Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

SW84

Australian Soil Classification: Episodic-Endocalcarous, Massive, Grey VERTOSOLGeneral Landscape Description: Gently undulating plain
Site Description: FlatGeology: Basalt plain


Soil Profile Morphology:


Surface Soil


A10-10 cmVery dark grey (10YR3/1 moist); massive, hardsetting; clay loam; cracking at ground surface; pH 6.8; strong consistence (dry):
South West Gasp Pipeline GP84 Profile
SW84 Profile
Subsoil
B21ss10-60 cmVery dark grey (10YR3/1 moist); medium clay; prominent slickensides; pH 8.3; strong consistence (dry):
B2260-80 cm Dark grey (10YR4/1 moist); medium clay; slightly calcareous; strong consistence (dry); pH 9.1; clear change to:
B23k80-100 cmClay loam; soft carbonate; pH 9.5; abrupt change to:
B24ssgLight brownish grey (2.5Y6/2 moist); common (>15%), faint, brownish yellow (10YR6/6 moist) mottles; light clay; thick lenticular structure; moderately calcareous in patches; strong consistence (dry); pH 9.2.

Key Profile Features:
  • High (>35%) clay content through soil profile.
  • Vertic features (slickensides and lenticular peds) in subsoil.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Sodicity
Dispersion
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Slightly Acid
Low
Sodic
None1
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Moderately Alkaline
Low - Medium
Strongly Sodic
None1
Deeper subsoil
(at cm)
Very Strongly Alkaline
Very High
Strongly Sodic
None
1 complete dispersion after remoulding
2 due to high level of soluble salts

South West Gasp Pipeline GP84 Graphs

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
1:5
NaCl
%
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-10
6.8
5.8
0.18
5.7
14
0.85
2.8
B21
10-60
8.3
7.4
0.5
0.07
7.2
20
1.2
6.7
B22
60-80
9.1
8.5
1.1
0.16
6.3
21
1.1
10
B23
80-100
9.5
8.7
0.83
0.11
3.9
9.7
0.5
6
B24
100+
9.2
8.5
1
0.16

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
Ex Al
mg/kg
Ex Ac
meq/100g
Field
pF2.5
Wilting Point
pF4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2- 2.0 mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02- 0.2 mm)
Silt
(0.002- 0.02 mm)
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
A1
0-10
7.6
36.5
19.1
16.2
26
16.5
37
B21
10-60
54.9
28.3
7.1
18.7
18.5
53
B22
60-80
53.9
32.7
7.3
19.7
17.5
54
B23
80-100
32.7
16.2
6.8
9.6
8.5
33
B24
100+


Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizons

  • The surface soil is sodic and disperses completely after remoulding. Care should be taken to avoid disturbing the surface horizon (i.e. trafficking, tillage, over-stocking) when the soil is in a moist condition. Also, raindrop impact on bare soil will exacerbate the hardsetting nature of the soil and will result in surface sealing and/or crust development.
  • Tillage of cracking clay soils should be avoided if the soil is wet (i.e. wetter than the plastic limit). At such moisture conditions, excessive tillage, trafficking or over stocking could result in structural damage (i.e. compaction, smearing) occurring. Ideally tillage and trafficking should take place when the soil is drier than the plastic limit.
  • When the soil is dry, heavy rains will move from soil cracks. This rapid recharge can be valuable for the survival of plants near wilting. When wet, the soil will swell and further infiltration of water will be relatively slow.
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The subsoil has a high level of soluble salts, which will restrict the growth of salt-sensitive species.
  • Notes
Situated in an area of lower drainage or plateau. Very vertic soil, cracking to surface and pugging. Collapsed trench but profile too dry and cracked to pick back effectively


Page top