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Location: Kewell.

Soil Type: Minor Type C

Australia Soil Classification: Endocalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL

Northcote Factual Key: Ug 5.28
Great Soil Group: grey clay

General Description: Playa plain within a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A110-20 cmDark grey (7.5YR4/0) light clay; subplastic; cracking, self-mulching surface condition; weak subangular blocky structure; very weak consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.0:

A1220-35 cmDark grey (7.5YR4/0) light clay; subplastic; weak subangular blocky structure; very weak consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.4; sharp change to:

Subsoil

B21k35-80 cmLight brownish grey (2.5Y6/2) light clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, moderately sticky consistence wet; contains a slight (2-10%) amount of hard and soft carbonate; pH 9.0; gradual change to:

B31k80-110 cmPale olive (5Y6/3) medium clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, moderately sticky consistence wet; contains a moderate (20-50%) amount of soft and hard carbonate; pH 9.3; gradual change to:
B32k110-150 cmPale olive (5Y6/3) with yellowish brown (10YR5/6) mottled medium clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, moderately sticky consistence wet; contains a moderate (20-50%) amount of soft and hard carbonate; pH 9.5; gradual change to:

B33k150-205 cmPale olive (5Y6/3) with yellowish brown (10YR5/6) mottled heavy clay; plastic; strong coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a slight (2-10%) amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.5.

Soil Profile Characteristics:



Horizon
Sample Depth cm
pH
EC
dS/m
Sodium Chloride
%
Exchangeable Calcium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable
Magnesium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable Potassium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable Sodium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable Aluminium
mg/kg
Exchangeable Acidity
cmol-/kg
Field
Capacity
-30okPa
Permanent
Wilting
Point
-1500okPa
Coarse
Sand
%
Fine
Sand
%
Silt
%
Clay
%
H2O
CaCl2
A11
0–20
8.0
NA
0.14
0.01
24.6
4.4
2.8
0.1
NA
3.8
NA
19.6
14
18
15
51
A12
20–35
8.4
NA
0.19
0.01
25.1
5.6
1.9
0.2
NA
2.8
NA
22.9
12
15
9
61
B21
35–80
9.0
NA
0.22
0.01
15.3
5.9
1.5
0.9
NA
NA
NA
18.0
10
12
9
43
B31
80–110
9.3
NA
0.47
0.05
9.4
8.7
1.9
4.4
NA
NA
NA
19.5
9
10
4
49
B32
110–150
9.5
NA
0.77
0.11
5.2
9.6
2.2
8.4
NA
NA
NA
20.2
8
10
6
52
B33
150–205
9.5
NA
0.11
0.17
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
23.0
8
11
5
53
Note: NA=not assessed.

Management Considerations:
  • Cracking clay profile.
  • Friable self mulching surface.
  • Surface and subsurface soil are darker than subsoil, more organic matter and very high calcium percentage.
  • Lighter coloured subsoil also has less clay than surface soil, poorer internal drainage.
  • Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth.
  • Landform element, playa plain: poor site drainage.

Profile Described By: John Martin, Nabil Badawy, Ron Cawood, Geoff Pope, John Galea, John Turner (1970).

Reference: "Major Agricultural Soils of the Wimmera Irrigation Area". John Martin, Mark Imhof, Lourey Ruth, Rob Nink, Karen DePlater, Paul Rampant, Sonia Thompson, S. Alexander. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria. 1996.
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