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Site IS2

Location: Kewell.

Soil Type: Minor Type B

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

Northcote Factual Key: Ug 5.2
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

A10-10 cmDark grey (7.5YR4/0) heavy clay; plastic; cracking, self-mulching surface condition; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0; gradual change to:

Subsoil

B2110-30 cmDark grey (7.5YR4/0) heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.5; gradual change to:

B22k30-60 cmGrey (N5/0) heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a slight (2-10%) amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.8; gradual change to:

B3160-90 cmLight brownish grey (2.5Y6/2) heavy clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of hard carbonate; pH 9.9; gradual change to:

B3290-120 cmLight brownish grey (2.5Y6/2) heavy clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of hard carbonate; pH 9.8.

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
A1
0–10
9.0
NA
0.26
0.01
25.9
7.6
1.9
3.6
NA
5.6
NA
24.2
18
11
8
54
B21
10–30
9.5
NA
0.48
0.03
23.3
16.3
1.6
10.1
NA
0.4
NA
35.1
18
11
7
58
B22
30–60
9.8
NA
1.03
0.09
8.6
19.2
1.9
21.4
NA
NA
NA
51.8
16
10
6
57
B31
60–90
9.9
NA
1.27
0.1
3.7
16.5
2.0
23.6
NA
NA
NA
37.3
13
8
4
61
B32
90–120
9.8
NA
1.34
0.12
3.5
14.8
1.9
23.4
NA
NA
NA
30.7
14
8
5
62
Note: NA=not assessed.

Management Considerations:
  • Cracking clay profile, possible texture contrast.
  • Sodic surface, possible surface sealing/impeded infiltration despite some self mulching characteristic.
  • High fine sand content of surface (possible windblown inclusions).
  • High calcium levels in upper subsoil, high magnesium levels in lower subsoil.
  • Sodic subsoil below 60 cm, increasing with 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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