Beloka (Symbol: Bk)

EG203 | EG105

Geology
Mainly colluvium and alluvium derived from Palaeozoic sediments.

Landform
Enclosed low hills comprising undulating rises.

Undulating rises typical of the Beloka map unit. The timbered steep hills in the background were formed by the Livingston fault.

Original vegetation
Montane riparian woodland.

Soils
All of the soils are on colluvium derived from the Palaeozoic sediments which are higher in the landscape. Over time, material has been eroded from these sediments and redeposited forming both alluvial and colluvial deposits. The surface soils are generally dark brown silty loams and clay loams which become redder and more clayey down the soil profile. Two sites have been described, one from a soil pit (EG 203), the other from a road exposure (EG 105). Soil analyses were carried out on soils from the soil pit.

Land use
All of the area is cleared and used for grazing.

Site EG203

Location: Beloka	Geo. Ref. 0580268E 5928999N
Australian soil classification: Acidic, Mesotrophic, Red DERMOSOL	A red gradational soil
General landscape description: Undulating low hills
Geology: Colluvium and alluvium derived from Palaeozoic sediments
Site description: Simple mid-slope, 3% slope to north
Land use: Grazing on annual pasture
Native vegetation: Montane riparian woodland
Mapping unit: Beloka

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil
A11	0 – 12 cm	Dark brown (7.5YR4/4); silty clay loam; moderate very fine (2 – 5 mm) granular structure, weak consistence, dry; clear change to:
A12	12 – 25 cm	Strong brown (7.5YR4/6); silty clay loam; moderate very fine (2 – 5 mm) granular structure, weak consistence dry; gradual change to:
Subsoil
B1	25 – 50 cm	Yellowish red (5YR5/6); silty light clay (sub-plastic); weak very fine (2 – 5 mm) granular structure, firm consistence dry; gradual change to:
B21	50 – 70 cm	Yellowish red (5YR5/8); silty light clay (sub-plastic); weak fine (5 – 10 mm) polyhedral structure, firm consistence dry; clear change to:
B22	70 – 110+ cm	Yellowish red (5YR54/6); silty light clay (subplastic); weak fine (5 – 10 mm) polyhedral structure, firm consistence dry; very few (< 2 %) medium (6 – 20 mm) quartz pebbles

Key profile features

• Lack of strong texture contrast between the surface (A) horizons and the subsoil (B21) horizon.
• The whole profile has very low amounts of soluble salts.

Soil profile characteristics

	pH	Salinity rating	Sodicity	Dispersion	Slaking
Surface soil (A1 horizon)	Moderately acid	Very low	Non sodic	None	Water stable
Subsoil (B1 horizon)	Strongly acid	Very low	Non sodic	None	Slakes partially
Deeper subsoil (70 -110 cm)	Strongly acid	Very low	Non sodic	None	Slakes considerably

Horizon	Depth cm	Field texture	pH water	pH CaCl2	EC dS/m	Coarse sand %	Fine sand %	Silt %	Clay %	Field cap. % w/w	Wilt. point % w/w	PAW* water % w/w
A11	0-12	ZCL	5.6	4.9	0.08	20	35	12	26	27.7	9.5	13.2
A12	12-25	ZCL	5.5	4.8	0.05	16	37	14	28	22.2	7.8	14.4
B1	25-50	ZLC	5.3	4.5	<0.05	11	22	14	49	29.3	17.0	12.3
B21	50-70	ZLC	5.4	4.6	<0.05	10	18	12	57	34.7	21.0	13.7
B22	70-110	ZLC	5.2	4.4	<0.05	10	18	13	59	34.7	21.4	13.3

* PAW is plant available water. This is the difference between the soil’s water content at field capacity and wilting point.

Depth	OrgC#	Total N	Free Fe2O3 % w/w	Exch. Al	Exchangeable cations meq/100 g							Ca:Mg	Na %
cm	%	%		ppm	Ca	Mg	K	Na	Total	H	CEC
0-12	3.6	0.25		<10	4.9	0.95	0.62	0.06	6.5	8.3	14.8	5.2	<1
12-25	1.1	0.08		15	3.1	1	0.4	0.06	4.6	6.3	10.9	3.1	1
25-50	0.8			75	3.4	2.6	0.76	0.08	6.8	11.0	17.8	1.3	1
50-70	0.62			39	3.4	3.2	0.9	0.08	7.5	12.0	19.5	1.1	1
70-110	0.47			170	1.9	2.4	0.74	0.1	5.2	14.0	19.2	0.8	1

# Organic carbon

Management considerations

Whole profile

• Plant available water is considered to be moderate for this profile, assuming an effective rooting depth of 90 cm, although most were within 30 cm of the surface in the soil pit.

Surface (A) horizons

• The pH is moderately acidic and a response to lime would be expected. Before lime is applied further tests, e.g. laboratory tests and lime test strips, are recommended to determine a likely cost/benefit. In strongly acid soils deficiencies in molybdenum and phosphorus may occur.
• The level of organic matter in the soils is very high. This results in high structural condition and high structural stability.
• The surface soils have a low nutrient holding capacity. Maintenance of the present high levels of organic matter is important in retaining water and nutrient holding capacity.

Subsoil (B) horizons

• The strong red and brown colours in the subsoil indicate the soils have good internal drainage.
• No impeding layers for root growth or water movement are present.
• The subsoil is strongly acid and has high levels of exchangeable aluminium at depth. This will restrict the growth of deeper-rooted aluminium sensitive species.

Site EG105

Location: Beloka	Geo. Ref. 0580139E 5929418N
Australian soil classification: Red DERMOSOL	A red gradational soil
General landscape description:Undulating low hills
Geology: Colluvium and alluvium derived from Palaeozoic sediments
Site description: Mid to upper slope
Land use: Grazing on annual pasture
Native vegetation: Montane riparian woodland
Mapping unit: Beloka

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil
A11	0 – 5 cm	Dark brown (7.5YR3/2); silty loam; weak polyhedral structure; gradual change to:
A12	5 – 25 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); fine sandy clay loam; weak polyhedral structure; clear change to:
Subsoil
B1	25 – 45 cm	Strong brown (7.5YR4/6); silty clay; moderate prismatic structure; gradual change to:
B2	45 – 75 cm+	Yellowish red (5YR4/6); silty light to medium clay; moderate prismatic structure.
Comments This soil profile is very similar in appearance to EG203 and is expected to behave similarly.