CLRA04

Location: Murradoc, St Leonards district, Bellarine Peninsula

Australian Soil Classification: Eutrophic, Mottled-Hypernatric, Brown SODOSOL


General Landscape Description: Flat plain.
Geology: Quaternary alluvium, colluvium, lagoon and swamp deposits: gravel, sand, silt


CLRA4 Landscape. Near level alluvial plains near St Leonards.

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0–15 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); fine sandy loam; weak medium sub-angular blocky structure; rough fabric; weak consistence dry; pH 5.5; wavy clear boundary to:				CLRA4 Profile.
A2	15–30 cm	Light brownish grey (10YR6/2), conspicuous bleach (10YR8/1 dry); heavy fine sandy loam; apedal massive structure; earthy fabric; very firm consistence dry; pH 6.0; smooth abrupt boundary to:
Subsoil
B21	30–80 cm	Brown (10YR5/3) with many medium distinct orange grey and red (10YR5/6, 10YR4/1, 2.5YR5/6) mottles; light medium clay; strong coarse columnar, parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; smooth fabric; common prominent clay skin and other cutans; very strong consistence dry; few (6–60 mm) ferruginous soft concretions; pH 7.0; wavy gradual boundary to:
B22	80–120 cm	Yellowish brown (2.5Y5/4); light medium clay; weak coarse columnar parting to medium and strong medium prismatic structure; smooth fabric; few distinct clay skin cutans; strong consistence dry; pH 8.5; wavy gradual boundary to:
B23/B3	120–145+ cm	Light yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with few large yellow faint mottles; medium clay; weak coarse columnar, parting to medium and strong medium prismatic structure; smooth fabric; very few faint clay skin cutans; strong consistence dry; pH 8.5.

Horizon	Sample Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	EC 1:5	NaCl %	Exchangeable Cations
						Ca	Mg	K	Na
						meq/100g
A1	0–15	5.2	4.6	0.12		2.7	1.2	0.57	0.51
A2	15–30	5.7	5.1	<0.05		0.58	0.31	0.1	0.16
B21	30–80	7.4	6.4	0.29	0.04	3.7	10	0.3	4.9
B22	80–120	8.1	7.1	0.41	0.06	2.3	8.1	0.3	5.1
B23/B3	120–145+	8.1	7.2	0.61	0.11	3.4	12	0.4	8

Horizon	Sample Depth (cm)	Exchangeable Aluminium mg/kg	Exchangeable Acidity cmolc/kg	Field Capacity 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	0–15	12	9.1	23.4	5.9	10.6	62.4	14	7
A2	15–30	<10	2	15.2	1.5	11.6	68.2	19	2.5
B21	30–80			37.3	17.2	7.4	46.4	8	34.5
B22	80–120			33.1	15.0	6.2	49.9	10	30.5
B23/B3	120–145+			43.3	27.8

• This soil has a strong texture contrast between the surface soil and the subsoil as well as sodic subsoils.
• It is important to maintain or improve the upper soil by increasing organic matter (particularly in the subsurface soil). The organic carbon content of the surface is 2% and the subsurface is 0.36%.
• Maintenance of a vegetative cover is important for soil stability particularly where the surface soil is light and susceptible to water and wind erosion.
• Root penetration of the subsoil may be difficult with the hardsetting nature of the soil, coarse structure and nutrient imbalance (alkalinity with high sodicity and some salinity).
• It would be advisable not to bring the very dispersive subsoil [Emerson class1] to the surface as it would promote surface sealing (hardsetting) as well as adverse nutrient affects.