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Site IS22

Location: Riverside

Australian Soil Classification: Endocalcareous-Endohypersodic, Massive, Grey VERTOSOL

General Landscape Description: Terrace flat.
Geology: Quaternary Coonambidgal Formation: fluvial to lacustrine clays and sands


Image: IS22 Landscape
IS22 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-5 cmDark grey (10YR4/1); medium clay; cracking massive (structureless) surface condition when undisturbed; weak subangular blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; pH 6.3; sharp and smooth boundary to:
Image: IS22 Profile
IS22 Profile
Subsoil

B215-25 cmDark grey (10YR4/1); light medium clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet pH 7.1:

B2225-60 cmDark grey (10YR4/1); heavy clay; moderate coarse prismatic structure; weak consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 7.2; gradual and smooth boundary to:

B3160-95 cmGrey (10YR5/1); heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular structure; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 6.4; gradual boundary to:
B3295-115 cmLight greyish brown (10YR6/2); heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular structure; very strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 6.3; gradual boundary to:
B33115-150 cmGreyish brown (10YR5/2); heavy clay; plastic; strong coarse angular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations pH 5.9.

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
0–5
6.3
5.4
0.12
0.02
7.2
10
0.7
0.8
NA
8
NA
22.7
1
27
27
44
B21
5–25
7.1
NA
0.14
0.03
10.1
16.2
0.8
2.7
NA
8.6
NA
21.1
0
14
20
65
B22
25–60
7.2
NA
0.53
0.11
9.8
16.2
0.7
4.2
NA
6.4
NA
23.8
0
13
23
61
B23
60–95
6.4
NA
0.14
0.14
9.2
15.9
0.6
5.2
NA
6.3
NA
21.9
0
12
24
63
B31k
95–115
6.3
NA
0.74
0.12
7.5
13
0.6
5.2
NA
7.5
NA
21.4
1
13
24
61
B32
115–150
5.9
NA
0.86
0.17
6.9
12.4
0.6
4.5
NA
7.5
NA
20.7
0
14
23
62
Note: NA=not assessed.

Management Considerations:
  • Cracking clay soils with self-mulching properties
  • Plant available water capacity (PAWC) is considered to be low (estimated at 55 mm). This is based on available laboratory data and assumes an effective rooting depth of 30 cm. The high level of soluble salts in the subsoil will restrict effective rooting depth.
  • When the soil is dry, heavy rains will move down soil cracks. This rapid recharge can be valuable for the survival of plants near wilting. When wet, the soil will swell and further infiltration of water will be relatively slow.
  • Tillage of cracking clay soils should be avoided if the soil is wet (ie. wetter than the plastic limit). At such a moisture condition, excessive tillage, trafficking or overstocking can result in structural degradation (eg. compaction, smearing) occurring. Ideally, tillage should take place on clay soils such as these when the soil is drier than the plastic limit, down to at least the tillage depth
  • The level of soluble salts is high in the upper subsoil and becomes very high from 55cm depth.

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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