
arrival of Professor Ed Runge at Lincoln College in 1970 on sabbatical leave from the University of
Illinois. Ed began a study of loess at Timaru, and brought together a team that included myself
together with David Ives. Although Elwyn shared his experiences from his studies on the Peninsula,
he was inhibited from further participation by a letter David sought from Dr Fieldes the then Director
of Soil Bureau which was shown to all parties, identifying David as the principle loess investigator in
Canterbury. Perhaps this declaration was intended to keep the Lincoln investigators in their place as
well.
By 1972 Elwyn had moved on from Canterbury to the Havelock North Campus of DSIR to establish a
new presence of Soil Bureau in Hawke Bay.
In 1973 Elwyn returned briefly to Christchurch to participate in the INQUA Conference, the first of
these gatherings of Quaternary scientists to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. David Ives was the
Convener of the Field Trip committee and I together with Elwyn were the leaders of a field trip from
Blenheim to Dunedin with a focus on loess and its soil stratigraphy. The numbers on this tour were
small enough to fit into a minivan. The second day featured two of the loess sections on Banks
Peninsula and the loess on the south side of the Rakaia River at Barrhill. One of the overseas guests
was a Professor from Austria, a noted European loess expert, who gave Elwyn the benefit of his
advice and interpretation venturing an inter-hemispheric soil stratigraphic correlation or two. From
here the tour headed south to Timaru to review the studies of Ed Runge and the team. Elwyn was to
have left the tour at this point, with his place to be taken by Alistair Wilson. Alistair had been engaged
in a soil survey of the Oamaru District, and had also been collecting observations on the loess and its
soil stratigraphy. Unfortunately our arrival in Timaru was greeted with the news that Alistair‘s father
had died, so he was on a rushed trip back to the funeral in Scotland.
157

The following day began with rain, which got heavier as the day progressed. Between sites on the
Waitaki fan the minivan had to ford a normally shallow and quiet irrigation channel. It was wider than
usual but alas also deeper and the van full of overseas guests came to a sudden stop as the water
rushed over and drowned the engine. Stranded in the middle of the race with water lapping around
their feet, Elwyn and I piggy backed the visitors across the channel, and proceeded to dry out the
ignition and get the engine running again. From this point on the day got progressively worse with
loess sections almost invisible in the rain and the van suffering further misadventures; with a
punctured rear tire and a spare with a gaping hole in it, a transmission that would not allow the gears
to be changed between second and third and a clutch that wasn‘t keen to work. As a result a lot of faith
was put on the brakes during the descent into Dunedin on a cold and miserable evening. It was
Elwyn‘s good cheer that kept me the driver on track and the visitors calm and unaware of the drama
that was unravelling.
David Ives never did complete his ambition to be the principle loess investigator in Canterbury, with
his energies redirected to other soil surveys allowing insufficient time to complete the studies he had
intended. Studies that in all probability would have led on to his completion of a PhD. David resigned
from Soil Bureau in 1975 to take up a position with ANZDEC New Zealand Limited as an
international soil survey consultant.
It is with a feeling of sadness that I acknowledge the death of Elwyn. I am fortunate to have known
him and learned from him and to have shared time with him in the field.
From Hugh Wilde.
I first met Elwyn in early 1967, the year after he and his family arrived in NZ from Pakistan. I had
recently started work as a soil scientist with Mike Leamy at the DSIR Soil Bureau Alexandra office,
and the Griffiths were based in Christchurch. Elwyn was a frequent visitor to Central Otago.
We both began our NZ careers about the same time – Elwyn with about 12 years work behind him in
Africa and Pakistan, and me just out of university. What I remember of those early days were the long
discussions about NZ soils and soil water issues, particularly those relating to irrigation problems.
There were also discussions about departmental politics. It was no problem for Elwyn to hold a
vigorous debate with several adversaries at once. He had formed his views of the world while growing
up in a small village in post-war Wales, being conscripted into the British Army to serve during the
Korean War as a 19 year old, and afterwards resuming his university studies and eventually work
overseas in Rhodesia and Pakistan as a soil scientist. It came as no surprise to many of us that, given
Elwyn‘s interrupted education through conscription and his experiences as a private soldier in Korea,
he was vehemently anti war and anti military. Any mention of the military to Elwyn would invoke a
very forceful response against incompetent management of any sort, but particularly military.
In Canterbury, Elwyn worked on soil surveys in the Waikari District, the Lower Waitaki Glenavy
Irrigation scheme, and also in Central Otago with work related to the planning of the proposed
Maniatoto Irrigation scheme.
In 1972, when the Christchurch office of Soil Bureau was relocating to Lincoln, Elwyn and his family
moved to the Havelock North DSIR campus where he worked on soil surveys and soil-water issues in
the wider Hawke‘s Bay area. I had already moved north to the Wanganui–Manawatu region and often
arranged visits to Havelock North where my parents lived, to meet up with Elwyn and discuss
technical issues of interest to us both.
Elwyn would never shy away from a good argument. If the younger people had an issue either
technical, or with the hierarchy, they could always share it with Elwyn and receive full support – or
good advice on how to make it go away if the boss was right all along.
I valued Elwyn as a colleague for nearly 30 years, particularly having the opportunity to work with
him occasionally and to visit Elwyn and Jim Watt at Havelock North. The 1980‘s Soil Water
Assessment and Measurement Programme (SWAMP) orchestrated by Elwyn and Jim is one example.
158

As I see it, the value of the SWAMP project to the Soil Bureau pedologists was not so much about
learning the techniques for estimating profile soil water, because some of the assessment methods took
longer than actual field measurements. Its real value was that it got people thinking about how soils
worked. The SWAMP programme in general and Elwyn in particular encouraged pedologists to
carefully examine, observe and think about how the soil macrofabric and related properties influenced
water and air flow and retention. Of course, the whole SWAMP programme was of great value to the
department as it provided a database of soil water information for many soil series in regions from
Northland to Otago–Southland.
Only in the last two years colleagues and I have been carrying out some soils investigations for
Hastings District Council and in the course of this work have discussed various issues with Elwyn.
Despite his illness we have always received a warm welcome and good advice. We shall miss him.
From Allan Hewitt.
New Zealand pedologists owe Elwyn a great debit as an unwitting teacher and inspirer. We learned by
association with him on irrigation soil surveys and the SWAMP soil water physics programme. The
soil survey in the 1970‘s had a strong soil genesis focus which helped greatly in soil mapping, but
lacked strength in linking the soil morphology of soil to land management issues. Elwyn lead us into
exploring these management connections in the field of irrigation which is now bearing fruit in a much
wider range of applications.
Elwyn was a forerunner in the 1970‘s of what has recently been named ‗hydropedology‘. He began to
link soil water content, storage and hydraulic properties to soil morphology in a way that allowed soil
water predictions to made about soil survey map units. This drew on a rich experience in irrigation
overseas before arriving in NZ and prepared him for strong contributions to irrigation scheme design
in NZ. Much of this knowledge was distilled in his irrigation suitability classification, and later in his
contributions to SWAMP (Soil Water and Assessment Programme) with Jim Watt and others. We see
his legacy now shining through in much of the bread and butter work of current pedology in areas
including by-pass flow, effluent disposal, irrigation scheduling, urban water hydrology, community
effluent treatment design, etc.
In Otago Elwyn had an impact on the design of the last of the large Ministry of Works irrigation
schemes including the Upper Clutha, Cromwell, Earnscleugh, Ida Valley and Maniototo. What
impressed me first was his ability to talk through the nature a problem with the client (irrigation design
engineers in this case) to carefully define the problem and reach agreement on an approach to the
solution. This personal involvement from the beginning built the trust that meant that his results were
used.
I admired Elwyn‘s persistent questioning of the way things were and had been done in a soil survey
that had become bound by a set of operating paradigms of an earlier generation. He found little
satisfaction in purely academic studies but found his greatest satisfaction in solving practical land use
and land management issues.
From Garth Eyles.
The retirement of Elwyn was a godsend to Hawke‘s Bay Regional Council. Here was a hugely
experienced professional pedologist, who didn‘t charge the earth, and who was keen to make the soils
of Hawke‘s Bay understandable and useable by farmers. He identified pedologically based solutions
for water table and infiltration problems on the horticultural soils and proved that they worked.
He provided soil maps and explanatory bulletins for the Heretaunga and Ruataniwha plains,
potentially the two most intensively used areas in the region. He also mentored Land Management
Officers from the Regional Council, as they developed an understanding of soils, how to identify them
and how to interpret their structures for a variety of applications.
159

