GHF11d

Location: Macarthur

Australian Soil Classification: Melacic, Humic/Humosesquic, Semiaquic PODOSOL
General Landscape Description: Level plain
Site Description: Northerly facing gentle slope
Land Unit: Warrakbook Basalts
Geology: Quaternary basalt

General Land Unit Description: This land unit consists of gently undulating basalt plains in the Macarthur area. In some drainage lines, the basalt has been dissected sufficiently to expose the underlying sediments. The soils on the basalt plains are commonly Brown Kurosols or Chromosols, intermixed with Sodosols, particularly on the lower slopes and drainage depressions. This site has two year old Eucalyptus globulus in a plantation on ex-agricultural land.




Soil Profile Morphology

Surface

A1	0-35 cm	Black (10YR2/1) loamy sand, single grain structure, loose consistence when moist, many coarse roots. Clear and smooth transition to:
A12	35-60 cm	Grey (10YR6/1) sand, single grain structure, loose consistence when moist, common medium roots. Abrupt and smooth transition to:
Subsoil
Bh	60-75 cm	Black (10YR2/1) loamy sand, single grain structure, very weak consistence when moist, common medium roots. Sharp and wavy transition to:
Bs	75-80 cm	Black (5YR2.5/1) with many medium faint dark reddish brown (10YR3/4) motlles, loamy sand, unable to assess structure, strong consistence when wet, moderately cemented continuous massive organic pan, no roots observed. Sharp and wavy transition to:
A3	85-88 cm	White (10YR8/2) with common medium faint brownish yellow (10YR6/6), loamy sand, single grain structure, very weak consistence when moist, no roots observed. Diffuse and smooth transition to:
B21	88-100 cm	White (10YR8/2) with many very coarse distinct brownish yellow (10YR6/6), sandy light clay, weak angular blocky structure (50-100 mm), firm consistence when moist, common very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.07%, few very fine roots. Gradual and broken transition to:
B22	100-150 cm	Red (10YR7/1) with common coarse distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) mottles, sandy medium clay, weak angular blocky structure (50-100 mm), firm consistence when moist, few very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.01%, few very fine roots.
	150-230 cm	Medium clays, no sand.
	230-430 cm	Vesicular weathering basalt from 300 cm, free water seeping from pit walls at approximately 350 cm, assume groundwater at this depth. Roots observed to 400 cm (most likely live roots of E. globulus).

• Roots appear to be growing along the top and were able to grow through cracks in the pan (coffee rock).

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	EC dS/m	Organic Carbon %	Total Nitrogen %	Exchangeable Aluminium ppm	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) %
								Ca	Mg	K	Na
								meq/100g
A1	0-35	4.0	3.3	<0.05	2	0.07	17	1.0	0.33	<0.05	<0.05	69	23	3	7
A2	35-60	3.9	3.5	<0.05			<10	0.19	0.08	<0.05	<0.05	68	25	3	5
Bh	60-75	3.8	3.3	0.06			74	0.29	0.12	<0.05	<0.05
Bs	75-85	4.3	3.8	<0.05			170	0.12	0.13	<0.05	<0.05
B21	85-100	4.4	3.9	0.07			210	0.12	0.73	0.20	0.09
B22	100-150	4.5	4.0	0.07				0.19	1.0	0.12	0.14

• The deep sandy surface horizons have a very low inherent fertility. They will also be well drained.
• The extremely acid soil profile has high levels of exchangeable aluminium in a number of horizons. These levels are likely to restrict the growth of aluminium-sensitive species.