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GHF13b

Location: Heywood

Australian Soil Classification: Melanic-Mottled, Mesotrophic, , Yellow 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 (7.5YR3/2) clay loam, moderate granular structure (10-20 mm) parting to moderate granular (2-5 mm), very weak consistence when moderately moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, many medium roots. Clear and smooth transition to:


Soil pit Qua98 2 profile
Subsoil
B2120-60 cmReddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) with common medium faint yellowish red (5YR5/8) mottles, light clay, moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (5-10 mm), weak consistence when moderately moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, common very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.1%, few very fine roots. Gradual and smooth transition to:


B2260-100 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with many coarse distinct yellowish red (5YR4/6) and red (2.5YR4/6) mottles, light clay, strong polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to strong polyhedral structure (10-20 mm), weak consistence when moderately moist, few very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.1%, few very fine roots. Gradual and smooth transition to:


B23100-150 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/7) with many coarse prominent red (2.5YR4/6) and pinkish grey (7.5YR6/1) mottles, light clay, moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm), firm consistence when moderately moist, few very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.1%, few very fine roots.


B24150-200 cmSimilar as above.


B3200-230 cm

C230-400 cmLive roots observed at 250 cm in old root channels, strong rock, basaltic material, but no vesicles as in other pits.




Notes: Mottles increasing down profile from 20 cm, wet patches below 100 cm, water seeping out from pores, biological activity to 1m, worms reworking soil.

Soil Profile Characteristics:
-

pH
Salinity
Surface Soil
(A1 horizon)
Moderately Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None
Subsoil
(B21 Horizon)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
None
Deeper Subsoil
(60-100 cm)
Moderately Acid
Very Low
Marginally 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
6.0
5.6
0.09
<10
11
3.9
6.2
0.46
0.77
11
26
28
37
44.3
29.7
B21
20-60
6.2
5.3
<0.05
<10
11
3.1
4.6
0.29
0.88
6
13
12
69
48.2
29.5
B22
60-100
6.0
5.9
0.14
<10
10
2.3
4.8
0.14
1.1
6
17
13
64
50.1
32.0



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