His last task was updating the soils of the region, not making a soil map but an updated legend which
could form the basis of a survey in the future. This he did during periods when his health allowed.
We will sorely miss Elwyn, a true professional of the old school.
From Noel Congdon – formerly Regional Advisory Officer, MAF, Hastings
As manager of our MAF advisory team in Hawke‘s Bay in the 70‘s and 80‘s I would like to
acknowledge Elwyn‘s contribution in dealing with soil problems that we, along with growers and
farmers had to deal with during the course of our work.
In our advisory role in MAF we relied heavily on our liaison with scientists working in specialist
fields and in our own field investigational work. Having Elwyn based here in H.B. was a big
advantage — he was 'on the spot' and was available when soil problems arose or when his input was
required in some investigation.
He was always willing to participate and this was appreciated not only by our advisory officers but by
growers and farmers alike.
Elwyn on 18/9/84 during the Ruakura SWAMP measurements, doing his famous methyl-blue dye test
for continuous soil pores. Malcolm McLeod is in the foreground with the afro hair do.
Photo by Peter Singleton
160

Announcements
New Professor has focus on carbon cycling to sustain New Zealand resources
Soil carbon research and teaching is getting a boost from a new AGMARDT-funded joint Massey
University-AgResearch position.
As part of its focus on soil science research and education, the
Agricultural Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT)
has supported AgResearch and Massey to establish a Professorship in
Carbon Cycling. Professor Tony Parsons has been appointed and will be
seconded to the University for part of his time.
AGMARDT Chairman Dr Bill Kain says the motivation for the
appointment is the need to encourage a multidisciplinary systems
approach to the study of the critically important area of carbon cycling.
Tony Parsons
―The position will be a basis for building a greater understanding of our
biological production systems and the influence management plays on
their performance in terms of environmental sustainability as well as
medium and longer-term economic viability.‖
―As a first step in addressing this challenge, we are delighted to have enabled a scientist of such
calibre as Tony Parsons to have focused time in research and education. Students, industry personnel
and farmers will undoubtedly benefit from his expertise.‖
In supporting this new position, AGMARDT has recognised the problems both in research and
recruitment in the discipline of soil science, and also in the complexity of plant and soil carbon. Plantanimal-soil-atmosphere
interactions are vital in understanding soil quality including nutrient
availability and carbon sequestration. Carbon cycling has a very strong influence in climate change
and land use, so there are strong prospects for the AGMARDT professor to focus on sustaining
resources in the face of land use change and climate change.
The new role is consistent with the findings of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee,
which recommended significant ongoing investment be made to reduce agricultural emissions and
improve efficiency of pastoral systems. The report also stated that soil carbon sequestration is
considered to be an important area for research, with a specific need to determine its advantages with a
thorough and impartial assessment based on relevant New Zealand science.
―Professor Parsons understands carbon and nitrogen cycling and the way the animal affects the two,‖
says Dr Kain. ―Having the AGMARDT sponsored Chair will ensure that his skills are passed on to the
younger generation. We‘re also anticipating increased opportunities for extension, and for making a
positive contribution to the understanding of carbon trading.‖
Professor Parsons joined AgResearch (Climate Land and Environment) in 1997 from the Institute for
Grassland and Environmental Research in the United Kingdom. He worked initially at the Grassland
Research Institute, Hurley, as a plant physiologist, on temperate grasses and then on grassland
management, grazing and intensification with scientists studying animal intake and behaviour, and
others studying nutrient cycling. In 1995/6, he worked in New Zealand at AgResearch on a senior
research fellowship.
Professor Parsons says he is delighted to be taking up the AGMARDT Chair in Carbon Cycling.
―With nearly half its economy and likewise its greenhouse gas emissions biologically based, New
Zealand‘s international commitments have to be based on a sound understanding of how plants, soils
and animals interact with the environment. Seeing no boundaries between science disciplines or
161

etween agriculture and environment is an essential part of finding ways forward, for us now, and for
the next generation of scientists and policy makers.‖
Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Sciences at Massey University Professor Robert Anderson says
that he is very pleased that Professor Parsons elected Massey to be the host institution for the new
Chair.
―Massey is building its capability in the greenhouse gas emission arena and Professor Parson‘s
expertise is an invaluable addition.‖
Professor Anderson also said that AGMARDT is to be congratulated for taking this particular
initiative, and he welcomed yet another co-appointment between Massey and AgResearch.
Articles
CarbonNet Report
In August, soil carbon researchers met to formulate ideas around the re-establishment of a group to coordinate
collaboration in response to climate change policy development. This meeting followed
discussion at the SLURI Soil Carbon meeting convened by Alec Mackay in July. A late July
teleconference of 18 researchers was organised by Alec (no mean feat!) and successfully drew up an
agenda for action.
University and CRI scientists elected a group of six to go forward to a second meeting where structure
of the leadership group would be established. At the second meeting it was agreed that a widely
representative leadership group would be most effective and we elected Frank Kelliher as Chair,
Carolyn Hedley as Co-ordinator, and Tim Payn (Scion), Louis Schipper (University of Waikato), Troy
Baisden (GNS) and Brent Clothier (Plant & Food) as a support committee.
The CarbonNet logo was created by Troy Baisden and Darren D'Cruz at GNS Science, in consultation
with the 6 member CarbonNet support group. The logo captures the role of soil in New Zealand's
productive and natural landscapes. The graphic conceptually depicts many of our prominent current
land uses in colour and pattern. The koru (spiral) symbol represents the ever-evolving nature of land
use.
Our mission statement is:
CarbonNet connects New Zealand‟s soil carbon research community. CarbonNet provides
expert knowledge and advice on the role of soil carbon processes and inventories to government
and other parties interested in climate change mitigation.
We aim to act as a conduit for soil carbon research to climate change policy development. With the
Copenhagen meeting in December and uncertainties around a national policy for soil carbon
accounting, we recognise policy issues can be as challenging as the science. From this perspective,
our inception seemed timely. The Copenhagen meeting will be a first meeting of UNFCCC parties
with an agenda to discuss a new international protocol to address global climate change beyond the
Kyoto Protocol commitment period that ends 2012. Representatives of 170 countries, including New
Zealand, are expected to attend this meeting. Another relevant, recent development in New Zealand is
the upcoming virtual Centre for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research, with an emphasis
on mitigation. This government initiative will be established early in 2010.
At the risk of impertinence, we will not recount here a list of current, soil carbon research projects and
programmes that are potentially relevant to policy development. Rather we will try to convey
stakeholder perspectives communicated to us at our inaugural meeting on 24 September in Wellington.
Stakeholders challenged us to consider soil carbon accounting from their points of view and basically
asked: how can research contribute?
162

Notes from CarbonNet Meeting, 24 September, in Wellington.
CarbonNet‘s first meeting took place at Turnbull House, Wellington, with industry and policy
representatives. Our mission was to listen to their perspective of research priorities for soil carbon
research. Chris Ward (HortNZ) presented the horticulturalists perspective, discussing issues including
the need to ascertain how we measure soil carbon for accounting purposes, and the need for
clarification on the point of obligation for soil carbon accounting. Greg Sneath (FertResearch)
discussed the need for sound science and NZ-based trials and research to support industry for ―best
practice, and responsible and efficient resource management‖. He listed some research opportunities
as:
on-farm C measurement
effects of current farm management on soil C
relationship between pasture condition, grazing and soil C
understanding interactions of different forms of soil C on chemistry/biology
exploring new C efficient cropping or farming systems.
David Rhodes and Bill Dyck, industry representatives from the NZ Forest Owners Association,
discussed that more information is required on the following:
influence of previous land use on plantation forest soil C
Can management increase soil C?
Does soil C include roots?
For soil C inventory, how deep does one need to sample? This depth may be different for
forest soils than for pastoral agriculture soils or arable soils.
Can one manage the forest floor (surface litter layer) to affect soil C storage?
What are the opportunities with biochar?
Sheree Cato (MAF Policy), Steven Cox (MAF Policy), Gerald Rys (MAF Policy) and Jude
Addenbrooke (MfE) outlined what New Zealand‘s present requirements are for soil carbon accounting
(i.e. those relating to land use change since 1990) and what they may be in the future. In the next
commitment round New Zealand might have to account for forest management and re-vegetation,
cropland management and grazing land management. Marta Camps (New Zealand Biochar Network)
provided some interesting insight into how the NZ Biochar Network functions, where there are
obvious strong potential links with CarbonNet.
Key points arising from this initial meeting were that stakeholders agreed that CarbonNet can be an
asset for technical questions and strategy development for research to respond to the needs of climate
change policy development. We plan to hold our next meeting in Palmerston North in November.
For more information please contact:
Carolyn Hedley (Co-ordinator) (hedleyc@landcareresearch.co.nz), or
Frank Kelliher (frank.kelliher@agresearch.co.nz)
Tim Payn (tim.payn@scionresearch.com)
Brent Clothier (BClothier@plantandfood.co.nz)
Troy Baisden (t.baisden@gns.cri.nz)
Louis Schipper (schipper@waikato.ac.nz)
163

