BD5

Red volcanic soils		Site Code	BD5	Melanic, Eutrophic, Red Ferrosol
		Location	Dunnstown
		Landform	Gently undulating rises
		Geology	Quaternary basalt
		Element	Hillcrest
		Slope	3-6%
Horizon	Depth (cm)	Description
A1	0–45	Dark reddish brown (5YR2.5/2); loam; strong structure; friable; pH 6.0; diffuse boundary to:
B2	45–90+	Dark reddish brown (5YR3/3); clay loam; strong structure; friable; pH 7.0.
Management considerations
This soil is suitable for growing almost any temperate crop, given adequate water, but in the district is used for growing cereals, oil seeds, peas, potatoes, fodder crops, pastures and lucerne. Several successive crops can be grown with little deterioration in soil structure or fertility, but eventually a period under pasture is necessary to restore structure. The good physical structure makes this soil ideal for irrigation and the good drainage results in excellent winter growth of crops and pastures. However, this soil does dry out rather more quickly than grey soils and, as a result, spring growth finishes a little earlier than on grey soils. Because of this, some perennial pasture species (especially white clover and perennial ryegrass) may not persist well without irrigation. Subterranean clover and lucerne grow excellently on this soil.

Page top