MM219

Site code	MM219
Location	Woodbourne (Coopers Road), Shelford district, south-west Victoria
Landform	Undulating low hills
Geology	Ordovician Castlemaine Supergroup: marine sandstone, siltstone, shale, chert; Lancefieldian
Element	Mid slopes

Profile morphology

Horizon	Depth (cm)	Description
A1	0–30	Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); sandy loam; apedal massive structure; very weak consistence (dry); sharp boundary to:
A2	30–50	Brown (10YR5/3), light grey (10YR7/2 dry) conspicuously bleached; loamy sand; very weak consistence (dry); common fine to coarse segregations; sharp boundary to:
B21	50–85	Yellowish brown (10YR5/6) with red (2.5YR4/6) mottles; heavy clay; strong coarse blocky structure; very firm consistence (dry); clear boundary to:
B22	85+	Brownish yellow (10YR6/6) with red (10Y3/6) mottles; medium clayey sand; weak coarse blocky structure; firm consistence (moderately moist).

ASC: Ferric, Bleached-mesonatric, Brown Sodosol

Analytical data Source: Government of Victoria, State Chemistry Laboratory.

Site MM219	Sample depth	pH		EC	NaCl	Ex Ca	Ex Mg	Ex K	Ex Na	Ex Al	Ex acidity
Horizon	cm	H₂O	CaCl₂	dS/m	%	cmol_c/kg	cmol_c/kg	cmol_c/kg	cmol_c/kg	mg/kg	cmol_c/kg
A1	0–30	5.4	N/R	0.03	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R
A2	30–50	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R
B21	50–85	7	N/R	0.17	0.02	1.1	10	0.17	3.1	N/R	7.8
B22	85+	7.1	N/R	0.21	0.03	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R

Site MM219	Sample depth	FC (-10kPa)	PWP (-1500kPa)	KS	FS	Z	C	Org C	Bulk density
Horizon	cm	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	t m^-3
A1	0–30	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R
A2	30–50	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R
B21	50–85	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R
B22	85+	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R	N/R

Management considerations
This soil exhibits a strong texture contrast between the sandy surface soil and the medium to heavy clay subsoil and will have a significant impact upon the deep soil permeability. The surface soil is light and sandy with high permeability and a conspicuously bleached A2 horizon whereas the subsoil is medium to heavy clay and acts as a barrier to water movement. Mottles at depth indicate periods of waterlogging. Acidic topsoils and sodic subsoils are other key features of this soil type.

Management options include the application of lime to reduce acidity by increasing the pH, and the application of gypsum to allow greater development of ped structure in the subsoil and reduce dispersion. Other options include reduced tillage, maintaining a vegetative cover, improving organic matter content and altering the subsoil through artificial drainage.

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