Bendoc (Symbol: Bd)

EG222 | EG235 | EG237 | EG240 | EG243 | Site 133 (Rees unpublished) | EG236

Geology
Palaeozoic sediments.

Landform
Rolling hills to rolling low valleys at elevations between 600 to 900 m with typical slope gradients are 8-20% with a relief of 30-90 m. Some uncleared areas, eg Mt Bendoc, have slightly higher relief. The map unit may be subdivided into two components: crest and long gentle slopes; and low lying open depressions.


Photo taken on the Lower Bendoc Road near Lower Bendoc

Native vegetation:
Mostly montane dry woodland with the area south of the Bendoc River likely to be montane grassy woodland.

Soils
Component 1: Soils on crests and long gentle slopes
The five soils examined had strongly acidic fine sandy or silty loam surface soils overlying strongly to slightly acidic clay subsoils. The subsoils are generally brown to yellowish brown in colour however in areas where rock occurs at a shallow depth, the subsoil colours tend to be redder.

Component 2: Soils in low lying open depressions
One soil adjoining a drainage line was examined and is regarded as being typical of this landscape position. This profile was slightly acid and clayey throughout.

Land use
Most of the lower slopes are cleared and used for grazing.

Site EG222

Location: Bendoc	Geo. Ref. 0671000E 5887500N
Australian Soil Classification: Acidic, Mesotrophic, Red DERMOSOL	Acidic red gradational soil
General landscape description: Undulating low hills
Geology: Ordovician sediments
Site description: Simple upper slope 5% south west
Land use: Grazing
Native vegetation: Montane grassy woodland
Mapping unit: Bendoc (Component 1)

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil
A1	0 – 15 cm	Dark brown (7.5YR3/2); very fine sandy loam; weak fine (2 – 5 mm) structure; weak consistence dry; few (2 – 10%) angular tabular coarse (20 – 60 mm) pebbles; pH 5.2; clear change to:
A2	15 – 40 cm	Brown (7.5YR5/4); very fine sandy clay loam; massive; weak consistence dry; common (10 – 20%) angular tabular coarse (20 – 60 mm) pebbles; pH 5.0; abrupt change to:
Subsoil
B2	40 – 70 cm	Red (2.5YR4/6); very fine sandy light clay; moderate coarse (20 – 50 mm) polyhedral structure; strong consistence moist; abundant (50 – 90%) angular tabular cobbles (60 – 200 mm); rock fragments increasing with depth; pH 5.4; diffuse change to:
R	70+ cm	Moderately weathered rock.
Key profile features Gradual increase in clay content with depth. Shallow depth to weathering rock.

Soil profile characteristics

	pH	Salinity rating	Sodicity	Dispersion	Slaking
Surface soil (A1 horizon)	Strongly acid	Very low	Non sodic	None	Water stable
Subsoil (B1 horizon)	Strongly acid	Very low	Non sodic	None1	Partially water stable
Deeper subsoil (80-110 cm)	Strongly acid	Very low	Non sodic	None	Partially water stable

¹ Slight after remoulding.

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
A1	0-10	VFSL	5.2	4.5	0.09	14	50	14	10	25.6	10.6	15.0
A2	10-40	VFSCL	5.0	4.2	0.06	15	45	11	23	25.0	5.3	19.7
B2	40-60	VFSLC	5.4	4.6	0.06	16	47	12	24	30.9	7.9	20.0

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

Depth	OrgC#	Total N	Free Fe2O3	Exch. Al	Exchangeable cations meq/100 g							Ca:Mg	ESP
cm	%	%	% w/w	ppm	Ca	Mg	K	Na	Total	H	CEC
0-10	5	0.3		44	3.5	1.3	0.5	0.17	5.4	13.0	18.4	2.7	1
10-40	1.1	<0.05		160	0.47	0.31	0.3	0.19	1.3	7.9	8.2	1.5	2
40-60	0.44	<0.05		63	0.46	0.72	0.28	0.22	1.7	5.9	7.6	0.6	3

# Organic carbon

Management considerations

Whole profile

• Plant available water is considered to be low (estimated at 50 mm) for this profile. This is based on an estimated and effective rooting depth of 70 cm (i.e. depth above the decomposing rock) and the presence of decomposing rock within this depth.
• The low wilting points of each horizon to this depth is low (ie 10.6, 5.3 and 7.9 %) indicating plants are able to use light rains when the soil is dry. Due to the low water storage capacity, plants will suffer moisture stress unless further rains occur.

