SW5

		Site Code	SW5	Mottled-Sodic, Eutrophic, Brown DERMOSOL/ ferric kaolinitic clay
		Location	Moreys Road, Ayrford, Timboon District, south-west Victoria
		Landform	Plain
		Geology	Neogene Hanson Plain Sand
		Element	Flat
		Slope	0
		Aspect	-
Horizon	Depth (cm)	Description
A11	0-15	Brown (10YR4/3); very fine sandy clay loam; weak to moderate medium blocky structure; weak consistence (moist); few (2–5%) ferromanganiferous nodules (2–4mm); pH 5.9; abrupt boundary to:
B21	15-25	Yellowish red (5YR5/6); light clay (subplastic); moderate medium blocky structure; weak consistence (moist); few (2-5%) ferromanganiferous nodules (2–10mm); pH 6.0; clear boundary to:
B22	25-50	Yellowish brown (10YR5/6) with strong brown (7.5YR5/6) mottles; light clay (subplastic); moderate medium blocky structure; weak consistence (moderately moist); few (5%) ferromanganiferous concretions (2–10mm); pH 6.0; clear boundary to:
B23	50-75	Yellowish brown (10YR5/6) with strong brown (7.5YR5/6) mottles; light medium clay (subplastic); strong coarse polyhedral parting to fine polyhedral structure; pH 6.8; boundary to:
B24	75-95	Yellowish brown (10YR5/6); light clay (subplastic); strong medium–coarse polyhedral parting to strong fine polyhedral structure; very firm consistence (moderately moist); common (20%) ferruginous concretions (2– 8cm); pH 5.9; boundary to:
B3	95+	Light grey (2.5Y7/0) with brownish yellow (10YR6/6) mottles; light clay (subplastic); strong consistence (dry); many (50%) ferruginous concretions (2–10cm); pH 5.6.


Management considerations
A lack of strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizon and subsoil (B21) horizon is a key feature of gradational soil types as the clay increases gradually down the profile to the extent that the deep subsoil formed from deeply weathered Neogene sediments exhibits a very high clay content. The surface soil is moderately acid, as is the upper subsoil whereas the deeper subsoil (from 50 cm depth) becomes slightly to moderately acid. The salinity rating is very low throughout most of the profile and becomes low in the deeper subsoil. Plant available water capacity (PAWC) is considered to be moderate (estimated at 120 mm) for the top metre of the soil profile. The surface soil has a high organic matter content ( %OC) which is important to promote aggregation of soils such as these with high fine sand and silt contents. The nutrient status of the surface soil is moderate (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations). The subplastic properties of the subsoil may lead to problems with sealing of earth dams. Sealing can be improved by compaction at the optimum water content and treatment with sodium tri-polyphosphate or addition of bentonite (Rolfe 1989).

Analytical data

Site SW5	Sample depth	pH		EC	NaCl	Ex Ca	Ex Mg	Ex K	Ex Na	Ex Al	Ex acidity	FC (-10kPa)	PWP (-150kPa)	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	%	%	%	%	%	%
A11	0-15	5.9	5.4	0.19	N/R	9.4	1.7	0.64	0.70	N/R	N/R	N/R	19.0	9.1	37.0	11.5	29.0
B21	15-25	6.0	5.7	0.22	N/R	5.4	1.3	0.33	0.47	N/R	N/R	N/R	17.0	7.6	36.0	13.0	41.0
B22	25-30	6	5.8	0.17	N/R	4.1	3.4	0.21	0.65	N/R	N/R	N/R	19.4	8.0	30.7	9.0	52.0
B23	50-75	6.8	6.3	0.16	N/R	3.1	6.0	0.20	0.87	N/R	N/R	N/R	27.5	4.8	16.5	6.0	74.0
B24	75-95	5.9	5.4	0.61	<0.05	3.5	5.2	0.15	0.84	N/R	N/R	N/R	26.0	9.2	17.4	5.0	71.5
B3	95+	5.6	4.9	0.32	<0.05	4.3	4.1	0.14	0.94	N/R	N/R	N/R	23.0	16.6	19.1	4.0	62.0

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