Soil Descriptions

Soil Descriptions

Descriptions of soil map units arranged physiographically (i.e. according to where it occurs in the landscape)

Ash and coral colluvium-mantled terrace scarps of raised coral islands. #

• MuS Matakiniua steepland soils

Ash covering tuffs and limestone on the highest surface of ‘Eua. #

• Ku1 Kalau soils
• Ku2 Kalau soils, rolling phase
• Ku3 Kalau soils, strongly rolling phase

Ash-covered tuffs or limestone of the highest surface of ‘Eua. #

• HuH Houma hill soils

Ash-covered tuffs or limestone on the highest surface of ‘Eua. #

• Hu1 Houma soils
• Hu2 Houma soils, rolling phase
• Hu3 Houma soils, strongly rolling phase

Ash-mantled coral terrace scarps. #

• PuH Pangaimotu hill soils

Ash-mantled coral terrace. #

• Hg1 Hunga soils
• Hg3 Hunga soils, shallow variant

Ash-mantled coral terraces. #

• Pu1 Pangaimotu soils
• Pu2 Pangaimotu soils, rolling phase
• Pur Pangaimotu soils, red subsoil variant

Ash-mantled raised coral limestone terraces and scarps. #

• TeH Tu’anekevale hill soils

Ash-mantled raised coral limestone terraces. #

• Te1 Tu’anekevale soils
• Te2 Tu’anekevale soils, rolling phase

Ash-mantled raised coral terrace. #

• Fu Fulivai soils

Ash-mantled rims of raised coral limestone. #

• Ma1 Matamaka soils
• Ma2 Matamaka soils, rolling phase

Ash-mantled rolling slopes on coral terrace. #

• Hg2 Hunga soils, rolling phase

Basaltic andesite lava on central ridge and upper terrace. #

• Fg Fungamafa soils
• FgS Fungamafa soils

Basaltic ash merging with lava flows on the east and southeast side of the island. #

• Tm Tongamama soils
• Tms Tongamama soils, shallow phase

Beach ridge. #

• Na Nuku’alofa soils
• Na1 Nuku’alofa soils, sandy loam phase
• Na2 Nuku’alofa soils, sandy loam phase

Calcareous marl and limestone on raised terraces and hilly land at both ends of Mango Island. #

• HpH Halapua soils

Calcareous tuffs on mid slopes of the hill area on Mango Island. #

• Lh Lahe soils

Coastal and lagoonal swamps. #

• So2 Sopu soils, peaty sandy loam

Coastal beach ridges #

• U Uolevu soils

Colluvium (from ridge and upper terrace) occupying a belt concentric to Vaipoa and Tu’avao soils. #

• Hi Hihifo soils

Easy rolling plateau on western side of Vava’u. #

• Lu Longomapu soils

Easy rolling surfaces of ash-covered coral limestone terraces. #

• Ha1 Ha'atua soils
• Ha2 Ha'atua soils, moderately sloping phase

Foot slopes, valley floors and depression on reworked ash mantling raised coral terraces. #

• Nu Neiafu soils

Form on alluvial materials in south and southwest of island. #

• Tv Tu’avao soils

Form on coral sand overlying limestone concentric to Hihifo soils extending to the coast. #

• Fl Falehau soils
• Fls Falehau soils

From vitric ash on slopes of caldera rim occupying north and west half of the island. #

• St Sapa’ata soils
• Sts Sapa’ata soils, shallow phase

Low lying coastal and lagoonal swamps. #

• So1 Sopu soils

Low-lying coastal areas. #

• Ft Fatai soils

Low-lying ground, often old raised lagoon areas. #

• Oa Okoa soils (Oa)

Occur behind the coastal beach deposits. #

• U1 Uolevu soils, sandy loam

Occur on exposed coral limestone platforms along east coast of larger atolls. #

• M Maka soils

Old coral limestone and admixed ash around coral pinnacles of central Nomuka Island. #

• KmH Kotomaka hill soils

Older ash on raised coral limestone terrace. #

• Hi1 Ha'apai soils
• Hi2 Ha'apai soils, rolling phase

Organic rich sediments in swamps and depressions. #

• An Ano soils

Rewashed ash in closed sinkhole depressions and hollows on Nomuka Island. #

• Av Ava soils

Rolling surfaces of ash-covered coral limestone terraces. #

• Ho1 Hango soils
• Ho2 Hango soils, moderately sloping phase

Sand plains behind coastal beach ridges. #

• No Nga’unoho soils
• Noc Nga’unoho soils, sandy clay loam phase

Slopes of terraces, scarps of hilly land. #

• FaH Faitoka hill soils

Sloping surfaces of ash and colluvium covered coral terraces. #

• Fa1 Faitoka soils
• Fa2 Faitoka soils

Steeply sloping terrace scarps and valleys within dissected terraces. #

• LkS Liku steepland soils

Surfaces of the central depression and minor terraces therein. Thin ash on volcanic alluvium on coral limestone. #

• Ki Kenani soils

Uplifted and ash- mantled coral surface. #

• La1 Lapaha soils
• La1R Lapaha soils, rolling phase
• La2 Lapaha soils, low-lying phase

Uplifted and ash-mantled coral surface. #

• Fh Fahefa soils
• FhR Fahefa soils

Uplifted ash-mantled coral surface. #

• Va1 Vaini soils
• Va1R Vaini soils, rolling phase
• Va2 Vaini soils, shallow phase
• Va2R Vaini soils, shallow rolling phase
• Va3 Vaini soils, low-lying phase

Varying mix of volcanics and coral sand form on lower terrace on colluvium from top ridge and upper terrace. #

• Vp Vaipoa soils (Vp)

Weakly weathered basaltic lavas developed on northwestern, northeastern and southern ledges on inside of caldera. #

• Vm1 Vaimo’unga soils
• Vm2 Vaimo’unga soils
• Vm3 Vaimo’unga soils

Weathered ash overlying organic sediments around edges of the swamp on Foa islands. #

• Lf Lotofoa soils

Young ash and andesitic tuffs on slopes around the base of the hill area on Mango Island. #

• Mg Mango soils

Young ash and wind-blown sand inland of coastal margins. #

• K Koulu soils

Young ash around coastal fringe in centre of Foa and Ha'ano islands. #

• Fo1 Foa soils
• Fo2 Foa soils, gently sloping phase
• Fo3 Foa soils, mottled phase

Young ash in broad depressions in interiors of Uiha and Lifuka islands. #

• Fm Felemea soils

Young ash on hill slopes in the centre of Tungua Island. #

• T Tungua soils

Young ash on raised terrace in centre of Ha'afeva Island. #

• Hf Ha'afeva soils

Young ash on slopes in the centre of Nomuka Island. #

• N1 Nomuka soils
• N2 Nomuka soils, rolling phase

Young ash on the interior of Lifuka Island. #

• L1 Lifuka soils
• L2 Lifuka soils, gently rolling phase

Young ash over older ash or limestone on Uiha Island. #

• Uh Uiha soils

Young ash overlying coral sand on the coastal fringe. #

• F Faleloa soils

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