EGW9

Location: Orbost River flats

Australian Soil Classification: Melanic, Eutrophic, Black DERMOSOL

Map Unit: River flats (rf)
Previous Site Name: EG9

General Landscape Description: Alluvial plain
Site Description: Level plain >1% slope
Land Use: Grazing
Native Vegetation: Riparian forest
Geology: Recent sediments



Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil
A11	0 – 25 cm	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); clay loam; strong medium polyhedral structure, weak consistence moist; pH 5.9 clear change to:
A12	25 – 55 cm	Black (10YR2/1); clay loam; moderate medium polyhedral structure; firm consistence moist; pH 6.3; changes to:
A13	55 - 70 cm	Clay loam; pH 6.4; changes to:
Deep Subsoil
D	70 – 105 cm	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); clay loam; weak to very weak coarse prismatic structure; firm consistence moist; pH 6.7.

• Lack of texture contrast throughout the soil 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
A11	0-25	5.9	5.0	0.12	2.8	0.25	<10	14	7.6	6.4	0.84	0.96	1	28	30	35	40.6	23.3
A12	25-55	6.3	5.3	0.07	2.5	0.19	<10	14	10.0	7.1	0.22	0.63	1	27	33	29
A13	55-70	6.4	5.4	0.08	2.2	0.14	<10	13	8.8	7.9	0.19	0.78	2	28	33	29
D	70-105	6.7	5.5	0.07			<10	9.5	6.9	8.3	0.15	0.84	1	34	31	29

• There are no impeding layers in the profile which allows plant roots deep penetration.

• The relatively deep surface soil is moderately well structured and is friable when moist. Soil consistence when moist is also weak for this horizon. As a result of these attributes the surface soil will provide excellent seed germination conditions and few other limitations to root and water movement.
• The nutrient holding capacity of this soil is high (based on the sum of the exchangeable calcium, magnesium and potassium cations)
• Potassium levels are high and no response to potassium fertilizer would be expected. However below 25 cm the levels are quite low.

• The subsoil is non-sodic and reasonably well structured. Root and water movement will not be significantly restricted as a result.