Pathogen Pathways – Soil Risk Index
6. Conclusions
This report models and spatially predicts the risks associated with transport of microbes from farm animals to waterways for the North and South Island of New Zealand. The spatial depictions are useable to a maximum scale of 1:50 000. Risks associated with:
- surface runoff
- bypass flow through the soil
- transport through the vadose zone
are considered and combined to produce maps showing:
- relative risk of microbial transport to surface water
- relative risk of microbial transport to ground water.
Maps of optimal riparian buffer strip width based on the final Best Management Practices Report of the PTRRP (Collins et al. 2005) are also presented.
In the central North Island and Taranaki regions, soils and vadose zone material derived from tephra have physical properties which minimise the transmission of microbes to water bodies.
Soils with well-developed soil structure and soils with a drainage impediment both relatively poorly attenuate transmission of microbes through soil. Skeletal alluvial soils on gravelly vadose zone material relatively poorly attenuate transmission of microbes to ground water.
Microbial transport through the vadose zone is poorly understood.
Contact for Enquiries
Phil Journeaux
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 7 957 8313
Fax: +64 7 957 8315
Contact this person
