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LS14


Location: Propodollah

Australian Soil Classification: Eutrophic, Subnatric, Brown SODOSOL (deep sandy)

Northcote Factual Key: Dy 4.41
Great Soil Group: soloth

General Landscape Description: Crest of a dune on a gently undulating sand plain.

Image: LS14 Landscape
LS14 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A110-15cmDark brown (10YR4/3); loamy sand; weakly structured; loose consistence dry; pH 6.7:

Image: LS14 profile
LS14 Profile
A1215-35 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4); loamy sand; structureless; loose consistence dry:

A235-100 cmBrown (7.5YR5/4); sand; (drying out to a bleached colour); structureless; loose consistence dry; pH 6.8:

Note: Within this horizon massive yellowish red (5YR5/8); clayey sand (6% clay) areas occur which are of firm consistence dry; pH 6.1 (referred to as a B1 horizon).

Subsoil

B21100-160 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with yellowish brown (10YR5/8) mottles; coarse sandy loam (16% clay); weak coarse columnar structure and very strong consistence dry. The top of the columnar structure has a hard bleached capping; pH 6.3:

B22160+Yellowish brown (10YR5/8); coarse sandy loam; massively structured; very strong consistence dry.


Key Profile Features:

  • Deep sandy A horizons to 1m depth.

Soil Profile Characteristics:




pH

Salinity
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
_
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Sodic
_

Image: LS14 Graphs
The soil is slightly acid throughout.
The salinity rating is very low throughout.

Chemical and Physical Analysis:

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A11
0-15
6.7
6
<0.05
1.8
0.5
0.1
<0.1
A12
15-35
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
A2
35-60
6.8
5.9
<0.05
0.5
0.1
<0.1
<0.1
B1
60-100
6.1
4.9
<0.05
1.8
0.9
0.1
<0.1
B21
100-160
6.3
4.9
0.06
2
2.9
0.1
0.5
B22
160+

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
Total
Nitrogen
%
Oxidisable Organic Carbon
%
Field
Capacity
pF2.5
Wilting
Point
pF4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0 mm)
%
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2 mm)
%
Silt
(0.002-0.02 mm)
%
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
%
A11
0-15
0.06
1.1
3.7
2.1
A12
15-35
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
A2
35-60
3
0.9
B1
60-100
5.2
2.8
64
28
2
6
B21
100-160
60
22
1
16
B22
160+

Management Considerations:


Surface (A) Horizons
  • The surface soil is prone to wind erosion, but this is limited to some extent by vegetation cover and reasonable levels of organic matter which promote surface aggregation.
  • The low water holding capacity of the surface soil horizon will also be improved by increasing surface organic matter levels.
  • Sandy surface horizons have a very low inherent fertility as well as low levels of total nitrogen. High leaching rates are likely to result in nutrients being removed more readily. Increasing organic matter levels in light textured surface soils will improve nutrient holding capacity.
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The sodic subsoil horizon (with hard surface capping) is likely to restrict water movement and may affect root penetration of deeper rooted plants. Lateral movement of water will occur above the relatively impermeable subsoil after heavy rain.
Comments from Landholder:
  • Mallee cleared around 1900.
  • Skeleton weed is a problem.
  • Chisel plough used for cultivation.
Profile Described By: Mark imhof, David Rees, Sonia Thompson (October 1994).
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