News from correspondents
Waikato University
Dave Campbell, into his second term as chair of the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
(DEOS), has taken a well-earned period of leave for two months (approx September-October).
Working primarily with Jason Beringer, Dave is based mainly in the School of Geography and
Environmental Science at Monash University in Melbourne (although his office is in the School of
Geosciences). Dave presented a seminar in late September on his wetlands-based climatology
research.
Louis Schipper (DEOS) and John Quinn (NIWA) were visited by Richard Lowrance (USDA-ARS,
Tifton, Georgia, USA), who presented a seminar at NIWA entitled “Wetlands in agricultural
landscapes”. Richard was one of the very first researchers in the world to demonstrate that riparian
buffers remove nitrate from groundwater prior to discharge to surface waters. He continues his work
on water quality within agricultural settings. While in New Zealand, Richard visited the original
denitrification wall site at Hautapu Dairy factory (Fig. 1), the dairy catchment of Toenepi, and
restoration trials of restiad peat bogs in the Hauraki plains.
Fig 1: Associate prof Louis Schipper explaining the functioning of the denitrification wall at
Hautapu (near Hamilton) on last year’s ―Ashes and Issues‖ field trip in late November. Photo:
D.J. Lowe
During the last month or two there have been increasing national discussions on soil carbon, and Louis
has attended national gatherings of interested researchers in Palmerston North, Wellington, and
Hamilton. There are ongoing meetings planned to continue to coordinate research and develop a
focused strategy for future work
David Lowe (DEOS) has been invited to give the biennial Ron McDonald Memorial Lecture of the
Queensland Branch of the Australian Society of Soil Science in October this year. David led the
―Ashes and Issues‖ field trip on volcanic-ash soils of central North Island in late 2008 for the joint
Australia-New Zealand soils conference (Fig. 2), and several Australian participants on the trip
nominated him for this award. He is the first New Zealand recipient. The Ron McDonald Memorial
Lecture honours Ron McDonald, who died in 1989 at the age of 53. During the early 1980s Ron led a
team of authors in preparing the ―Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook‖. This is still the
standard guide for characterizing landforms, soils and vegetation throughout Australia. Ron was an
active member of the Australian Society of Soil Science, being president of the Queensland Branch
in 1977-78. He was an exceptional pedologist who enthusiastically shared his knowledge of
Queensland soils. Ron‘s 25-year career had a significant impact on the quality of soil survey carried
out across the Queensland and elsewhere.
164

Prof David Lowe on last year’s ―Ashes and
Issues‖ field trip. Photo: R. McEwan
David‘s talk, to be delivered at the University of
Queensland‘s St Lucia campus in Brisbane on Friday
23 rd October, is entitled “Where pedology meets
geology – insights into Andisols in Australasia”.
David is also presenting a support lecture that same
day, “Using tephrochronology to synchronize and
date records of late Quaternary environmental
change in New Zealand (NZ-INTIMATE project)”,
to both the School of Geography, Planning, and
Environmental Management and the School of Earth
Sciences at the University of Queensland, St Lucia.
David was the Norman Taylor Memorial Lecturer of
the New Zealand Society of Soil Science in 2002.
Louis Schipper has been busy trying his hand at making Dorodango balls (as mentioned in the last
edition of Soil News). Here are the fabulous results:
Iron oxide from Port Waikato
Tekowhai subsoil
Celebrating 50 years of Antarctic soil science
165

Lincoln Ventures Ltd (LVL)
Stefan Werisch from Dresden University of Technology, who previously did a 6 month internship
with us, has returned for another stint in the Hamilton office. This time he is undertaking infiltration
tests at our research site near Lake Taupo, in preparation of his MSc project, co-supervised by Eddy
Wöhling. Juliet Clague has recently registered for a PhD project on denitrification in groundwater,
supervised by Tim Clough at Lincoln University and Roland Stenger at LVL. Aaron Wall and
Brian Moorhead have been busy at our Spydia site, monitoring the movement of a bromide pulse
through the vadose zone profile. Meanwhile, Simon Woodward has made good progress on the
verification of the nitrogen component of the water and contaminant flow model FEMWATER-N,
which was developed by our former colleague Fuli Wang.
Massey University - Soil and Earth Sciences
Moira Hubbard left the Soil Science Department last month, having been secretary, social organiser,
fix-it woman and postgraduate mother, for 7 years. Her farewell, as the Soils people launched her
across campus to her new position, was attended by past members (Russ Tillman and Jim Pollok, for
instance) as well as the wider soils community. All enjoyed her parting speech, some of which is
reprinted here:
When I interviewed for this job, I was asked the question – ―You may have to deal with some
‗interesting‘, sometimes even ‗unusual‘, people in this job. Do you think you will be able to
cope?‖ I have to tell you, I assumed you were meaning people who would visit the
department…
My sense of unease was deepened when the first study guide I worked on was for Vince
Neall‟s Earth Science paper. It stated that students were encouraged, as early into the paper as
possible, to visit the MARTIAN MUSEUM. I thought that I had entered the twilight zone.
Clarification sought, it became apparent that the trip to Mars was off – they were to visit the
Maritime Museum in Wellington.
I can say that I have found soil scientists to be unique group of academics, and I quickly
learned that to avoid a lecture on the subject, I should refrain from using the word DIRT. I
admit defeat and will forever more refer to that precious resource as SOIL.
Professor Mike Hedley, head of the Soils and Earth Sciences Group, explained that losing Moira was
akin to going through a divorce – or at least what he imagined a divorce would be like: the sense of
loss and not knowing how to carry on. ―The academic staff in Soil and Earth Sciences at Massey are
currently more disorganised than normal. Moira Hubbard, our group secretary, organiser and keeper
of virtual memory, has chosen to further her career in another area of the University that specialises
in Academic staff training. We have a belief that the example set by the SES academic staff was what
drove Moira to the conclusion that she would be better off training academic staff than being at the
bottom of the cliff caused by their lack of administrative training.‖
One of Moira‘s farewell gifts was a tile mosaic made
by Anne West from pieces (mementos) supplied by
staff and students. It turned out to be a magnificent
creation and brought tears to Moira‘s eyes.
Moira‘s final words were that we need to remember
how precious real life is, how quickly it passes and
how, in the end, it is the people we share life with that
make it all worthwhile.
166

Well done to the Earth Science team of SES. The Volcanic Solutions research team, led by Prof Shane
Cronin and Prof Vince Neall, won the Massey University Team Research Medal. The team carries out
high-profile research on volcanic risk and volcanic geological issues throughout New Zealand,
southwest Pacific and Asia. It has secured $7.5m in research funding since its inception in 2004. In
that time the team has published 80 journal articles and 12 book chapters, presented 18 keynote
lectures to conferences around the world and delivered 231 conference papers. It has supervised 14
master‘s/bachelor (hons) and six PhD students to completion and currently has four master‘s and nine
PhD students. In Shane‘s absence, on a field trip in Vanuatu monitor erupting volcanoes, Vince and
Bob Stewart led the team to the splendid Massey awards dinner in the Memorial building in
Wellington.
Professor Marta Camps, co-director of the New Zealand Biochar Research Centre (NZBRC), recently
(15 and 16 September) hosted Stephen Joseph, Vice-chairman of the IBI (International Biochar
Initiative) Board and a fellow member of the IBI Advisory Committee, Nikolaus Foidl. Several
meetings were organized to review book chapters and meet with different researchers of the NZBRC –
and also from Landcare Research. They enjoyed a trip to view the marginal hill country from which
forest waste feedstock may be drawn in the future to make Biochar.
Stephen Joseph at the left, Peter Bishop middle, and
Nikolaus Foidl at the right.
On 9 September, Soil & Earth Sciences
precision agriculture team, Ian Yule, Reddy
Pullanagari, Ina Draganova, James Hanly and
Carolyn Hedley set off to the 13th Annual
Symposium on Precision Agriculture in
Australasia, which this year was held at the
University of New England (UNE), Armidale,
NSW. On arrival at UNE, the team were
slightly surprised to find that they were sharing
their Hall of Residence accommodation with all the resident undergraduates during the last week of
their term, and refrained from joining in the toga party that was underway in the corridor outside their
bedrooms!
On the first morning of the symposium, the 150 delegates attended a field demonstration of equipment
being used for land and water monitoring in Australia (see photos).
Jim Schepers (USDA, Nebraska)
demonstrates the NIR shank for field
analysis of soil carbon concentration
Electromagnetic sensor used for finding saline intrusions
into water ways.
167

