soil map units where 54A Nika is dominant
Soil properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Viti Levu, Vanua Levu |
| Landscape position | Secondary floodplains and depressions in the lowlands and foothills |
| Soil parent material | river alluvium from basic and intermediate rocks |
| Slope | Flat to gently undulating (0-3°). Surface hummocks (gilgai). |
| Surface outcrops | No surface rock outcrops. No surface stones. |
| Brief soil profile description | - |
| Soil profile texture | 0-80cm clay loam. 80-125cm fine sandy clay loam. |
| Minimum effective rooting depth | <80cm. Waterlogging at depth in wet season. Smectitic clays inhibit rooting. |
| Soil pH (acidity) | 0-20cm slightly acid. 20-80cm near neutral. 80-125cm slightly alkaline. |
| Salinity | Non saline. |
| Soil fertility under natural conditions | Low potassium (K) throughout. Very low organic carbon (C) below 20cm. |
| Soil moisture regime | ustic |
| Susceptibility to drought | In normal years soil moisture deficits of 100 days are experienced sometime in the months May to October. |
| Soil drainage | Poorly drained. |
| Susceptibility to waterlogging | In normal years waterlogging can occur for up to 60 days sometime in the period November to April. |
| Susceptibility to flooding | 3-4 flood events each year (water only) occur within the period November to April. |
