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LP80

Location: Frenchmans

Australian Soil Classification: Bleached, Eutrophic, Red CHROMOSOL

Northcote Factual Key: Dy 2.42

General Landscape Description: Lower alluvial terrace.
Geology: Quaternary alluvial deposits (Shepparton Formation).

Photo: Soil Pit Site LP80 Landscape


--- Terrace (Upper and Lower)
    --- Current Flood Plain

    --- Lower Terrace - pit site
    LP80 Landscape

    Soil Profile Morphology
    :

    Surface Soil

    A10-12 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4); fine sandy loam; firm surface condition; massive; weak consistence moist; pH 5.3; clear change to:Image: LP80 Profile
    LP80 Profile
    A212-25 cmReddish yellow (5YR6/6); conspicuously bleached; light fine sandy loam; structureless; weak consistence moist; pH 5.4; abrupt change to:
    Subsoil
    B125-30 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); fine sandy clay loam; weak medium blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 5.4; abrupt change to:
    B2130-45 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); medium clay; moderate medium blocky, parting to fine blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 6.1 abrupt and wavy change to:
    B2245-65 cmYellowish red (5YR4/6); medium heavy clay; weak coarse blocky, parting to moderate fine blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 6.7; gradual change to:
    B2365-90 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6); medium clay; strong medium blocky, parting to strong fine blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 7.0; gradual change to:
    B390+ cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with yellowish red (5YR5/6) and few red (2.5YR5/8) mottles; very fine sandy clay loam; weakly structured with verticle layering; macropores are common; very firm consistence slightly moist; pH 7.3.

    Key Profile Features:
    • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizon and the upper subsoil (B21) horizon.

    Soil Profile Characteristics:

    pH
    Salinity Rating
    Surface
    (A1 horizon)
    Strongly Acid
    Low
    Non-Sodic
    -
    Subsoil
    (B21 horizon)
    Slightly Acid
    Very Low
    Non-Sodic
    None1
    Deeper Subsoil
    (at 90 cm)
    Slightly Alkaline
    Very Low
    Non-Sodic
    None1
    1 Moderate dispersion when remoulded.
    Image: LP80 Graphs
    The surface is strongly acid. The subsoil is slightly acid becoming slightly alkaline with depth.The surface has a low salinity rating. The subsoil has a very low salinity rating.The profile is non-sodic throughout.

    Chemical and Physical Analysis:

    Horizon
    Horizon Depth
    (cm)
    pH
    (water)
    pH
    (CaCl2)
    EC
    dS/m
    Organic Carbon
    %

    Nitrogen
    %
    Exchangeable Cations
    Ca
    Mg
    K
    Na
    Meq/100g
    A11
    0-12
    5.3
    4.3
    0.05
    1.3
    0.12
    1.3
    0.4
    0.3
    <0.1
    A12
    12-25
    5.4
    4.4
    <0.05
    0.4
    0.1
    0.2
    <0.1
    B1
    25-30
    5.4
    4.4
    <0.05
    1.8
    0.7
    0.4
    <0.1
    B21
    30-45
    6.1
    5.3
    0.05
    3.7
    1.9
    0.6
    0.1
    B22
    45-65
    6.7
    5.7
    <0.05
    5.1
    3.4
    0.7
    0.1
    B23
    65-90
    7.0
    6.0
    <0.05
    4.4
    3.7
    0.6
    0.2
    B24
    90
    7.3
    6.2
    <0.05
    2.5
    1.9
    0.3
    0.1

    Horizon
    Horizon Depth
    (cm)
    Exchangeable Aluminium
    mg/kg
    Exchangeable Acidity
    meq/100g
    A11
    0-12
    19
    5.4
    A12
    12-25
    25
    1.4
    B1
    25-30
    32
    4.1
    B21
    30-45
    B22
    45-65
    B23
    65-90
    B24
    90

    Management Considerations:

    Whole Profile Surface (A) Horizons
    • The strongly acid surface soil indicates that some nutrients (eg. aluminium, manganese) may become toxic to plants. Some plant species such as lucerne and phalaris are sensitive to significant levels of aluminium. The level of exchangeable aluminium measured in the laboratory is, however, not high at this pit site (ie. 19-32 ug/g) but may affect highly aluminium-sensitive species. A pH/aluminium test, sampled across the paddock, may be most appropriate to determine if lime is needed to raise soil pH. Other factors need to be considered, however, before lime is recommended (e.g. pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost/benefit).
    • Deficiencies in molybdenum, phosphorus and potassium may occur in strongly acid soils. Lime application may assist in increasing phosphorus availability. Plant tissue analysis may give a more accurate assessment of molybdenum requirements.
    • The inherent fertility (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations) is low for the surface horizons.
    Subsoil (B) Horizons
    • The upper subsoil is non-sodic, has a favourable calcium:magnesium ratio (ie. 2:1), and is reasonably well structured (parting to fine blocky peds). Root and water movement should be relatively good as a result.
    • The pH increases with depth down the subsoil. As a result nutrient toxicities (e.g. aluminium) are less likely to occur in the subsoil.
    Comments from Landholder:
    • Regarded as some of the best soil on the property: stocked at 4-5 sheep per acre.
    • Will grow any crop.

    Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant and Karen De Plater (June 1995).
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