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IS4

Location: Coromby

Soil Type: Minor Type A

Australian Soil Classification: Haplic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL

Northcote Factual Key: Ug 5.2
Great Soil Group: grey clay

General Description: Plain within a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-10 cmVery dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); sandy clay; plastic; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, sticky consistence wet; pH 7.6; sharp change to:
Subsoil

B2110-30 cmDark grey (7.5YR4/0); heavy clay; plastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, sticky consistence wet; pH 7.6:

B2230-60 cmDark grey (7.5YR4/0); heavy clay; plastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, sticky consistence wet; pH 8.1; gradual change to:

B3160-90 cmGreyish brown (2.5Y5/2); heavy clay; plastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, sticky consistence wet; pH 8.5:

B3290-120 cmGreyish brown (2.5Y5/2); heavy clay; plastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, sticky consistence wet; pH 8.7.

Chemical and Physical Analysis:



Horizon
Sample Depth cm
pH
H2O
EC
dS/m
Sodium
Chloride
%
Exchangeable Calcium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable
Magnesium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable Potassium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable Sodium
cmol-/kg
Total
Nitrogen
%
Exchangeable Acidity
cmol-/kg
Organic Carbon
%
Permanent
Wilting
Point
-1500okPa
Coarse Sand
%
Fine
Sand
%
Silt
%
Clay
%
A1
0–10
7.6
0.11
0.01
13
5.8
1.4
0.1
0.14
6.2
1.71
14.7
29
22
8
39
B21
10–30
7.6
0.28
0.04
21.7
8.8
1.9
0.5
0.1
6.1
1.03
25.3
14
13
9
62
B22
30–60
8.1
0.41
0.08
22.3
9.3
1.7
1.5
0.06
2.2
0.59
25.6
15
12
9
63
B31
60–90
8.5
0.64
0.12
19.8
10.1
1.6
3.3
0.05
NA
0.46
30.8
16
12
9
60
B32
90–120
8.7
0.76
0.13
18.3
10.5
1.5
4.1
0.03
NA
0.35
26.0
15
12
8
60


Management Considerations:
  • Cracking clay profile, lighter surface soil.
  • Neutral thin surface soil and upper subsoil, increasingly alkaline below upper subsoil.
  • Massive surface, with sand. Some structure and possible self-mulching in places.
  • High calcium percentage in subsoil; decreasing with depth.
  • Subsoil is sodic and salinity increases at depth, particularly below 60 cm.
  • Cracking may allow air and seasonal moisture to penetrate.
  • Very strong consistence when dry, implications for compaction and implement use.
  • Landform element, flat: 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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