Crop dusting aircraft equipped with a Crop Circle Sensor
(Holland Scientific) used to monitor crop development.
The alternative field trip – viewing Vertisol soil pits, hosted
and initiated by Josh, an undergraduate UNE student (Reddy,
James, Josh, photos right: Carolyn)
Research presented at this conference by our team included; EM mapping for variable rate irrigation
scheduling (Carolyn), GPS tracking dairy cows (Ina), crop sensing (Reddy, Ian) and the use of remote
sensing for improving dairy farm effluent management (James Hanly). On the final day, an animal
tracking session between researchers and practitioners was held to identify key applications of
technological advances, which included the use of sensors on cows that could provide virtual fences or
be used to track their movement and behaviour throughout the day.
Environment Waikato
Reece Hill and Peter Singleton are finishing off the draft revision of Environment Waikato‘s
Regional Policy Statement.
Chris McLay reminded this Soils News correspondent that he is still a soil scientist. Not sure what he
is doing but it must be important.
Bala Tikkisetty is back as sustainable agriculture coordinator in the environmental education unit. He
has been organising a seminar for the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management on
'Climate Change and its implications for Farming'. It will be held on the 1st October 2009 at the Staff
Club, AgResearch, Ruakura campus. Speakers included Dr Stewart Ledgard of AgResearch on "Life
Cycle Analyses" and Dr Anthony Clark of NIWA on "Climate Change Adaptation".
Matthew Taylor and Nick Kim have been processing yet more consents for discharge of biosolids to
land. Matthew is back from the UK after a Royal Society of New Zealand Bilateral Research
Activities Programme Award where he discussed soil quality issues and the dealumination theory with
Colin Campbell (head of soils research) and his team at the Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen and with
Crawford Jordan and his team from the Agri-food & Biosciences Institute, Belfast. Matthew was
able to combine this with a New Zealand Association of Resource Managers Lance McCaskill award
to attend the BSSS/ISSS Soil Quality = Environment Quality Conference, Castle Johnstown, Wexford,
Ireland, where he gave an oral presentation ―A review of key issues and indicators after twelve years
soil quality monitoring in the Waikato region‖ (see photo). While there he had notable discussions on
the use of bioindicators with Michiel Rutgers from the Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu,
and Phil Brookes from Rothamsted Research. A highlight was a visit to Castledockerell Agricultural
catchment, which is a study evaluating the Nitrates Directive National Action Programme in Ireland.
This programme requires limits on the use and storage of fertiliser and restricts certain arable practices
to minimise mobilisation of NO 3 . Water quality is measured at several points through the catchment
and results related to land use and land use practices.
168

AgResearch Grasslands
Iris Vogeler was touring Europe over the last 6 weeks. She attended the Water Resource
Management Conference in Malta, where she presented a paper on ―Land based disposal of
wastewater: Fate of Phosphorus‖, for which she received the Hromadka Award, a distinguised
Participant Diploma for her presentation. Iris was invited to give a talk on ―Environmental Impact of
Agriculture in NZ: Measurements and Modelling‖ at the University of Grenoble, France. She also
visited the Universities of Hannover and Berlin, Germany, where she was involved in collaborative
studies on nutrient transport and biochar.
Alec Mackay recently starred on television, and below is the press release relating to his appearance.
„Farming below the soil‟
AgResearch scientists are looking to add soil bioengineering to the list of technologies that are used by
pastoral farmers.
AgResearch Senior Scientist Dr Alec Mackay whose team have been looking at creatures, such as
earthworms, mites, springtails and nematodes in our soil, and soil services management says this focus
is long overdue.
―Our farming sector has spent a lot of time and effort on the above-ground aspects of our pastoral
systems, these are now highly engineered, with attention paid to livestock breeds, crop and grass
choice, fertiliser and irrigation. In comparison the size and composition of life below the ground is
often given little consideration,‖ said Dr Alec Mackay.
―People would be surprised to find that on an average sheep paddock the life under the ground weighs
more than the livestock. For example, in fields we have investigated, earthworms alone weigh nearly
four times that of the live weight of the ewes grazing on top,‖ said Dr Alec Mackay.
Earthworms consume dead plants and manure and mix organic material with the soil. This increases
fertility and plant growth and prevents plant nutrients accumulating on the soil surface and then
washing away. Worms also create burrows that assist with air and water movement in the soil.
AgResearch‘s Ross Gray, one of New Zealand‘s few experts in this field, says ―A key issue is that
New Zealand only has a small number of useful pasture earthworms, and these are spread unevenly
through the country. This is because most pasture earthworms were introduced accidentally by
European settlers who brought over potted plants.‖
―Northland, Auckland and Hamilton are lucky to have a large number of introduced species, including
a number of very useful deep burrowing earthworms, which likely arrived in ships ballast. Other
regions including much of the South Island have few such earthworms,‖ said Ross Gray.
In Europe earthworm species diversity under pasture is much higher. Ross Gray sees a need for
research into better distributing the useful species that have established in New Zealand.
Alec Mackay says tests have shown improvements in pasture production of 10-30% from earthworm
introductions to soils with little or no activity.
Soil communities also include mites, springtails nematodes, and various insect larvae. These
invertebrates are also important for decomposition, incorporation of litter and nutrient cycling.
AgResearch, in partnership with Massey University, is developing a soil invertebrate index that
describes and quantifies invertebrates living below ground with an aim to link these invertebrates to
the services that our soils provide. This work is being undertaken by AGMARDT PhD student Nicole
Schon under the supervision of Dr Maria Minor, Dr Alec Mackay, Dr Gregor Yeates and Dr Mike
Hedley. The index will provide, for the first time, a basis for farmers to quantify their soils biology,
including their earthworms, nematodes, springtails, mites, and assess the extent to which the soils
biology is contributing to farm performance.
169

―What we hope to achieve is to add soil bioengineering to the list of technologies that are used by
pastoral farmers to deliver greater agricultural output and enhancing farm profitability,‖ said Alec
Mackay.
Plant & Food, Palmerston North
The Soil Water & Environment (SWE) Group Conference was held at was held at Plant & Food
Research, Lincoln from 17-18 September 2009.
New Zealand's economy is based on farming activities, with the agriculture and forestry sectors
making a significant contribution to export earnings. This contribution in turn, influences farming
decisions, and about half the total land is used for primary production. However, different production
activities have differing environmental effects on factors such as soil erosion, water use, nutrient
leaching, organic waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Soils are also rich ecosystems,
composed of both living and non-living matter with a multitude of interaction between them. Soils
play an important role in all of our natural ecological cycles - carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water and
nutrient.
At the conference Mike Beare presented LUCI & SLURI overview. Trish Fraser spoke on Roots for
Sustainability. Steve Thomas presented on Deep Understanding of the Vadose Zone. Denis Curtin
spoke on SOM Research. Abie Horrocks presented on Building farmer confidence in arable IPM
systems. Craig Tregurtha spoke on Sustainable use of compost. Paul Johnstone presented on Soil
management projects in the North Island. Abie Horrocks spoke on West Coast Nutrient Use
Efficiency. Frank Tabley presented NO3 leaching under forage crops. Ian McIvor spoke on Poplar and
Willow Research. Siva Sivakumaran presented on Soil Microbiology. Grant Northcott presented on
Environmental Footprinting Team Analytical and environmental chemistry at Ruakura.
David Hughes presented on Science commercialisation. Getting up close and personal with SAP was
presented by Wendy Keeman. The why and how of lab quality assurance was spoken by Tina
Harrison-Kirk & Kathryn Stillwell. Recording and reporting our outputs - Trish Fraser and Laboratory
tour.
Attended Seminar: Making Science do more for NZ Professor Sir Peter Gluckman (Chief Scientific
Advisor, Prime Minister) and had Dinner at Rossendale Winery.
Top down strategic visions PFR Science and Business Strategy was presented by Bruce Campbell and
Sustainable Production Portfolio Strategy by Derek Wilson.
Did a team work exercise on holding on to strings which made us think science?
170

