EGW40

Location: Gelantipy

Australian Soil Classification: Acidic, Regolithic, Bleached-Orthic TENOSOL

Map Unit: Wulgulmerang (Component 1)
Previous Site Name: EG40

General Landscape Description: Undulating rises
Site description: Upper slope of low hill, 4% slope, auger sample on roadside
Native Vegetation: Montane dry woodland
Geology: Devonian acid volcanics (Snowy River Volcanics)



Soil exposed adjoining road near site

• Very sandy and no texture change throughout the profile.

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	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	0-10	6.2	5.7	0.07	1.4	0.1	<1	4.8	5.5	1.0	0.31	0.05	38	31	18	9	23.9	6.0
A2	10-50	5.0	4.4	<0.05			83	4.9	0.94	0.26	0.16	0.06	33	36	22	8	18.2	3.6
A3	50-70	5.0	4.4	0.05			88	3.7	0.81	0.42	0.18	0.07	38	31	22	10	17.5	4.4

• Apart from the immediate surface soil, the soil is strongly acid throughout. The calcium levels and the pH of the surface soil indicate lime has possibly been applied in the past, but further evaluation may be needed in the future.
• The plant available water content is low, estimated at 53 mm for a rooting depth of 70 cm. This figure will depend on the degree to which the roots can penetrate the massive A2 and A3 horizon, and overcome the strongly acid conditions.

• The organic matter content of the soil is very low. As the soil was sampled by auger on the road reserve, this may not reflect the conditions in the paddock.
• The low wilting point of the surface horizons indicates plants will be able to use light rains when the soil is dry. Due to the low water storage capacity of the soil, plants will suffer water stress unless further rains occur.
• The nutrient holding capacity of the soil is low (based on the sum of the exchangeable cations).
• Potassium levels are bordering on deficiency level, but no response would be expected at this stage.
• Strongly acidic subsurface horizon with moderate to high exchangeable aluminium levels may restrict growth of aluminium sensitive species such as lucerne.

• The hard setting nature of the A2 and A3 horizons, together with the strong acidity of the profile may impede root penetration.