Site IS7
Location: Murtoa
Australian Soil Classification: Episodic-Epicalcareous-, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL
General Landscape Description: Hillslope of a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay.
Soil Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil
| A1 | 0-15 cm | Grey (10YR5/1); medium clay; subplastic; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.8; sharp boundary to: |  |
| Subsoil | |||
| B21 | 15-25 cm | Grey (10YR5/1); light medium clay; subplastic; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.3: | |
| B22 | 25-55 cm | Grey (10YR5/1); light medium clay; subplastic; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.4: | |
| B23 | 55-110 cm | Grey (10YR5/1); heavy clay; subplastic; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.3: | |
| B31 | 110-135 cm | Brown (10YR5/3); medium heavy clay; subplastic; moderate coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; pH 8.9: | |
| B32 | 135-190 | Brown (10YR5/3); medium heavy clay; subplastic; moderate coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately 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 | 0–15 | 8.8 | NA | 0.21 | 0.01 | 31.6 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | NA | 0.8 | NA | 27.3 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 59 |
B21 | 15–25 | 9.3 | NA | 0.31 | 0.02 | 25.5 | 10.7 | 1.7 | 6.2 | NA | NA | NA | 26.0 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 61 |
B22 | 25–55 | 9.4 | NA | 0.47 | 0.04 | 18.9 | 12.9 | 1.7 | 10.7 | NA | NA | NA | 26.4 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 63 |
B23 | 55–110 | 9.3 | NA | 0.92 | 0.11 | 13.5 | 13 | 1.8 | 15.5 | NA | NA | NA | 28.2 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 62 |
B31 | 110–135 | 8.9 | NA | 1.38 | 0.19 | 11 | 11.2 | 1.4 | 16.6 | NA | NA | NA | 26.7 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 59 |
B32 | 135–190 | 9.0 | NA | 1.41 | 0.21 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 28.5 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 62 |
B33 | 190–220 | 9.0 | NA | 1.47 | 0.18 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 28.6 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 63 |
Management Considerations:
- Sodic surface, possible surface sealing/impeded infiltration despite some self-mulching characteristic.
- High calcium levels in upper subsoil, high magnesium levels in lower subsoil.
- Sodic subsoil, strongly sodic below 25 cm, increasing with depth.
- Landform element, hillslope; imperfect to moderate site drainage.
- Cracking clay profile.
- Highly alkaline soil throughout.
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