AgResearch Invermay
Cecile de Klein recently attended an international workshop on Greenhouse gas emissions and
methodologies to measure N 2 O emissions from agricultural soils, in Osorno, Chile. The workshop was
jointly organised by Procisur and LEARN and its key objectives were to share research experiences on
mitigation and inventory development, train researchers from Procisur countries on N 2 O measurement
methodologies, develop/extend research networks, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Cecile presented a range of talks on NZ GHG emission research, inventory development and N 2 O
measurement methodologies.
Dave Houlbrooke has spent a fortnight in the U.K and Ireland visiting farms and research institutes to
investigate European effluent management systems. In particular he was interested in best practices for
slurry management to meet multiple agronomic and environmental considerations. His visit of
research institutes took him to two UK ADAS sites (Boxworth near Cambridge and Woodthorne near
Wolverhampton) where he was hosted by Lizzie Sagoo and Ken Smith respectively as well North
Wyke Research (formally IGER) in Devon where he was hosted by Dave Chadwick and Tom
Misselbrook. In Ireland he visited two Teagasc research centres (Johnstown castle in County Wexford
and Moorepark in County Cork) where he was hosted by Karl Richards and Paul Murphy. During
these visits he gave seminar presentations regarding the management of farm dairy effluent in New
Zealand. While in Ireland Dave presented a paper at the combined British and Irish Society of Soil
Science Society meeting where the theme of the meet was ‗Does soil quality = environmental
quality?‘ Dave presented a summary of the North Otago LUCI research on soil compaction. The
conference was well represented by NZSSS membership as Leo Condron and Amanda Black from
Lincoln University and Matt Taylor from EW were also in attendance.
Tony van der Weerden recently promoted soil science to a wider community when he presented a
lunch-time talk to the local Dunedin urban community on the importance of soil management, as part
of a series of council-run monthly presentations.
Richard McDowell has headed a team of scientists that submitted a surface water quality concept
sketch to FRST entitled clean water, productive land. The sketch is a large piece of collaborative work
between four CRI‘s (Niwa, Landcare, ESR and AgResearch).
Lincoln University
Since the last edition, Lincoln University has had a number of
visitors. On 18 September, the Minister of Agriculture the
Hon. David Carter visited Lincoln University. Professors
Keith Cameron and Grant Edwards escorted the Minister
and his party to the new Research Dairy Farm and research
facilities, which are now fully operational.
Parliamentary visitors tour facilities at the new Lincoln
University Dairy Research Farm (LUDRF). From left to
right; Professor Keith Cameron, Hon. David Carter, Hon.
Amy Adams, Professor Roger Field (Vice Chancellor).
Background (obscured); Professor Grant Edwards.
171

In mid September, Professor Nanthi Bolan, of The Australian Centre for Environmental Risk
Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, visited the Department of Soil and
Physical Sciences. Nanthi gave an excellent seminar entitled ‗Irrigation of recycled water – to achieve
sustainable production and environmental protection‘. Staff commented that it was great to catch up
with the ex-pat kiwi, who is always enthusiastic on the topic of Soil Science. Also visiting the
department recently was Professor Larry McKay, Head Dept. Earth & Planetary Sciences, University
of Tennessee. Larry also gave a very interesting talk, entitled ‗Cracks in the Clay: The Role of
Fractures and Macropores in Critical Zone Hydrology‘.
Congratulations to Samuel Dennis, who passed his oral PhD exam on Tuesday 25th August. His PhD
project was entitled ‗Nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emission from grazed grassland: Upscaling
from lysimeters to farm‘ and his supervisory team included Keith Cameron, Hong Di, Jim Moir
(Lincoln University) and Karl Richards (TEAGASC, Ireland). Samuel has now started a Postdoc
position with Grants Edwards and Keith Cameron.
Dewi Krysnayanti has submitted her PhD thesis "Sustainable restoration methods of gold mine
sites". Dewi's project involved investigating the effects of different organic and inorganic
amendments on mine material, and their effects on overburden weathering. She used material from
the OceanaGold Globe Progress mine site at Reefton. Dewi was supervised by Carol Smith, Suzie
Reichman (now at the Environment Protection Authority, Victoria, Australia) and Leo Condron.
Emeritus Prof Kuan Goh presented his invited keynote paper entitled 'Organic Agriculture Mitigates
Climate Change' on 19 August 2009 at the International Organic Conference held in Bangkok,
Thailand, sponsored by APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation). More than 350
delegates attended the Conference represented by 17 APEC countries together with delegates from
South America, United States and Canada. The paper was well received. Kuan received many requests
for his full paper and invitations to visit universities in Thailand and organic farms in Malaysia and
China after his presentation. He also chaired two sessions of the Conference and met many Lincoln
graduates. Conference delegates also visited a large commercial organic farm near the historic River
Kwai Bridge. This farm exports its produce of tropical organic fruits and vegetables directly to the
Sainsbury Supermarket in the United Kingdom, Tesco and other supermarkets.
The University recently ran an industry training course for the Alliance Group. Along with others,
Roger McLenaghen has been responsible for organising and presenting a range of lectures and field
visits to/for this group.
The University Postgraduate Conference for 2009 was held in September. Congratulations to Fiona
Shannon for receiving for prize for her talk entitled ‗Isotopic composition of soil CO 2 in Antarctica:
Implications for a pedogenic carbonate paleotemperature proxy.‘
Finally, congratulations also to Karen Roberts, Carol Smith and Peter Almond for being recognised
for being nominated by the student body for their ‗LUSA Green (Teaching)‘ Awards.
SCION
Ian Nicholas is organising an international bioenergy conference in Taupo from 1 to 4 December
2009 with the theme: ―Short Rotation Crops: Linking technology and Biomass‖. The conference is
supported by Scion and Pure Power Global. For any further information, please visit
www.shortrotationcrops.org
The conference is organised by Task 30, a sub-group of the International Energy Agency (IEA)
Bioenergy programme. Members from across the globe - including Brazil, Sweden, the United States
and the United Kingdom – will report on progress over the past three years, with country-specific case
studies. Invited speakers will also present in sessions on emerging crops and emerging opportunities.
Guna Magesan attended New Zealand Society of Soil Science quarterly meeting, and following the
meeting he organised the judging panel for the NZSSS Awards for best MSc and PhD theses.
172

Guna Magesan has been invited again to serve on the Editorial Board of Soil Science and Plant
Nutrition for 2009-2010.
TamilNadu Agricultural University invited Guna Magesan to have scientific interactions with
professors and researchers during his forthcoming trip to India. Guna plans to discuss about the
possible collaborative work on waste management and biological farming. In March 2009, two senior
professors from this University Dr. S. Natarajan (Director, Centre for Soil and Crop Management
Studies) and Dr S Mahimairaja (Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences) visited Scion to
explore the possibility for collaboration on (1) Carbon sequestration and climate change, (2) Organic
farming - organic fertilizers, and (3) Recycling of waste and wastewater in agriculture. The visitors
had a number of meetings and discussions with various scientists.
Environment Bay of Plenty (EBOP) is looking at making changes to the way they work with the
community to control weeds and pests, and will have three public consultation days in Opotiki,
Rotorua and Whakatane. This is the first stage in preparing a regional pest management strategy. The
meetings will specifically address proposed changes to Weed and Pest Management, including the
control of Gorse. A small article on ―Gorse is a water quality issue‖ based on work by Magesan et al
is mentioned. For more information refer to EBOP website http://www.envbop.govt.nz/
The 2010 New Zealand Land Treatment Collective conference will be held in Dunedin, from 17-19
March, at the Otago Museum. The theme is "Managing Wastes in Rural and Agricultural Landscapes"
and the conference will be held in co-operation with SWANS-SIG, the small waste water and natural
systems special interest group of Water NewZealand. Technical sessions will cover topics such as
land application of agricultural wastes, effluent management and modelling, small wastewater and
natural systems in low permeable soils, waste issues in remote centres (DOC huts, campsites) and the
beneficial use of biosolids. The field trip will feature onsite waste systems and the latest in effluent
management on southland dairy farms, such as weeping walls, k-lines and herd homes. For further
information, visit our website: www.scionresearch.com/nzltc or contact Marie Heaphy at
marie.heaphy@scionresearch.com.
The LTC is planning to hold a Biosolids Workshop in March 2010, aimed at disseminating
information on the beneficial use of Biosolids. Presentations will cover topics such as beneficial
applications for biosolids, resource consents, consultation with the community, land use limitations
and land use benefits and a review of current Biosolids research projects. Contact Marie Heaphy for
further information.
Australia
Richard Doyle has recently made two trips to PNG on scoping mission for Australia Centre for
International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in to increasing soil resource issues around vegetable
production (see article attached). We also held a ASSSI Tasmania Branch ―Soil Science Forum‖ in
Launceston with Dr Bill Cotching running the day for the branch. Bill also launched his soils book
called ―Soil Health – for farming in Tasmania‖ which he is giving free to soil science students and
other soil enthusiasts, a very generous personal undertaking. Peter McIntosh is still very busy dating
all manner of Quaternary sections around the state whilst myself and a PhD student (Jorge Martins) try
to chemically and mineralogical characterise the materials either side of the TL and C-14 dates. Dr
Mike Laffan continues to consult on soil resource assessment projects both locally and on the
mainland.
Soil Science Society news from Europe
http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
173

NZSSS
Norman Taylor Memorial Lecture
Will be given by Dr Trish Fraser
“The turn of the lowly earthworm”
This year, for the Norman Taylor Memorial Lecture, it is the turn of the lowly earthworm to receive
attention. Beneath the surface of the soil, earthworms go about their daily routine largely un-noticed.
Yet their activities can significantly influence properties such as soil structure, organic matter
distribution, nutrient availability and plant productivity. Indeed as far back as 1881 Charles Darwin
recognised their importance when he stated “It may be doubted whether there are many other animals
which have played so important a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organised
creatures”… Pioneering researchers in NZ also recognised their importance early on and conducted a
lot of work to understand the role of earthworms in soil processes and their influence on land
productivity. Come along to the lecture to hear more about how the lowly earthworm has been turning
up, turning over and turning within NZ soils.
Due unforeseen circumstances the dates for the lecture,
originally planned for early December, have been changed. The
lecture will now be given in early February, and dates will be
advised in the December issue of Soil News.
NZSSS Special General Meeting
A special general meeting of the Society will be held at Plant & Food
Research, Palmerston North.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 1 st December at 3.30pm in the
upstairs Plant & Food Seminar Room – enter via the front door of the climate
laboratory of Plant & Food.
Agenda
1. Apologies.
2. Financial report and balance sheet for the year ending 30 June 2009.
3. General business.
P M Fraser
Secretary, NZSSS
174

