Patterns and classification by soil taxonomy of the soils of the southern cook islands

Abstract

The soil patterns of the six larger islands of the Southern Cook Group in the South Pacific are described. Classification is according to Soil Taxonomy, and six soil orders are recognised: Oxisols, Ultisols, Mollisols, Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols, which are further subdivided into 12 suborders, 15 great groups, and 25 subgroups. Classification to series level is outlined in tabular form. The soil pattern on individual islands is basically one of concentricity. The older, more weathered soils (Oxisols and Ultisols) occur on remnant surfaces and grade with either decreasing altitude or age of land surface to Alfisols, Mollisols, Inceptisols, and Entisols, respectively. Many of the soils associated with the coralline makateas have shallow contacts to the underlying limestone and have been separated in lithic subgroups.