CLRA13

Hills around Deans Marsh		Site Code	CLRA13	Melacic-parapanic, Humosesquic, Semi-aquic Podosol
		Location	Deans Marsh (Cemetery Road), Otway Ranges, south-west Victoria
		Landform	Hills
		Geology	Paleogene Eastern View Formation: fluvial gravel, sand, clay, brown coal
		Element	Upper slope
		Slope	20%
		Aspect	East-north-east
Horizon	Depth (cm)	Description
Ah	0–25/60	Black (10YR2/1), grey (10YR5/1 dry); loamy sand; apedal single grain structure; very weak consistence (moist); pH 5.0; clear irregular boundary to:
A2	25/60–30/130	Grey (10YR6/1), light grey (10YR7/1dry); loamy sand; apedal single grain structure; very weak consistence (moist); pH 5.5; abrupt broken boundary to:
B21s	40/55–85	Yellowish brown and dark yellowish brown (10YR5/8, 10YR4/6); loamy sand; apedal single grain structure; very weak consistence (moist); pH 6.0; abrupt broken boundary to:
B22s	85/130–+	Very dark brown (10YR2/2); apedal massive structure; very strong consistence; weakly cemented ortstein; pH 6.0.
Management considerations
This sandy soil is also acidic meaning that the nutrient holding and waterholding capacity of the soil would be considered low. However the organic matter levels in the surface (6.5% OM) provides increased capacity for nutrient and water storage. The low pH means that nutrient availability is low and that aluminium and iron become more available/prevalent. The high clay content by laboratory determination of the surface soil is not consistent with the field texture and may indicate sample contamination. The light textures of this soil do not allow for the measurement of fine particle (silt and clay) stability (Emerson test). Where exposed this material is easily moved (little cohesion). For management the depth of free draining material is important as is the variability of topsoil/soil depth. This soil varies in surface soil depth and is restricted at 85cm by a “coffee rock” horizon, restricting some downward drainage, promoting some lateral flow.

Analytical data

Site CLRA13	Sample depth	pH		EC	NaCl	Ex Ca	Ex Mg	Ex K	Ex Na	Ex Al	Ex Acidity	FC –10kPa	PWP –1500kPa	KS	FS	Z	C
Horizon	cm	H₂O	CaCl₂	dS/m	%	cmol_c/kg	cmol_c/kg	cmol_c/kg	cmol_c/kg	mg/kg	cmol_c/kg	%	%	%	%	%	%
Ah	0–15	4.6	3.9	0.06	N/R	1.9	0.45	0.2	0.11	53	11	18.3	4.2	2.6	36.2	18	37.5
A2	60–80	4.5	3.9	<0.05	N/R	0.12	0.05	0.05	<0.05	21	1.4	13	0.6	23.2	62.5	11.5	3
B21s	60–80	5.5	4.9	<0.05	N/R	0.58	0.15	0.11	0.09	46	9.7	14	3.0	24	56.6	4	11
B22s	80–120	5.4	4.7	<0.05	N/R	0.5	0.26	0.13	0.1	94	13	20.6	4.6	21.5	52.8	7.5	13

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