LS21 south

Location: Baker

Australian Soil Classification: Episodic-Epicalcareous, Epipedal, Grey VERTOSOL

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

General Landscape Description: Gently Undulating Plain.
Site Description: Mound component within a gilgaied plain.
Native Vegetation: Black Box and Lignum Bush occur in undisturbed areas.

LS21 south Landscape

A1	0-10 cm	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); medium clay; firm consistence dry; pH 9.3;	LS1 south Profile
Subsoil
B21	10-50 cm	Greyish brown (10YR5/2); strong medium blocky structure; firm consistence moist; contains a slight amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.3;
B22	50-100 cm	Light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) with yellowish red (5YR5/8) mottles; light medium clay; moderate to strong medium prismatic, parting to moderate coarse blocky structure; contains a slight amount of soft carbonate; firm consistence moist; pH 9.3;
B23	100+ cm	Very pale brown (10YR7/3); light medium clay; contains a moderate amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.4.

The profile is very strongly alkaline throughout.

The salinity rating is medium in the surface and extremely high in the subsoil.

The profile is strongly sodic throughout.

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	EC dS/m	Na Cl %	Exchangeable Cations				Total Nitrogen %	Organic Carbon %	Field Capacity pF 2.5	Wilting Point pF 4.2
						Ca	Mg	K	Na
						meq/100g
A1	0-10	9.3	8.4	0.66	0.1	10.2	9.5	2	4.9	0.13	1.3	32.1	24.2
B21	10-50	9.3	8.7	1.88	0.37	6	16	2.6	13.4			53.7	36.1
B22	50-100	9.3	8.7	2.19	0.46	3.9	12	2.3	11.2
B23	100+	9.4	8.8	1.99	0.38	3.3	12	2	10.7

• Moderately saline surface conditions are likely to restrict plant growth.
• Surface soil is sodic and will disperse strongly if mechanically disturbed in a moist condition.

• Subsoil is strongly sodic and magnesic but dispersion is retarded due to high soluble salt concentrations in the soil.
• The calcium/magnesium ratio for the subsoil is low (approx. 0.2) and may result in deleterious effects to plants from magnesium toxicity or calcium deficiency.
• The high level of soluble salts is likely to be harmful to all but very salt tolerant plants.