OTR426

Heathy vegetation south of Chapple Vale		Site Code	OTR426	Acidic, Lithosolic, Clastic Rudosol
		Location	Wangerrip
		Landform	Hills
		Geology	Palaeogene Wiridgil Gravel Member
		Element	Hillslope – mid slope
		Slope	2%
		Aspect	North
Horizon	Depth (cm)	Description
A11	0–1	Black (10YR2/1); sandy loam; weak subangular blocky structure; abundant quartz gravel; clear boundary to:
A12	1–30	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); sandy loam; weak subangular blocky structure; abundant quartz gravel; clear boundary to:
C	30+	Light grey (l0YR7/ 1); merging to white (10YR8/1); loamy coarse sand; apedal single grain structure; abundant quartz gravel and occasional stones.
Management considerations
The deep sandy soils (associated with the sand and gravel parent lithology) generally have poor plant water/nutrient holding capacity. The soils are particularly prone to wind, sheet and rill erosion. The upper soil horizons may be hydrophobic (in conjunction with organic coatings) when dried out, taking time to reabsorb moisture. These soils do however drain rapidly. Acid soil pH is often associated with sandy surfaces due the lack of base minerals and may or may not have organic matter (humose or peaty surfaces). This acidic nature restricts the uptake of certain nutrients as well as intolerance for some plant species (due in part to the increasing mobilisation of aluminium and manganese).

Analytical data

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