Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

LSWW06

WLRA - soil pit WW6- landscape

WLRA - soil pit WW6- profile
Vertic (and Calcic), Hypernatric, Brown SODOSOL

    Location

Lillimur, western Victoria

    Landform

Rise

    Geology

Quaternary Woorinen Formation:
aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay

    Element

Hillcrest

Horizon
Depth (cm)
Description

A1

0–10

Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2);
fine sandy clay loam; massive (structureless); strong consistence when dry; pH 6.6; abrupt change to:

B21

10–45

Strong brown (7.5YR4/6), dark yellowish brown organic staining on ped faces;
medium heavy clay; moderate coarse blocky, parting to medium blocky structure; strong consistence when slightly moist; pH 9.0; clear and wavy change to:

B22k

45–70

Pale yellow (2.5Y7/4) with a few strong brown mottles, and some patches of strong brown (7.5YR5/6);
light medium clay; weak polyhedral, parting to moderate fine polyhedral structure; smooth ped fabric; contains common soft calcareous segregations with few calcareous/silica nodules; pH 9.3; gradual change to:

B23

70–160

Reddish yellow (7.5YR7/6);
medium clay; moderate coarse polyhedral structure; smooth ped fabric; a few small slickensides; very firm consistence when moderately moist; pH 9.2; diffuse change to:

B24

160+

Yellow (10YR7/6);
medium clay; moderate coarse polyhedral, parting to medium polyhedral structure; smooth ped fabric with sand along ped faces; firm consistence when moderately moist; pH 9.2.

Management Considerations

  • Strong textural contrast between A and B horizons
  • Slightly acidic topsoil
  • Topsoil dispersive after reworking
  • Strongly alkaline subsoil which is strongly sodic and dispersive
  • Subsoil cracks, vertic
  • Upper subsoil has the maximum clay content and the most developed soil structure
  • Carbonate layer at 45 cm
  • Plant Available Water Capacity (PAWC) is considered to be very low (estimated at 17 mm) for this site profile based on an Effective Rooting Depth (ERD) of 10 cm. Rooting depth will be restricted by subsoil conditions, such as strongly sodic (Exchangeable Sodium Percentage >20%), high soluble salt levels (Chloride >0.1%), poor structure (eg. massive or very coarse, columnar or prismatic).
  • Hillcrest, moderate site drainage

Horizon
Depth (cm)
pH (water)
pH (CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
NaCl
%
Exchangeable Cations
cmol-/kg
Wilting Point
(pF4.2)
Coarse Sand
%
Fine Sand
%
Silt
%
Clay
%
Ca
Mg
K
Na
A1
0–10
6.6
5.8
0.18
4.3
3.7
1
1
10.3
26.3
36.6
8
23.5
B21
10–45
9
8.3
0.75
0.13
7.7
11
1
8
22.1
15.1
22.3
6.5
48.5
B22k
45–70
9.3
8.7
1.5
0.27
4.7
9.2
1.1
9
20.7
15
18.6
5.5
40.5
B23
70–160
9.2
8.7
1.6
0.33
5
11
1.1
11
B24
160+
9.2
8.7
1.6
0.31
Page top