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Site IS6

Location: Murtoa


Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL

General Landscape Description: Crest of a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay.


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-10 cmDark greyish brown (10YR4/2); medium clay; subplastic; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; weak coarse friable granular structure; weak consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.6; sharp boundary to:
Subsoil

B2110-35 cm Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 8.9:

B2235-60 cmDark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0:

B22260-100 cmDark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0:

B223100-115 cmDark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.1:

B224115-135Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.1; sharp boundary to:

B31135-180Light olive (5Y6/2) mottles; medium heavy clay; plastic; strong coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0.



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
8.6
NA
0.2
0.01
30.5
6.8
2.7
0.9
NA
2.2
NA
23.0
12
17
7
58
B21
10–35
8.8
NA
0.21
0.02
30.5
7.4
2
1.8
NA
2.4
NA
26.6
12
13
8
64
B22
35–60
8.9
NA
0.3
0.03
26.2
7.3
1.9
4.2
NA
NA
NA
29.3
10
13
8
66
B222
60–100
9.0
NA
0.53
0.08
22.6
10.6
1.9
7.4
NA
2.8
NA
32.1
10
12
8
66
B223
100–115
9.1
NA
0.79
0.13
17.9
12.6
1.9
10.7
NA
NA
NA
31.6
10
11
9
66
B224
115–135
9.0
NA
1
0.17
16
13.4
1.9
12.9
NA
NA
NA
31.9
7
11
9
68
B31
135–180
9.0
NA
1.2
0.22
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
38.4
6
11
12
68
B32
180–225
8.8
NA
1.35
0.25
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
30.8
7
11
13
68
Note: NA=not assessed.

Management Considerations:
  • Cracking clay (vertic) soil.
  • Highly alkaline soils, very slight decrease at depth.
  • Friable self-mulching surface.
  • Surface and subsurface soil are darker than subsoil, more organic matter and very high calcium percentage.
  • Lighter coloured subsoil with poorer internal drainage does not appear till 135 cm.
  • High calcium levels to 100 cm should provide greater stability and structure.
  • Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth (below 115 cm).
  • Landform element, crest: moderate site drainage.
Profile Described By: John Martin, Nabil Badawy, Ron Cawood, Geoff Pope, John Galea, John Turner (1970).
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