Minutes of a meeting of the NZSSS Council held at 10 am on
Tuesday 25 th May 2009 via teleconference.
PRESENT:
APOLOGIES:
In Palmerston North: B. Clothier (Chair); A. Mackay; I. Vanderkolk; M. Hedley
In Lincoln: R. McLenaghen; P. Fraser (Minutes); A. Hewitt
In Rotorua: G. Magesan
In Dunedin: C. de Klein
D. Houlbrooke; R. Hill; L. Schipper.
SECRETARIAT:
Minutes of previous meetings:
“That the minutes of the May 2009 meeting be confirmed as a true and accurate record”
R. McLenaghen/G. Magesan – carried
Matters arising from minutes:
Cecile still to hear from B. Quinn
Action: Cecile to check liability insurance cover for Pre-conference tour to be held in NZ as
part of World Congress in 2010. Cover to expire in December – so need to check that it
gets renewed
Australian Profile Newsletter. The editor has changed and this may be why we have not
been receiving Profile of-late.
Action: Brent to contact Profile editor.
Mike Hedley is now our IUSS Council link for World Congress.
New Grange Medal
o RSNZ get their medals made in the UK but it is quite costly.
Action: Alec is following up on our options.
Matters for general business
Soils and Environmental Policy
Norman Taylor Lecturer
Approval of Agenda
It was moved “that the agenda be approved”
TREASURY:
The Treasurer tabled her report:
Chair – carried
Financial Report
26 May – 3 September 2009
Income
Subscriptions $ 1330.00
Book Sales $ 1390.00
Copyright Licensing $ 172.50
Total $ 2892.50
Payments
Postage Soil News $ 104.80
Printing Soil News $ 134.17
Envelopes Soil News $ 202.12
Council Travel $ 258.75
Conference Calls $ 62.98
Total $ 762.82
“That the payments listed be approved”
C. de Klein /A. Mackay - carried
LUC handbooks not sold – need to add to assets register.
Action: Alec to supply info to Cecile
175

Membership changes since last meeting:
Members
Soil News
Ordinary members 259 Library Subscriptions 16
Student members 57 Free copies 9
Corporate members 1 Total 25
Honorary members 8
Retired members 31
Life members 12
Total 376 Grand total = 393
New members
Indika Herath, Massey
Selai Letica, Massey/AgR
Resignations
G. Dickeson
Deceased
E. Griffiths
Obituary notice to go in Soil News.
Action: Allan to track down a photograph to go with it.
SOIL NEWS
Soil News is now on the web.
NZSSS WWW pages
Have been updated
SITNZL
Allan has been assessing amount that would need to be revised. He does not think it would be
too extensive. Cyril Childs has offered some assistance. Andrew Manderson has also some
suggestions for Land Use chapter etc. We now need to find an appropriate publisher to see what
cost might be involved.
AWARDS
List of awards to be placed in next issue of Soil News.
2 PhD awards; 2 Masters and 2 Summit Quinphos Awards have been submitted.
AJSR
CSIRO have restructured. Watch this space for developments with respect to AJSR.
PROMOTING SOIL SCIENCE
No more interviews have been done since last meeting, but Phil Tonkin and Vince Neall is
planning to some more in the near future.
Alec commented that a video about “becoming a vet” was having a good impact. Would
something similar work for soil science promotion?
“Adopt a Scientist” also was useful for encouraging science fair
Hidden Universe – currently in abeyance.
SCIENCE FAIRS
Of the 20 Science Fairs, 18 have accepted sponsorship (SITNZL).
USB‟s left over from conferences could be used up as additional prizes at the fairs.
It was agreed that the Society would purchase them from the conference.
176
Brent / Roger - carried

CONFERENCES
Soils 2008 - Conference should come to a net zero; no profit or loss.
This was a good outcome given the financial climate at the time of the conference.
www.soilsconference.co.nz
We have been offered this site and asked to consider whether we would like to take it over for
use in the future.
World Congress, Brisbane 2010
Circulars have come out asking for abstracts.
Field trips information are not yet on the web; but hope to be soon.
Need to encourage personnel to submit abstracts. Talk to convenors about appropriate paper
topics to suit their needs.
It was proposed that $3000 per University (Massey, Lincoln and Waikato) for fully paid up NZSSS
student members to attend World Congress, with no student to receive more than $600 each
towards this. Additional applications from student members at other Universities will accepted and
the same limit will be enforced.
An amendment to $1000 instead of $600 per student was proposed.
Carried Alec/Allan
Conference in NZ 2010
About 600 expected. All Societies totally integrated. Perhaps 50 from NZSSS??
Water, Climate, Life Cycle Analysis themes.
Wednesday afternoon field trip is our responsibility.
Vineyard visit – terroir, wine tasting and a range of soils.
2012 Tasmania still an option for a joint conference with the ASSS.
[ Guna Magesan arrived ]
SOIL SCIENCE UPDATE
The Soils strategy and Water strategy appear to have taken a backseat at present.
No acknowledgements appear to have been received in response to submissions that various
people have made.
Surprise has been expressed from various quarters that NZSSS was not involved in the soils
strategy formulation in the first place.
Suggestion that we might consider forming our own strategy as a Society.
Members to compile the various submissions that were sent in and send them to Trish for
circulation to Council members for their consideration.
Action: Reece to send update on RMA issues
Global Alliance – with Simon Upton – global effort for research on greenhouse gases and soil
carbon. Government is putting up quite a lot of money towards this, lobbying for collaboration.
CarboNet – chair Frank Kelliher; Carolyn Hedley; Brent Clothier; Tim Payne meeting coming up
soon.
MfE Accounting Protocols and Soil Carbon meeting with Jude Addenbrook took place recently.
Funding through MfE will be coming available.
Gerald Rhys has formed a committee on GHG partnership between NZ and Australia. Meeting to
discuss NO 2 , Methane and Soil Carbon will take place soon. Follows on from Australian
workshop.
[Roger departed]
177

GHG Centre initiative – expression of interest has been put in by Harry Clark et al.
Virtual Centre – access to LCA experts.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Norman Taylor Lecture - Trish Fraser
Further details to follow in October issue of Soil News.
50 th Anniversary of Soil Research in Antarctica
Suggested that RSNZ could be approached for funding.
Megan Balks is organising; it was proposed that a branch meeting of the NZSSS.
It was proposed that committee supports an event being held as a branch meeting for the
celebration of 50 Years and the committee would support some funding towards Graeme
Claridge to attend.
Louis/ Allan - carried
SECRETARIAT
Correspondence
None of particular note other than changes of contact details.
NEXT MEETING
In late November. Action: Secretary to canvas closer to time.
Meeting closed at 2.30pm
Abstracts
Developing national-scale terrain attributes for New Zealand (TANZ)
David J. Palmer A, B , Barbara K. Höck A , David J. Lowe B , Andrew G. Dunningham A , and Tim W. Payn A
A
Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand. B Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University
of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
Abstract
Primary and secondary terrain attributes provide information essential for environmental modelling in
a wide range of disciplines. Although topographical attributes are frequently developed and used in
New Zealand, currently these attributes remain piecemeal and site specific. In this paper we define the
parameters and protocols used in developing national-scale terrain attributes for New Zealand
(TANZ). By ‗national scale‘ we mean digital maps or surfaces extending over the entire national
territory of New Zealand. The software TAPES-G (Terrain Analysis Programs for the Environmental
Sciences - Grid) was used to develop primary terrain attributes at a 25 m resolution. The GIS platform
ArcInfo, in conjunction with Arc Macro Language (AML), was used to extract source DEM data for
large catchments across New Zealand using a macro-catchment coverage vector surface. Macrocatchments
serve two purposes: (1) to ensure array size parameters for TAPES-G are not exceeded;
and (2) the macro-catchment parameter acts as a boundary for TAPES-G processing. AMLs automate
the development of terrain attributes and the subsequent merging of raster data into a series of national
topographic attributes. In developing TANZ we set out to create high-quality surfaces useful for
productivity modelling and spatial interpolation of Pinus radiata data across New Zealand. TANZ
surfaces will be additionally useful in other modelling environments including hydrology,
geomorphology, pedology, and ecology with potential applications in resource management,
environmental modelling, GIS, pedometrics, and geostatistics. This bulletin provides comprehensive
technical information covering the protocols and processes used to develop TANZ.
Source: Forest Research Bulletin (2009) No. 232. 81pp. (ISBN: 0-478-11024-3)
178

