BD11

Gentle plains near Scotsburn		Site Code	BD11	Melanic, Subnatric, Red Sodosol
		Location	Scotsburn
		Landform	Gently undulating plains
		Geology	Neogene gravels overlaying Ordovician sediments
		Element	Hillcrest
		Slope	2–4%
Horizon	Depth (cm)	Description
A1	0–20	Dark reddish brown (5YR2.5/2); sandy loam; moderate structure; friable; pH 6.0; gradual boundary to:
A2	20–62	Dark reddish brown (5YR3/2); sandy loam; apedal massive structure; many white gravels; pH 5.5; sharp boundary to:
B2	62–100+	Strong brown (7.5YR4/6) with few red mottles; medium clay; weak structure; pH 8.5.
Management considerations
This soil has been considered rather poor for agricultural purposes mainly due to its poor physical structure and low fertility. Most of the area is still under forest or planted to pines. Cereals generally do not grow particularly well because of the poor soil structure and low fertility. However, by improving the fertility with several years under pasture, it is possible to grow reasonably good cereal crops in the drier areas or in the dry years in the wetter areas. When there is enough summer rainfall, or irrigation, summer fodder crops such as rape, turnips, and in the more fertile paddocks, chou moellier, grow well in this soil. Where there is a good depth of topsoil, potatoes also yield quite well, but they must be harvested early to avoid autumn or winter waterlogging. This soil is best suited to growing pastures, and with present technical knowledge, it is possible to grow very good pastures. This grey or brown Ordovician soil is not suitable for growing lucerne. In the wetter areas, the subsoil becomes too wet in the winter for lucerne, and in the drier areas lucerne cannot develop a deep enough root system due to the nature of the subsoil.

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