soils rotorua 2024
"Weaving soil science across cultures & environments"
a joint nzsss & ssa conference
2 - 5 December 2024
Rotorua Energy Events Centre, New Zealand
FIELD TRIPS
The field trips are a highlight of the Conference and are scheduled for Tuesday 3rd December. You can book a field trip when you register online.
Volcanic vigour - Mount Tarawera
the 1886 eruption and its impact on soils and land management
Penny MacCormick, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Janine Krippner, GNS Science
Date: Tuesday 3 December 2024
Mt Tarawera is a series of rhyolite domes 24 km southeast of Rotorua. On June 10, 1886, a 17 km long fissure broke out along the mountain’s length, erupting scoreacious basalt. Our fieldtrip will take you to explore the fascinating history of the eruption, including a 4WD trip to the mountain top with local iwi, and discussion of the impact of the eruption on the people, soils, and agriculture of the region.
Funtastic forests
Kaingaroa (the largest plantation forest in the Southern Hemisphere)
on Pumice Soils derived from the 232 AD Taupo eruption
Megan Balks, University of Waikato, John Moore, Loretta Garrett, SCION.
Date: Tuesday 3 December 2024
There have been at least 28 recognised volcanic eruptions from Lake Taupo over the last 26 000 years with >500 km3 of magmatic material blasted up into the atmosphere, and spread over the surrounding countryside, some landing as far away as Antarctica. Lake Taupo formed in the resulting caldera (collapse feature). The 232 +/- 10 AD Taupo eruption plastered about 105 km3 of pyroclastic material across the central North Island forming the parent material for much of our Pumice Soils. Our fieldtrip will take you deep into the Kaingaroa forest – the largest plantation forest in the Southern Hemisphere. The interwoven history of the eruption, the resulting soils, and the forest will be discussed along with issues of forest soil management.
Pastoral care of Rotorua
Rotorua Caldera catchment and N management for lake water quality
Natalie Bartlett, AgResearch, Rosemary Cross, Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Date: Tuesday 3 December 2024
The Rotorua Lakes district has 11 major lakes with a total area of about 250 km2, most formed as crater or caldera features following volcanic eruptions. Many of the lakes have unique active geothermal features. The lakes are taonga, valued for their incredibly clear waters, beauty and wildlife and are an important resource for fishing and recreation. Following a decline in the water quality of Lake Rotorua there has been a huge effort to manage the nutrients entering the lakes, starting about 40 years ago with establishment of the Whakarewarewa effluent irrigation scheme. Our fieldtrip will take you to see some of the soil and land management innovations and challenges of farming in a catchment where strong rules are being implemented to prevent N and P from reaching the lakes.