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Story: Kūmara

Plaggen soils

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Plaggen soils

This modified soil is known as a plaggen soil. Māori gardeners sometimes added gravel and sand to create a light soil and improve drainage for growing kūmara. Borrow pits, where sand or gravel has been taken, are often found nearby.

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by Bruce McFadgen

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How to cite this page

Peter Adds, Kūmara – Growing kūmara, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/17360/plaggen-soils (accessed 13 June 2026).

Story by Peter Adds, published 1 March 2009.