GL39

Site: GL39	Land Unit: Nelson Plains and Dunes
*Aust. Soil Class.:* Basic, Petrocalcic, Arenic RUDOSOL (confidence level 4)

General Land Unit Description:

This land unit occurs in the south western corner of the region. The land unit is generally composed of siliceous sand dunes and plains over calcareous material. The partly consolidated calcareous deposits were formed in an arcuate band (north west / south east trending) formed by the retreat of the Murray Sea. The siliceous dune and sand sheet material is generally of aeolian origin. Although there is a large area of this land unit in the south west of the study area there are also some isolated patches, mainly mixed amongst the Follet land unit that could not be mapped due to restrictions of scale.

The sand varies from orange (GL48), to red (GL39) to a paler colour, represented by this soil type. The orange and red sands are usually associated with the calcareous material, whereas the paler sands tend to have less carbonate (e.g. GL51, GL38) or the calcareous material is greater than 2 metres deep e.g. GL50). Another soil variant occurs on the swales in between the dunes. This soil tends to have a heavier textured subsoil which may or may not have calcareous material underneath.

Site Description:

Slope: 4%	Geology: Quaternary limestone
Landform pattern: Gently undulating plain	Position in landscape: Dune
Internal drainage: Well drained

Soil Profile Morphology

A1	0-70 cm	Dark reddish brown (2.5YR3/4) loamy sand (minus), apedal single grained; abrupt transition to:
C	70+ cm	Limestone

Key profile features:

Sandy profile
Hydrophobic topsoil
Shallow soil
Sand over limestone
Low nutrient status
Low available water holding capacity

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