Significance to land use planning of soils of high value for food production

Abstract

The properties and productivity of Wingatui silt loam have been studied in relation to land planning. A very detailed soil survey of a sample area has indicated that it is the most extensive member of the Wingatui soil set, a reconnaissance mapping unit covering 8,900 acres in eastern Otago. Figures of production from Wingatui silt loam show that it is capable of high yields of a wide variety of crops including pasture, cereals, and vegetables; and food production figures from elsewhere in New Zealand and from other countries show it to be of high productivity by national and international standards also. It is concluded that Wingatui silt loam should be retained and zoned where possible for rural land use, and studies of this kind should precede important decisions on the zoning for land use of highly productive soils.