Surface (A) horizons

• As mentioned above, the surface soils can hold little water, but plants can use light rains following a dry spell.
• The surface soil is strongly acid. As the exchangeable aluminium is also high a response to lime would be expected. The use of test strips is the most appropriate way of determining the amount of lime needed.
• The nutrient holding capacity of the surface horizons is low (based on the sum of the calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium cations).
• The organic matter content of the surface soil is high which helps maintain soil fertility and water holding capacity. The soil below 10 cm has a low organic matter content which would explain its low wilting point and very low nutrient holding capacity.
• The potassium is at a moderate level for pastures and no response to added potassium would be expected.

Subsoil (B) horizon

• The increasing amounts of decomposing rock are likely to restrict pasture root development. Those of native plant species are able to follow cracks in the rock and are less restricted.

Site EG235

Location: Bendoc North	Geo. Ref. 0671000E 5887500N
Australian Soil Classification: Yellow KUROSOL	Acidic yellow texture contrast soil
General landscape description: Undulating low hills
Geology: Ordovician sediments
Site description: Lower hill-slope, 5% slope to north-west
Land use: Grazing
Native vegetation: Montane grassy woodland
Mapping unit: Bendoc (Component 1)

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil
A1	0 – 15 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); fine sandy loam; firm dry; weak medium polyhedral structure; clear change to:
A2	15 – 35 cm	Greyish brown (10YR5/2) conspicuously bleached (10YR7/2d); fine sandy loam; massive; very firm consistence dry; common (10-20%) angular tabular pebbles (20-60 mm); clear change to:
Subsoil
B2	35 – 45+ cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); medium clay.
Soil profile characteristics Horizon Depth EC pH water pH CaCl2 Exchangeable cations meq/100 g Ca:Mg ESP cm dS/m Ca Mg K Na Total H CEC A1 0-20 <0.05 5.1 4.3 1 1.4 0.12 0.14 2.7 9.4 12.1 0.7 1

Site EG237

Location: Bendoc East	Geo. Ref. 0670700E 5884600N
Australian Soil Classification: Acidic, Dystrophic, Brown DERMOSOL	Acidic yellow texture contrast soil
General landscape description: Undulating low hills
Geology: Ordovician sediments
Site description: Mid to lower slope, 10% to south-east
Land use: Grazing
Native vegetation: Montane grassy woodland
Mapping unit: Bendoc (Component 1)

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil
A1	0 – 5 cm	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); silty clay loam; clear change to:
Subsoil
B1	5 – 20 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); silty light clay; pH 4.9; clear change to:
B2	20 – 50 + cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/6); light medium clay; pH 4.9.

Soil profile characteristics

Horizon	Depth	EC	pH water	pH CaCl2	Exchangeable cations meq/100 g							Ca:Mg	ESP
	cm	dS/m			Ca	Mg	K	Na	Total	H	CEC
B1	5-20	<0.05	4.9	4.1	0.66	0.52	0.38	0.09	1.7	15	16.7	1.3	<1
B2	35-45	<0.05	4.9	4.2	0.37	0.39	0.32	0.08	1.2	11	12.2	1	<1

Sampled by auger, no soil profile available

Site EG240

Location: Dellicknora	Geo. Ref. 0652600E 5893000N
Australian Soil Classification: Undetermined Eutrophic, Red CHROMOSOL	Brown texture contrast soil
General landscape description: Rolling low hills
Geology: Ordovician sediments
Site description: Lower east-north-east slope of low hill 5% slope
Land use: Grazing
Native vegetation: Shrubby dry forest
Mapping unit: Bendoc (Component 1)

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil			Erosion gully nearby the site
A1	0 – 30 cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/6); fine sandy loam; pH 5.1; clear change to:
Subsoil
B2	30 – 40+ cm	Reddish brown (5YR5/4); light clay (sandy); pH 6.1.
Soil profile characteristics Horizon Depth EC pH water pH CaCl2 Exchangeable cations meq/100 g Ca:Mg ESP Ca Mg K Na Total H CEC A1 0-20 <0.05 5.1 4.3 0.32 0.35 0.14 0.09 0.9 7 7.9 0.9 1 B2 30-40 0.07 6.1 5.4 5.4 1.9 0.79 0.11 8.2 9.4 17.6 2.8 1 Sampled by auger

