identified in areas near Bannockburn where material washed
from gold sluicing was deposited. The German soil series
has been mapped as a ‘Recent Soil’. However, it could
potentially be described as a Stony-tailings Fill Anthropic
Soil. Classifying a soil as an Anthropic Soil, rather than as a
Recent or Raw Soil, requires some understanding of the site
history and mode of emplacement or removal of soil
materials.
3.5 Correlation with Other Classification
Systems
There is only limited recognition of Anthropic Soils in other
soil classification systems (Table 3.1). Thus the New Zealand Soil Classification is perhaps unique in recognising such
soils at the highest (order) level. Given the ever increasing
impacts of human activities on the environment, the recognition and study of Anthropic Soils is likely to gain in
importance in future.
3.6 Key Soil Data
Soil data on Anthropic Soils are limited and highly variable,
depending on the origin of the soil or the manner of the
original soil’s modification. Thus it is not practical to give
any indicative soil data.
3.7 Use and Management of Anthropic Soils
3.7.1 Introduction
Well-designed, constructed, Anthropic Soils can be successfully used for a wide range of purposes. However, some of the
co-incidental Anthropic Soils have little potential for productive use without some remediation effort. For example,
Anthropic Soils at abandoned nineteenth-century gold sluicing sites in Otago comprise piles of gravel and, over a century
later, little soil development or plant colonisation has occurred.
However, over time Anthropic Soils, like all others, continue
to be subject to the pedogenic and geomorphic processes
normally expected in the environment and will gradually
undergo soil development and ecological succession.
The soil properties of Mixed Anthropic Soils may be
highly variable thus little general information on land use
can be provided. Management will need to be tailored to the
particular soil and site conditions and proposed activities.
In Truncated Anthropic Soils, where most of the
pre-existing soil profile has been removed, use of the
remaining soil may be problematic because of such factors
as high soil bulk density, poor drainage, lack of soil organic
matter, potentially limited water-holding capacity, and low
soil fertility. However, there is potential to restore such soils.
A range of improvements may be required, such as addition
of topsoil or organic matter, installation of drainage,
Table 3.1 Correlation between
Anthropic Soils and Soil
Taxonomy, World Reference
Base, and the New Zealand
genetic soil classification
a
New Zealand Soil
Classification
Soil Taxonomy
World Reference
Base
NZ genetic soil
classification
Truncated Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Anthrosols
Not recognised
Refuse Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Technosols
Not recognised
Mixed Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Anthrosols
Not recognised
Fill Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Anthrosols
Not recognised
a The correlations given here are a guide only and for accurate classifications the relevant soil classification
documents should be consulted. The two major international soil classification systems are Soil Taxonomy,
which was developed in the USA, and World Reference Base, which was developed primarily in Europe.
The NZ genetic soil classification was used in New Zealand prior to 1992
b
In Soil Taxonomy, Anthropic Soils are recognised at lower levels in the classification, either (1) as diagnostic
horizons such as anthropic (see below) and plaggen epipedons; or through (2) the human-altered and
human-transported material class at family level, including for example, artifactic; or (3) as subgroups, such
as Anthraquic, Anthropic, or Anthroportic. For example, in the Keys to Soil Taxonomy 2014, the ‘anthropic
epipedon consists of mineral soil material that shows evidence of the purposeful alteration of soil properties
or of earth-surface features by human activity. The field evidence of alteration is significant and excludes
agricultural practices such as shallow ploughing or addition of amendments, such as lime or fertiliser’
52
3 Anthropic Soils
from gold sluicing was deposited. The German soil series
has been mapped as a ‘Recent Soil’. However, it could
potentially be described as a Stony-tailings Fill Anthropic
Soil. Classifying a soil as an Anthropic Soil, rather than as a
Recent or Raw Soil, requires some understanding of the site
history and mode of emplacement or removal of soil
materials.
3.5 Correlation with Other Classification
Systems
There is only limited recognition of Anthropic Soils in other
soil classification systems (Table 3.1). Thus the New Zealand Soil Classification is perhaps unique in recognising such
soils at the highest (order) level. Given the ever increasing
impacts of human activities on the environment, the recognition and study of Anthropic Soils is likely to gain in
importance in future.
3.6 Key Soil Data
Soil data on Anthropic Soils are limited and highly variable,
depending on the origin of the soil or the manner of the
original soil’s modification. Thus it is not practical to give
any indicative soil data.
3.7 Use and Management of Anthropic Soils
3.7.1 Introduction
Well-designed, constructed, Anthropic Soils can be successfully used for a wide range of purposes. However, some of the
co-incidental Anthropic Soils have little potential for productive use without some remediation effort. For example,
Anthropic Soils at abandoned nineteenth-century gold sluicing sites in Otago comprise piles of gravel and, over a century
later, little soil development or plant colonisation has occurred.
However, over time Anthropic Soils, like all others, continue
to be subject to the pedogenic and geomorphic processes
normally expected in the environment and will gradually
undergo soil development and ecological succession.
The soil properties of Mixed Anthropic Soils may be
highly variable thus little general information on land use
can be provided. Management will need to be tailored to the
particular soil and site conditions and proposed activities.
In Truncated Anthropic Soils, where most of the
pre-existing soil profile has been removed, use of the
remaining soil may be problematic because of such factors
as high soil bulk density, poor drainage, lack of soil organic
matter, potentially limited water-holding capacity, and low
soil fertility. However, there is potential to restore such soils.
A range of improvements may be required, such as addition
of topsoil or organic matter, installation of drainage,
Table 3.1 Correlation between
Anthropic Soils and Soil
Taxonomy, World Reference
Base, and the New Zealand
genetic soil classification
a
New Zealand Soil
Classification
Soil Taxonomy
World Reference
Base
NZ genetic soil
classification
Truncated Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Anthrosols
Not recognised
Refuse Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Technosols
Not recognised
Mixed Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Anthrosols
Not recognised
Fill Anthropic Soils
See note
below
b
Anthrosols
Not recognised
a The correlations given here are a guide only and for accurate classifications the relevant soil classification
documents should be consulted. The two major international soil classification systems are Soil Taxonomy,
which was developed in the USA, and World Reference Base, which was developed primarily in Europe.
The NZ genetic soil classification was used in New Zealand prior to 1992
b
In Soil Taxonomy, Anthropic Soils are recognised at lower levels in the classification, either (1) as diagnostic
horizons such as anthropic (see below) and plaggen epipedons; or through (2) the human-altered and
human-transported material class at family level, including for example, artifactic; or (3) as subgroups, such
as Anthraquic, Anthropic, or Anthroportic. For example, in the Keys to Soil Taxonomy 2014, the ‘anthropic
epipedon consists of mineral soil material that shows evidence of the purposeful alteration of soil properties
or of earth-surface features by human activity. The field evidence of alteration is significant and excludes
agricultural practices such as shallow ploughing or addition of amendments, such as lime or fertiliser’
52
3 Anthropic Soils