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EGC224

Location: Ambyne

Australian Soil Classification: Haplic, Eutrophic, Red CHROMOSOL

Map Unit: Ambyne (Component 1)
Previous Site Name: EG224

General Landscape Description: Rolling hills
Site Description: Simple upper slope 15% south east
Land Use: Grazing
Native Vegetation: Grassy woodland
Geology: Granite

Soils and landforms of Far East Gippsland - Ambyne - EG224 landscape
Photo taken about 1.5km north-west of Ambyne Crossing looking south-east along the Deddick River valley


Soil Profile Morphology:


Surface soil
Soils and landforms of Far East Gippsland - Ambyne - EG224 profile

A11

0 – 18 cm

Dark reddish brown (5YR3/3); coarse sandy loam; weak fine granular structure; weak consistence dry; pH 7.2; clear change to:

A12

18 – 40 cm

Yellowish red (5YR4/6); coarse sandy loam; weak medium polyhedral structure; firm consistence dry; pH 7.3; abrupt change to:
Subsoil

B2

40 – 70 cm

Dark red (2.5YR3/6); coarse sandy clay loam; moderate coarse polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; passing to very weak rock; pH 6.3; diffuse change to:

C

70+

Weak granitic rock becoming more frequent with depth.

Key Profile Features:
  • Lack of strong texture contrast between the surface (A) and subsoil (B) horizon.
  • Shallow depth to decomposing granite.


Soil Profile Characteristics:



-

pH
Salinity
Surface soil
(A1 horizon)
Slightly Alkaline
Very Low
Non-sodic
None
Subsoil
(B1 horizon)
Slightly Alkaline
Very Low
Non-sodic
None1
Deeper subsoil
(80-110 cm)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-sodic
None
1 Slight after remoulding.


Chemical and Physical Analysis:


Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl
2)
EC
dS/m
Organic Carbon
%
Total
Nitrogen
%
Exchangeable Aluminium
ppm
Exchangeable Acididty
meq/100g
Exchangeable Cations
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0 mm)
%
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2 mm)
%
Silt
(0.002-0.02 mm)
%
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
%
Field Capacity
% w/w
Wilting Point
% w/w
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-18
7.2
6.3
<0.05
1.1
<0.05
<10
4.6
1.3
0.37
<0.05
50
25
9
14
18.3
4.9
A2
18-40
7.3
6.2
<0.05
0.37
<0.05
<10
2
2
0.36
0.064
47
26
11
15
16.6
4.6
B2
40-70
6.3
5.0
<0.05
0.35
<0.05
20
5.4
4.2
4.7
0.37
0.11
40
20
14
22
22.2
9.0


Management Considerations

Whole profile
  • Plant available water capacity is considered to be low (estimated at 62 mm) for the top 65 cm of the soil profile.
  • The low wilting points of each horizon to this depth (4.9, 4.6 and 9.0) indicates 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 soils surface soils can hold little water, but plants can use light rains following a dry spell.
  • The surface soil is slightly alkaline. Here the pH has no adverse implications for plant growth.
  • 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 low. Increasing organic matter will help maintain soil fertility and water holding capacity.
  • The potassium is at a moderate level for pastures and no response to added potassium would be expected.
Subsoil (B) horizon
  • The slight increase in clay content is unlikely to restrict root penetration of deep rooted species until the decomposing granite is reached at about 70 cm.

Profile Described By: Heather Adams, Julieanne Sargant, and Ian Sargeant, June 2009.
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