Site EG243

Location: Bendoc North	Geo. Ref. 0679500E 5886500N
Australian Soil Classification: Mesotrophic, Subnatric, Brown SODOSOL	Sodic brown texture contrast soil
General landscape description: Undulating low hills
Geology: Ordovician sediments north aspect
Site description: Upper slope, aspect, 2% slope
Land use: Grazing and plantation timber
Native vegetation: Montane grassland
Mapping unit: Bendoc (Component 1)

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil			Road exposure a short distance from sampled site
A1	0 – 30 cm	Dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4); very fine sandy loam; weak fine granular structure; weak consistence dry; pH 5.5; gradual change to :
A2	30 – 60 cm	Pale brown (10YR6/2); very fine loamy sand; massive; very weak consistence dry; abrupt change to:
Subsoil
B2	60 – 80 cm	Mottled pale brown (10YR6/3) and red (2.5YR4/6); medium clay; pH 6.1.
Soil profile characteristics Horizon Depth EC pH water pH CaCl2 Exchangeable cations meq/100 g Ca:Mg ESP Ca Mg K Na Total H CEC A1 0-20 <0.05 5.5 4.7 1.9 0.94 0.35 0.17 3.4 0.40 3.9 2 5 B2 60-80 <0.05 6.1 4.6 0.65 2.8 0.34 0.58 4.4 0.74 4.8 0.2 12 Sampled by auger Analysed by Industry and Investment NSW (2010)

Site 133 (Rees unpublished)

Location: Bendoc North (Approx 200 m east of EG 236)	Geo. Ref. 0673900E 5888500N
Australian Soil Classification: Bleached, Magnesic, Brown CHROMOSOL	Brown texture contrast soil
General landscape description: Undulating to rolling low hills
Geology: Ordovician sediments
Site description: Mid slope, 8% to south
Land use: Grazing
Mapping unit: Bendoc (Component 1)

Soil profile morphology

Surface soil
A11	0 – 5 cm	Dark brown (10YR3/3); loam; weak fine angular blocky structure; common (10 – 20%) rounded pebbles (6 - 20 mm); clear change to:
A12	5 – 30 cm	Dark brown (10YR4/3); fine sandy loam; massive; common (10 – 20%) rounded pebbles; pH 5.7; clear change to:
A2	30 – 60 cm	Pale brown (10YR 6/3); conspicuously bleached; fine sandy clay loam; massive; common (10 – 20%) angular pebbles; pH 6.0; clear change to:
Subsoil
B2	60 – 140+ cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); light medium clay; strong medium angular blocky structure; common (10 – 20%) angular pebbles; pH 6.0.
Soil profile characteristics Horizon Depth EC pH water pH CaCl2 Exchangeable cations meq/100 g Ca:Mg ESP Ca Mg K Na Total H CEC A12 5-30 FSL 5.7 0.1 0.4 0.1 <0.1 0.6 7.7 8.3 0.3 A2 30-60 FSL 6.0 <0.1 0.4 0.1 <0.1 0.5 2.6 3.1 <0.1 B2 60-140 LMC 6.0 0.6 6.0 0.2 0.7 8.1 7.5 15.6 0.1 Sampled by auger, no soil profile available

Site EG236

Location: Bendoc North	Geo. Ref. 0674100E 5888500N
Australian Soil Classification: Mottled, Eutrophic, Grey CHROMOSOL	Grey texture contrast soil
General landscape description: Undulating to rolling low hills
Geology: Ordovician sediments
Site description: Lower position in the landscape, Lower north-east slope of a low rise, 3% slope
Land use: Grazing
Mapping unit: Bendoc (Component 2)

Photo taken 8 km ENE of Bendoc looking towards Mt Delegate

Surface soil
A1	0 – 20 cm	Black (10YR2/1); light clay to clay loam;pH 6.1; abrupt change to:
Subsoil
B2	20 – 40+ cm	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2) mottled with yellow brown (10YR5/4); medium to heavy clay; pH 7.2.
Soil profile characteristics Horizon Depth EC pH water pH CaCl2 Exchangeable cations meq/100 g Ca:Mg ESP Ca Mg K Na Total H CEC A1 0-20 0.1 6.1 5.1 3.6 7 0.3 0.79 12 13 25 0.5 3 B2 20-40 0.08 7.2 6.2 2 8.3 0.21 0.86 11 6 17 0.2 5 Sampled by auger, no soil profile available