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SFS2

SFS2 landscape

Farming systems trial (raised beds) at Gnarwarre
    Site Code
SFS2
SFS2 profile
Endocalcareous, Self-mulching, Black VERTOSOL

    Location
Gnarwarre, South Roxby (Southern Farming Systems trial site)
    Landform
Plain
    Geology
Quaternary volcanic, basalt.
    Element
low rise
    Slope
<1%
    Aspect
West
Horizon
Depth (cm)
Description
Ap
0–20Black (10YR2/1 moist, dry); light medium clay; strongly pedal; self-mulching; pH 6.0; clear boundary to:

B21g
20–50/70 Black (10YR2/1 moist, dry); abundant (>25%), coarse, dark greyish brown (2.5Y4/2 moist); (10%), fine to medium dark red(2.5YR 4/8 moist) and strong brown(7.5 YR5/8 moist) mottles; heavy clay; strongly pedal; angular blocky and lenticular parting to fine to coarse (5–50 mm) polyhedral peds; common, medium macropores; roots common; pH 7.4; clear boundary to:

B22gss
50/70 –90 Black (10YR2/1 moist, dry); many (50%), coarse, dark greyish brown (2.5Y4/2 moist) mottles, increasing with size and abundance with depth; heavy clay; prominent slickensides; common, medium macropores; roots common; pH 8.2; clear boundary to:

B23k
90+Abundant CaCO3, effervescence bubbles >2 mm; rounded dense basalt floaters; pH 9.5/10.

Management considerations
The self mulching properties and high chemical fertility of this soil make it very favourable for crop growth. The major limitation is waterlogging but this is being effectively managed in crops by the use of raised beds. This soil is extremely sticky when wet and prone to damage by hooves and by wheeled traffic. The self mulching behaviour lends a resilience to the soil which can readily recover from structural damage in the surface.

Analytical data
Site SFS2
Sample
depth
pH
EC
NaCl
Ex Ca
Ex Mg
Ex K
Ex Na
Ex Al
Ex acidity
FC
(-10kPa)
PWP
(-150kPa)
KS
FS
Z
C
Horizon
cm
H2O
CaCl2
dS/m
%
cmolc/kg
cmolc/kg
cmolc/kg
cmolc/kg
mg/kg
cmolc/kg
%
%
%
%
%
%
Ap
0-20
6.0
5.2
0.15
N/R
14.0
10.0
1.10
0.50
<10
11.0
40.6
22.9
11.1
26.5
13.0
38.5
B21g
30-45
7.4
6.4
0.12
N/R
14.0
13.0
0.93
0.85
N/R
N/R
42.6
22.5
11.4
27.6
12.5
45.5
B22gss
65-85
8.2
7.2
0.17
N/R
15.0
15.0
0.86
1.40
N/R
N/R
44.9
24.1
10.6
26.8
13.0
46.5
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