Site WW20

Location: Little Desert.

Australian Soil Classificiation: Basic, Arenic, Orthic TENOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Uc
Great Soil Group: siliceous sand

General Landscape Description: Dune. The deep yellow sand occurs on the dunes of the gently undulating plain (Pg9), gently undulating plains (closer spaced undulations) (Pu9) and gently undulating rises (closer spaced undulations) (Ru9) land units of the Little Desert - Land System 9.

WW20 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

Ap	0-20 cm	Dumped material:	WW20 Profile
A	20-40 cm	Light yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) sand; minor organic matter content; weak consistence when dry; pH 5.6:
Subsoil
B21	40-120 cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/8) sand; very weak consistence; pH 5.6:
B22	120-170 cm+	Yellow (10YR7/8) sand; very thin irregular silcrete laminations; very weak consistence; pH 5.6.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

Horizon	pH	Salinity	Sodicity	Dispersion	Internal Drainage	Hydro-phobicity
Surface (A1 horizon)	moderately acid	very low	-	-	moderately well drained	Severe¹
Subsoil (B21 horizon)	moderately acid	very low	-	-
Deeper subsoil (at 1 metre)	moderately acid	very low	-	-

¹ Estimate.

Key Profile Features:

Deep sand.
Hydrophobic surface soil.
Acidic surface soil.
Acidic subsoil.

Soil Restrictions and Management Prescriptions:

Feature	Result	Management Prescription
Sandy surface soil.	Poor plant available water holding capacity. Poor nutrient holding capacity. Increased risk of wind erosion. Potential for hydrophobicity.	Horticulture. Improve organic matter through maintenance of vegetative cover and growing green manure crops. Establish wind protection barriers. Increase frequency of fertiliser (eg side dressings) and irrigations.
Hydrophobic surface soil.	Poor infiltration of water into the soil. Increased risk of water erosion. Poor seed germination.	Maintenance of surface vegetative cover. Claying (application of subsoil clay from other areas directly to the soil surface).
Acidic surface soil.	Potential nutrient imbalance. Unsuitable for acid intolerant plants.	Apply lime.
Acidic subsoil.	Potential nutrient imbalance. Unsuitable for acid intolerant plants.	Grow acid tolerant species or varieties.

Land Suitability Rating Table:

LAND USE	SUITABILITY CLASS	MAJOR LIMITING COMPONENT
Wheat	3	Soil
Canola	3	Soil
Chickpeas	3	Soil
Lentils	3	Soil
White clover seed	3	Soil
Lucerne for seed production	2	Climate, landscape, soil
Viticulture	3	Soil
Apples	3	Soil
Potatoes	2	Climate, landscape, soil
Carrots	2	Landscape, soil
Onions	2	Climate, landscape, soil
Sweet corn	3	Soil
Radiata Pine	3	Climate
Blue Gum	3	Climate

Land Suitability Assessment and Primary Limitations:

*Wheat*	Climate Landscape Soil	2* 2 3	High frost risk for most of the land unit. Water and wind erosion hazard. Deep sandy profile.
*Canola*	Climate Landscape Soil	2* 2 3	High frost risk for most of the land unit. Water and wind erosion hazard. Deep sandy profile.
*Chickpeas*	Climate Landscape Soil	2* 2 3	High frost risk for most of the land unit, slightly high rainfall. Wind and water erosion hazard. Deep sandy profile.
*Lentils*	Climate Landscape Soil	2* 2 3	High frost risk for most of the land unit. Wind and water erosion hazard. Deep sandy profile.
*White clover seed*	Climate Landscape Soil	2 2 3	Moderate frost risk. Wind and water erosion hazard. Deep sands profile.
*Lucerne for seed* *production*	Climate Landscape Soil	2 2 2	Moderate frost risk. Water and water erosion hazard. Sandy subsoil, slightly impeded internal dainage, hydrophobicity, slightly acid. subsoil pH.
*Viticulture*	Climate Landscape Soil	2* 2 3	High frost risk for most of the land unit. Water erosion hazard. Deep sandy profile.
*Apples*	Climate Landscape Soil	2* 2 3	High frost risk for most of the land unit, slightly high mean maximum January temperature. Water erosion hazard. Deep sandy profile.
*Potatoes*	Climate Landscape Soil	2 2 2	Slightly high mean maximum January temperature. Wind and water erosion hazard. Sandy subsoil, slightly impeded internal drainage, hydrophobicity.
*Carrots*	Climate Landscape Soil	1 2 2	No major limitation. Water and wind erosion hazard. Slightly impeded internal drainage, hydrophobicity.
*Onions*	Climate Landscape Soil	2 2 2	Moderate frost risk. Water and wind erosion hazard. Deep sandy subsoil, slightly impeded internal drainage, hydrophobicity.
*Sweet corn*	Climate Landscape Soil	1 2 3	No major limitation. Water and wind erosion hazard. Deep sandy profile.
*Radiata Pine*	Climate Landscape Soil	3 2 2	Low rainfall. Water erosion hazard, wind erosion hazard. Sandy subsoil texture, surface soil depth, hydrophobicity.
*Blue Gum*	Climate Landscape Soil	3 2 2	Low rainfall. Water erosion hazard, wind erosion hazard. Sandy subsoil texture, surface soil depth, hydrophobicity.

* Some areas may be higher frost risk therefore they may be potentially unsuitable. Obtain local knowledge on frost prior to investment.

Profile Described By: David Rees, Nathalie Baxter (January 1997).

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