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GHF13a

Location: Heywood

Australian Soil Classification: Mottled, Mesotrophic, Brown FERROSOL
General Landscape Description: Undulating rises to low hills
Site Description: Lower Slope
Land Unit: Drumborg Basalt Hills
Geology: Quaternary basalt

General Land Unit Description:
This land unit consists of the undulating rises of Sugarloaf Hill and Sheaok Rise, north of Heywood. The soils consist of Red Dermosols and occasionally Kurosols on the crests and slopes of the rises. On the lower slopes and plains in between the rises, Ferric Brown Chromosols or Dermosols predominate. There are minor occurrences of Black Vertosols in local depressions. Here a two year old Eucalyptus globulus plantation exists on ex-agricultural land


Soil pit Qua98 3 landscape


Soil Profile Morphology

Surface

A10-20 cmDark brown (7.5YR3/3) clay loam, strong granular structure (5-10 mm), very weak consistence when moderately moist, common very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.5%, common medium roots. Clear and smooth transition to:


Soil pit Qua98 1 profile
Subsoil


B120-40 cmReddish brown (5YR4/4) light clay, moderate granular structure (10-20 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (<2 mm), weak consistence when moderately moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, common fine macropores, areal porosity 0.5%, few fine roots. Gradual and smooth transition to:


B2140-70 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with common coarse distinct yellowish red (5YR4/6) mottles, light clay, moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (5-10 mm), firm consistence when moderately moist, common very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.4%, few fine roots. Diffuse and smooth transition to:


B2270-150 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/8) with many coarse distinct red (2.5YR4/6) mottles, light clay, moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (2-5 mm), firm consistence when moderately moist, few fine macropores, areal porosity 1.0%, few very fine roots.


150-410 cmHighly weathered vesicular basalt, root channels observed, odd root found at 350 cm, soils moderately moist, no impeding layer to roots, some rock starting at 410 cm.




Soil Profile Characteristics:
-

pH
Salinity
Surface Soil
(A1 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
None
Subsoil
(B21 Horizon)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
None
Deeper Subsoil
(70-110 cm)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
None




Chemical and Physical Analysis:
Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl
2)
EC
dS/m
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
0-20
5.5
4.7
0.07
39
4.9
2.7
0.65
0.25
15
27
19
33
21.9
19.3
B21
20-40
6.1
5.4
0.06
<10
13
3.9
4.4
0.33
0.48
8
19
13
58
40.1
24.4
B22
40-70
6.3
6.0
0.10
<10
9.9
2.8
5.0
0.20
0.77
5
14
11
69
42.2
32.0
B23
70-110
6.2
6.0
0.13
<10
8.8
2.2
4.2
0.21
0.82
7
17
13
63
42.6
32.6
B24
110-150
6.0
5.8
0.13

Profile Described By: Ian Sargeant and Paul Feikema, 25th July 2000.
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