A dynamic framework for spatial modelling Pinus radiata soil water balance
(SWatBal) across New Zealand
David J. Palmer A, C , Michael S. Watt B , Barbara K. Höck A , David J. Lowe C , and Tim W. Payn A
A
Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand. B Scion, P.O. Box 29-237, Christchurch 8540, New
Zealand. C Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240,
New Zealand.
Available root-zone water storage is a key environmental property useful in modelling many physical
systems including crop production, hydrological processes, ground water pollution, and biodiversity.
We have developed a dynamic spatial soil-water balance model, SWatBal, using Arc Macro Language
(AML) and the GIS patform ArcInfo TM by adapting a point-location model specific to Pinus radiata in
New Zealand. Spatial estimates of available root-zone soil water storage across New Zealand were
modelled at 100 m-resolution using digital soil and climate data. SWatBal uses monthly climatic data
distributed on a daily basis to simulate naturally occurring stochastic rainfall events, rather than an
assumed constant monthly rainfall, making this model unique by improving its temporal scale. We
discuss the development of SWatBal, protocols, input parameters, and the implementation of spatial
soil and climate data for New Zealand. SWatBal is designed to ensure the model can be readily
updated whenever new and more accurate data become available. Although SWatBal surfaces will
prove valuable for many disciplines, the rationale driving our model development is further research
and investigation into spatial relationships between available root-zone water storage and P. radiata
crop productivity.
Source: Forest Research Bulletin (2009) No. 234. 93pp. (ISBN: 0-478-11025-1)
______________________
Changes in soil nematode populations indicate an annual life cycle at Cape
Hallett, Antarctica
Gregor W Yeates a,1 , Matthew B. Scott b , Steven L. Chown c , Brent J Sinclair d
a Landcare Research, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
b Botany Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
c Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
d Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
1 Present address: P.O. Box 1758, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand
Summary
Soil biological studies have suggested that generations of terrestrial nematodes in continental
Antarctica may take many years. We sampled soil nematodes at three sites in the Adélie penguin
colony at Cape Hallett on four dates in a two month sampling period (16 November 2002 – 18 January
2003). The size class distribution of over 3500 nematodes, and the occurrence of adults, indicate an
annual life cycle of the bacterial-feeding Panagrolaimus davidi and Plectus murrayi, at each site.
Nematode abundance ranged from 2 to 1375 / g dry soil. Moderate temperatures and the regular
presence of free water underlie this biological activity and related contribution to soil processes.
Pedobiologia 52, 375-386, 2009
______________________
Long-term changes in topsoil nematode populations in grazed pasture under
elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide
Gregor W. Yeates 1,* • Paul C. D. Newton 2
1 Landcare Research, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
2 AgResearch, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
* Present address: P.O. Box 1758, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand
179

Abstract
Increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations are expected to affect ecosystems processes, and while a
New Zealand study reported a response in soil biological activity after 4 years of CO 2 enrichment,
apparently reflecting increased populations of Longidorus elongatus, similar findings have not been
reported from other sites. Soil microfauna in 0–10 cm soil under a sheep-grazed pasture on a sand was
assessed quarterly in FACE rings that were either at ambient CO 2 or had been exposed to 475 μl l -1
CO 2 for some 9 years. Although the area had been subject to a severe drought and microfaunal
populations were lower than previously found, the effects of elevated CO 2 on microfaunal populations
were broadly similar to those at 4 years. Average populations of the root-feeding Longidorus
elongatus increased from 67,000 to 233,000 m -2 (3.48×) compared with a 4.26× increase after 4 years,
microbial-feeding nematodes increased slightly, while predacious nematodes showed a 2.0× increase.
A pot experiment showed an additive effect of elevated CO 2 and L. elongatus abundance in reducing
specific root length. That similar effects have been found 4 and 9 years after CO 2 enrichment
commenced suggests they are real, and emphasises the difference to other sites around the world
where much lower responses to elevated CO 2 have been found. This, in part, reflects the unique
combination of soil, plant and soil biological conditions at each site and confirms the strong effect of
soil type and vegetation on soil biological processes. Just as the effects of global climate change on a
given region are idiosyncratic, so it seems are the effects of elevated CO 2 on soil and ecosystem
processes. In part, this reflects our limited understanding of below-ground processes.
Biology and Fertility of Soils 45,799-808, 2009
______________________
Interpretation of pre-AD 472 Roman soils from physicochemical and
mineralogical properties of buried tephric paleosols at Somma
Vesuviana ruin, southwest Italy
Yudzuru Inoue A , Jamsranjav Baasansuren B , Makiko Watanabe C , Hiroyuki Kamei D , and David J. Lowe E
A
Center of Advanced Instrumental Analysis, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga- kouen,
Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan. B Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for
Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. C Graduate School of Urban
Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University,1-1, Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397,
Japan. D Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1
Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan. E Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of
Waikato, Private Bag 3105 Hamilton, New Zealand 3240
Abstract
This study aimed to interpret soil fertility around Somma Vesuviana in ancient Rome from
investigation of buried paleosols developed beneath thick pumice deposits of the AD 472 Pollena
eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Two buried pedons derived mainly from phonolitic tephra deposits of the
AD 79 Pompeii eruption, and ancient construction waste, were excavated and sampled at the Somma
Vesuviana villa ruins on the northern flanks of Mt. Vesuvius, Italy. For comparison, a buried paleosol
on equivalent Pompeii tephra deposits in a nearby forest, and a modern soil on AD 1631 tephra
deposits (compositionally similar to Pompeii eruptives) in an adjacent orchard, were similarly
analyzed for physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties, including phosphorus fractions and
primary mineral compositions. The two buried pedons in the ruin had abundant available P and K and
contained moderate amounts of exchangeable cations. Leucite was the dominant primary mineral and,
with alkali feldspars, is probably the major source of K in the buried horizons. A high content of
―authigenic P (Ca-bound P)‖ characterized all the pedons. We concluded that the buried Somma
Vesuviana paleosols had a relatively high ability to supply nutrients and that they were fertile prior to
the AD 472 eruption, although manuring to increase nitrogen was probably needed to maintain high
productivity. Their physical properties such as water retention were probably enhanced by small but
significant amounts of short-range order clays.
Source: Geoderma (2009) 152, 243-251.
180

Comparison of spatial prediction techniques for developing Pinus radiata
productivity surfaces across New Zealand
D.J. Palmer A, C , B.K. Höck A , M.O. Kimberley A , M.S. Watt B , D.J. Lowe C , T.W. Payn A
A
Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand. B Scion, P.O. Box 29-237, Christchurch 8540, New
Zealand. C Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240,
New Zealand.
Spatial interpolation is frequently used to predict values across a landscape enabling the spatial
variation and patterns of a property to be quantified. Inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary
kriging (OK), regression kriging (RK), and partial least squares (PLS) regression are interpolation
techniques typically used where the region of interest‘s spatial extent is relatively small and
observations are numerous and regularly spaced. In the current era of data ‗mining‘ and utilisation of
sparse data, the above criteria are not always fully met, increasing model uncertainties. Furthermore,
regression modelling and kriging techniques require good judgement, experience, and expertise by the
practitioner compared with IDW with its more rudimentary approach. In this study we compared
spatial predictions derived from IDW, PLS, RK, and OK for Pinus radiata volume mean annual
increment (referred to as 300 Index) and mean top height at age twenty (referred to as Site Index)
across New Zealand using cross-validation techniques. Validation statistics (RMSE, ME, and R 2 ) show
that RK, OK, and IDW provided predictions that were less biased and of greater accuracy than PLS
predictions. Standard deviation of rank (SDR) and mean rank (MR) validation statistics showed
similar results with OK the most consistent (SDR) predictor, whereas RK had the lowest mean rank
(MR), closely followed by IDW. However, the mean performance rankings for validation observations
classified according to their distance to the nearest model data point indicate that although PLS
provided the poorest predictions at relatively close separation distances (

