The available-water capacities of some southern and central zonal soils of New Zealand

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Abstract
Determinations have been made of the available-water capacities of some zonal soils of southern and central New Zealand. The mean total available-water capacity of 11 yellow-grey earths, to a depth of 76 cm, is 105 mm. Most central yellow-brown earths are similar to the yellow-grey earths in capacity. Five central yellow-brown earths in upland areas have a mean capacity of 156 mm. Six southern yellow-brown earths on loess have a mean capacity of 139 mm. The differences in available-water capacity among groups of soils are due more to differences in field capacity (on a volume basis) than to the values of wilting point (on a volume basis), which vary little among soil groups. Large available-water capacities are associated with small dry bulk densities .in the Band C horizons. The effect of density is partly counteracted by high wilting points (on a weight basis) in the less dense subsoils. Several soils with wilting points abnormally high in relation to their clay contents appear to contain appreciable amounts of allophane.

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