GHF12b

Location: Dartmoor

Australian Soil Classification: Fragic, Humic, Semiaquic PODOSOL
General Landscape Description: Level sand plains
Site Description: Flat
Land Unit: Strathdownie
Geology: Quaternary lacustrine

General Land Unit Description: This land unit comprises the Quaternary lacustrine geology south of the Glenelg River. The lacustrine deposits include lagoonal, swamp and local colluvial deposits formed in low-lying wetlands and depressions between stranded beach ridges. Parent material in this land unit comprises of sand, silt, sandy clay, peat, marl and freshwater limestone, occurring in relatively unconsolidated forms.

The soils are variable throughout this land unit due to varying depositional environments. A common soil type is a strong texture contrast soil (Chromosol, Sodosol) commonly with a bleached A2 horizon and a mottled subsoil (indicative of impeded internal drainage). The sandy topsoil can be very deep in some soils. Vertosols are also common on the plains and swales in between the dunes. Podosols occur on the flats as well as on the dunes and that may have been mapped as part of this land unit due to restrictions of scale. Many of the soils are poorly drained and exhibit signs of a perched watertable.

1.5 year old Eucalyptus globulus plantation on ex-agricultural land. Remnant roots were observed to 150 cm, the pockets of dark grey sand in the B21 and B22 layers may have arisen due to previous (now remnant) root activity.





Soil Profile Morphology

A1	0-15 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); sand; single grain structure; loose consistence , moderately moist; few medium roots present; clear and smooth change to:
A21	15-60 cm	Pinkish grey (7.5YR7/2); sand; single grain structure; loose consistence, moist; few very fine roots present; sharp and smooth change to:
A22	60-110 cm	Pinkish grey (7.5YR7/2), with common coarse faint pale brown (10YR6/3) mottles; sand; single grain structure; loose consistence, wet; sharp and smooth change to:
Subsoil
Bh	110-140 cm	Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); sand; single grain structure; loose consistence, wet; single grain structure; changes to:
	140-380 cm	Grey; sandy clays, and clayer sands; wet.