Site IS11

Location: Longerenong.

Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous-Endohypersodic, Epipedal, Grey VERTOSOL

General Landscape Description: Anastomotic plain.
Geology: Quaternary Shepparton Formation: fluvial silt, sand and minor gravel.

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-10 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); light clay; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 8.6; sharp and smooth boundary to:	IS11 Profile
Subsoil
B21	10-25 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); light clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic, parting to coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 8.8.
B22	25-50 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); heavy clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic breaking down to coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.0.
B23	50-85 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); heavy clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic, parting to coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.4; sharp and wavy boundary to:
B24	85-115 cm	Grey (5Y5/1); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.6.
B25	115-140	Grey (5Y5/1); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.6; gradual boundary to:
B31	140-180	Pale olive (5Y6/3); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); pH 9.7.

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 -30^okPa	Permanent Wilting Point -1500^okPa	Coarse Sand %	Fine Sand %	Silt %	Clay %
Horizon	Sample Depth cm	H₂O	CaCl₂	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 -30^okPa	Permanent Wilting Point -1500^okPa	Coarse Sand %	Fine Sand %	Silt %	Clay %
A1	0–10	8.6	NA	0.21	0.01	22.7	11.7	2.1	1.2	NA	2.1	39.9	23.5	3	12	10	73
B21	10–25	8.8	NA	0.19	0.01	21.8	12.2	1.7	2.2	NA	1.8	40.2	23.9	3	10	8	78
B22	25–50	9	NA	0.18	0.03	18.9	14	1.8	4.8	NA	2.5	NA	27.1	2	11	8	78
B23	50–85	9.4	NA	0.36	0.03	12.7	14.5	1.9	8.1	NA	NA	NA	27.9	3	14	8	73
B24	85–115	9.6	NA	0.62	0.05	7	14.5	1.9	12	NA	NA	NA	28.7	2	11	9	73
B25	115–140	9.6	NA	0.78	0.08	5.1	14.1	1.9	14.3	NA	NA	NA	27.3	2	12	11	73
B31	140–180	9.7	NA	0.84	0.07	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	26.5	2	11	13	72
B32	180–215	9.6	NA	0.97	0.12	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	27.9	1	12	13	71

Note: NA=not assessed.

Management Considerations:

Cracking clay profile, very high clay percentage
Alkaline throughout soil
Friable self mulching surface
Very high calcium percentage in surface and upper and mid subsoil (to 90cm)
Yellow hue profile(5Y) and lighter coloured deep subsoil, poorer internal drainage
Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth, particularly below 50cm
Very strong consistence when dry, implications for compaction and implement use
Landform element, plain: poor site drainage

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

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