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GHF13d

Location: Heywood

Australian Soil Classification: Humose (and Ferric), Eutrophic, Red 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

A110-20 cmDark brown (7.5YR3/3) clay loam, moderate granular structure (10-20 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (2-5 mm), weak consistence when moist, many medium roots. Clear and smooth transition to:


Soil pit Qua98 4 profile
A1220-40 cmDark brown (7.5YR3/4) clay loam heavy, moderate granular structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular (5-10 mm), weak consistence when wet, many medium ferruginous nodules, many very fine macropores, areal porosity 0.5%, many very fine roots. Gradual and smooth transition to:


Subsoil


B140-60 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4), light clay, moderate granular structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (5-10 mm), weak consistence when wet, common medium ferruginous nodules, many fine macropores, areal porosity 0.7%, few very fine roots. Clear and smooth transition to:


B2160-100 cmRed (2.5YR4/6), medium clay, strong polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to strong polyhedral structure (5-10 mm), firm consistence when moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, common fine macropores, areal porosity 0.1%, few very fine roots. Diffuse and smooth transition to:


B22100-130 cmRed (2.5YR4/6) medium clay, strong polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to strong polyhedral structure (10-20 mm), firm consistence when moist, very few medium ferruginous nodules, common fine macropores, areal porosity 0.1%, no roots observed. Gradual and smooth transition to:


B23130-150 cm Red (2.5YR4/6) with many coarse distinct yellowish brown (10YR5/7) mottles, medium clay, strong polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to strong polyhedral structure (10-20 mm), firm consistence when moderately moist, very few medium ferruginous nodules, common fine macropores, areal porosity 0.03%, no roots observed.


150-400 cmHeavily weathered vesicular basalt, reasonably porous, medium (5 mm) live roots seen at 250-400 cm on one pit face only, rocks start a 250 cm and become more abundant and impenetrable at 330 cm.




Soil Profile Characteristics:
-

pH
Salinity
Surface Soil
(A1 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Non-Sodic
Non-Sodic
None
Subsoil
(B21 Horizon)
Moderately Acid
Non-Sodic
Non-Sodic
None
Deeper Subsoil
(130-150 cm)
Strongly Acid
Non-Sodic
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
A11
0-20
5.2
4.5
0.06
60
4.5
1.6
0.46
0.13
12
39
34
16
41.3
13.8
A12
20-40
5.9
5.1
<0.05
<10
6.1
2.1
1.4
0.35
0.09
11
45
29
14
35.4
7.5
B1
40-60
6.2
5.3
<0.05
<10
7.9
2.8
3.3
0.57
0.32
10
37
24
30
27.0
13.7
B21
60-100
6.0
5.6
0.09
<10
11
3.9
6.2
0.46
0.77
4
15
13
70
44.3
29.7
B22
100-130
5.6
5.2
0.13
B23
130-150
5.5
5.2
0.13
<10
3.1
5.6
0.31
0.83

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