Kinetics of molybdate and phosphate sorption by some Chilean Andisols
Erika Marina Vistoso G. 1 , Nanthi S. Bolan 2 , Benny K.G. Theng 3 , Maria de la Luz Mora 4
1 National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA), Remehue Research Centre, Osorno, Chile
2 Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment, University of South Australia, SA 5095, Australia
3 Landcare Research, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
4 Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
The kinetics for the sorption of molybdate and phosphate by four Chilean Andisols have been
determined. About 55% of the molybdate and 61% of the phosphate was sorbed in the first 0.5 h, after
which sorption slowly increased, reaching 90% for molybdate and 97% for phosphate after 72 h. At
the same time, OH – ions were released into the external solution, raising its pH by 0.85 units for
molybdate and by 0.65 units in the case of phosphate. These observations indicated that both anions
were sorpbed by a ligand exchange mechanims. Among the five kinetic models examined (Table, 2),
the Elovich equation gave the best fit of the experimental data (R 2 = 0.93 to 0.97, standard error = 0.35
to 0.94). The sorption rate constant (α) for both anions was related to the organic matter (OM) content
of the soils, especially the content of Al- and Fe-humus complexes. The values for molybdate were
2.24x10 15 mmol kg –1 h –1 for the Vilcún soil (15% OM), 2.49 x10 12 mmol kg –1 h –1 for the Pemehue soil
(16% OM), 8.76x10 10 mmol kg –1 h –1 for the Osorno soil (20% OM), and 3.11x10 7 mmol kg –1 h –1 for
the Piedras Negras soil (24% OM). The corresponding values for phosphate were 3.89x10 7 , 5.21x10 10 ,
3.11x10 12 and 1.08x10 16 mmol kg –1 h –1 . The desorption rate constant (β) for the four soils (in the above
order) ranged from 0.47 to 0.28 for molybdate, and 0.22 to 0.39 mmol kg –1 h –1 for phosphate. The
results suggest that the mineralogical composition and organic matter content of the Andisols control
the kinetics for the sorption of both molybdate and phosphate. Molybdate appeared to have a high
affinity for Fe- and Al-oxides, while phosphate was largely sorbed to Fe-and Al-humus complexes.
Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 9: 55–68, 2009
__________________
Effect of elevated CO2 on soil N dynamics in a temperate grassland soil
Christoph Müller a,b , Tobias Rütting c , M. Kaleem Abbasi b,d , Ronald J. Laughlin e ,
Claudia Kammann a,b , Tim J. Clough f , Robert R. Sherlock f , Jens Kattge g , Hans-Jürgen Jäger b ,
Catherine J. Watson e , R. James Stevens e
a School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
b Department of Plant Ecology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany
c Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
d
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
e
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9
5PX, Northern Ireland
f
Agriculture & Life Sciences Division, Lincoln University, PO Box 84, Canterbury, New Zealand
The response of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated atmospheric CO 2 is related to the availability of
other nutrients and in particular to nitrogen (N). Here we present results on soil N transformation
dynamics from a N-limited temperate grassland that had been under Free Air CO 2 Enrichment (FACE)
for six years. A 15 N labelling laboratory study (i.e. in absence of plant N uptake) was carried out to
identify the effect of elevated CO 2 on gross soil N transformations. The simultaneous gross N
transformation rates in the soil were analyzed with a 15 N tracing model which considered
mineralization of two soil organic matter (SOM) pools, included nitrification from NH 4 + and from
organic-N to NO 3 - and analysed the rate of dissimilatory NO 3 - reduction to NH 4 + (DNRA). Results
indicate that the mineralization of labile organic-N became more important under elevated CO 2 . At the
same time the gross rate of NH 4 + immobilization increased by 20%, while NH 4 + oxidation to NO 3 - was
reduced by 25% under elevated CO 2 . The NO 3 - dynamics under elevated CO 2 were characterized by a
52% increase in NO 3 - immobilization and a 141% increase in the DNRA rate, while NO 3 - production
via heterotrophic nitrification was reduced to almost zero. The increased turnover of the NH 4 + pool,
combined with the increased DNRA rate provided an indication that the available N in the grassland
soil may gradually shift towards NH 4 + under elevated CO 2 . The advantage of such a shift is that NH 4
+
is less prone to N losses, which may increase the N retention and N use efficiency in the grassland
ecosystem under elevated CO 2 .
Soil Biology & Biochemistry 41 (2009) 1996–2001
182

CONFERENCES
An Invitation to the 19th World Congress of Soil Science
http://www.19wcss.org.au
On behalf of the Officers of the International Union of Soil Science, we are delighted to extend our
personal invitation to you to join us in Brisbane, Queensland Australia for the 19th World Congress of
Soil Science to be held 1-6 August 2010 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The conference theme Soil Solutions for a Changing World provides a tremendous opportunity for a
broad range of presentations – we urge you to share your research, experiences and knowledge with
members in Brisbane.
The "Call for Papers" has now opened - papers must be submitted by 31 October 2009 to be
considered.
We are very proud to be associated with an outstanding group of professionals who have gathered to
form the steering committee for the 19th World Congress of Soil Science, led jointly by Professor
Steve Raine and Mr Mike Grundy.
Please join us and colleagues from throughout the world in what promises to be an outstanding
gathering of the Soil Science community.
It is our privilege and pleasure, on behalf of the Australian Society of Soil Science Inc., to introduce the
19th World Congress of Soil Science to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1
to 6 August 2010.
The Congress, held every four years, presents a global forum at which all those involved in Soil
Science can meet with scientists, researchers, academics and professionals to discuss and find Soil
Solutions for a Changing World.
While you are here we would encourage you and your family to take the time to experience the best of
what Queensland has to offer. Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is a modern, sophisticated city of
more than 1.6 million people. Queenslanders enjoy a safe and friendly lifestyle and you will appreciate
the reasons why our state is a great place to live, a great place to do business and a great place to
visit.
Details of the 19th World Congress of Soil Science will be regularly updated on this website; please
check back often or register your interest to participate and we will keep you informed.
Our Congress Committee is a totally committed group of professionals who are hard at work to
present an outstanding conference.
We look forward to welcoming you in 2010 to what we are confident will be the best ever World
Congress of Soil Science.
183

Managing Climate Change (MC2) Conference and two workshops (Carbon workshop and
Modelling Workshop) (18-20 November 2009, Palmerston North, New Zealand).
Landcare Research in collaboration with AgResearch, NIWA, GNS, Massey University, MAF and
PGGRC, is organising the „Managing Climate Change‟ Conference and two workshops (Carbon
workshop and Modelling Workshop), between 18-20 November 2009. The aims of the conference and
the workshops are to begin a process of putting the information to manage greenhouse gas emissions
in the hands of those who can use it to mitigate the climate change problem. A brief description is
given below.
i) Carbon workshop (funded by RSNZ) a half day session to update on current research/policy
developments concerned with the carbon cycle at global and regional level. Topics will include
atmospheric and oceanic CO2 observations, land use and other terrestrial inventory data, regional and
global CO2 modelling, and an open discussion of approaches to integrate this information and
strengthen research collaborations across research institutes and with interested policy analysts. The
session has been sponsored by the Royal Society of New Zealand through the International
Geosphere-Biosphere (Global Change) Committee.
ii) Process-based models workshop (funded by LEARN/MAF) another half day LEARN/MAF funded
will focus on process-based models (such as Denitrification-Decomposition, DNDC; DayCent) that
simulate greenhouse gas fluxes from terrestrial ecosystems. This workshop aim is to train the
researchers on the use and application of such models, to assess the models based on site scale
validations with statistical tools for applications at regional or national scale, and to identify the
modelling issues and challenges. Discussion will include issues around the development, testing and
scaling-up of these models, building a standardised global database collected from experimental sites
for site scale model assessments The overall theme of the conference is Managing Climate Change
(MC2) with a focus on 'Processes, measurement, modelling and mitigation of greenhouse gases" as
outlined below.
The conference (with confirmed sponsorship from AgMardt) will highlight comprehensive
understanding of how land-use change and management affects emissions of these gases from the
land to the atmosphere at a range of spatial and temporal scales. Improving national inventories and
developing mitigation policies to curb GHG emissions requires the best possible quantitative
information (including uncertainties) on the processes controlling the exchanges of carbon dioxide
(CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) between the land and atmosphere. Effective
technologies and management practices to reduce GHG emissions are being devised, implemented
and refined. Process-based models are being developed to simulate of GHG emissions at a range of
scales up to national or global level, and to explore potential mitigation strategies. Key challenges
include building understanding that remains valid at the scale of processes (plant to paddock) as well
as national inventories, and remains relevant to emissions measured over hours or days as well as
soil carbon changes measured over decades.
About 70 conference presentations will cover the following themes:
1. Policy-Science Interface - Translating science into effective policies. Inventory methods.
Emissions “Carbon” trading and international issues.
2. GHG Emission processes and GHG Measurements - Global warming & atmospheric
processes. Understanding the underlying processes that lead to GHG emissions. Methods for
measuring GHG emissions from global to laboratory scale.
3. GHG Modelling - Process-based and empirical modelling methods from laboratory to global
scale.
4. Soil carbon dynamics - Controls on the storage and turnover of soil organic carbon.
Sustaining and enhancing soil carbon. Integrating soil carbon models with GHG emissions.
5. GHG Mitigation - Technologies and management practices that reduce GHG emissions and
minimise the loss of valuable resources.
Please visit the website for Registration, accommodation and related information.
www.mc2conference.com
184