Soil resources of the Fiji Islands (1956-58)
New Zealand Soil Bureau supplied two soil scientists to undertake a national soil resource assessment of Fiji at 1:250,000 scale.
National Soil Survey Project, Fiji (1981–84)
Soil survey, with soil series characterisation and classification, and crop-specific interpretations. Soil Bureau, DSIR, provided a senior soil surveyor (through a 3-year secondment to New Zealand Foreign Affairs) to coordinate and correlate the national soil survey of Fiji (with Fijian counterpart, support soil surveyors, cartographers, and laboratory staff) at 1:50,000 scale.
Soil Surveys of Fiji Agricultural Research Stations (1980–88)
Soil Bureau, DSIR, provided a Team Leader/Soil Scientist and seven pedologists who conducted detailed soil surveys of nine Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) Agricultural Research Stations – Dobuilevu, Koronivia, Legalega, Naduruloulou, Nawaicoba, Seaqaqa, Sigatoka, Waidradra, Wainigata – plus soil surveys of Tutu Estate and Vunilagi Estate. Soil chemical analyses were carried out in both Fiji and New Zealand, with mineralogy and soil physics analyses required for soil classification undertaken at Soil Bureau Taita laboratories. Cartographic services were provided by DSIR Science Mapping Unit. The project involved production of soil maps at various scales including a wide range of map compilation data and conversion from imperial to metric data.
Fiji Soil and Crop Evaluation Project (SCEP) – Phase One (1983–87)
Fiji SCEP involved crop and soil-specific field trials to evaluate soil fertility, nutrient and agronomic requirements for nationally important cash and subsistence crops. A key objective was to develop predictive soil and crop management models for application on farmers’ fields.
The overall goal of the project was to contribute to self-sufficiency in food crops and an increase in export earnings for Fiji by documentation and demonstration of crop nutrient requirements on the soils suitable for sustainable cropping systems.
Fiji Soil and Crop Evaluation Project (SCEP) – Phase Two (1993–99)
Phase Two built on and continued the services provided in Fiji SCEP Phase 1 with the
following additional services:
- Assistance to the Research Division of MAFF (formerly MPI) with institutional strengthening and technology transfer mechanisms.
- Design and establishment of databases for field trial results, farmer practices and integration of these with other relevant databases.
- Design, procurement and installation of appropriate GIS system.
- Digitisation of resource data for GIS and establishment of user access procedures.
- Provision of seven training courses in soil chemistry, each of 2 months’ duration, to Fiji MAFF technicians at Soil Bureau, DSIR, Taita, and secondment of Soil Analyst to Koronivia Research Station laboratory for 3 years.
