LSWW16

Clay flats near Benayeo		Site Code	LSWW16	Endocalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-mulching, Grey VERTOSOL
		Location	North of Benayeo, western Victoria
		Landform	Plain
		Geology	Quaternary swamp and lake deposits: paludal silt and clay
		Element	Plain




Horizon	Depth (cm)	Description
A1	0–10	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); light clay; moderate coarse polyhedral structure; self-mulching surface condition (particularly evident after cultivation); strong consistence when dry; pH 8.6:
B21	10–20	Grey (10YR5/1) with slight brownish yellow (10YR6/8) mottles; medium clay; moderate coarse prismatic, parting to moderate coarse blocky structure; smooth ped fabric; strong consistence when dry (complete dispersion when worked); pH 8.4: Note: Within the upper subsoil there is a discontinuous bleached A2 horizon with a fine sandy clay loam texture.
B22	20–40	Medium clay; lenticular structure and some slickensides; smooth ped fabric; pH 8.7:
B23	40–60	Medium clay; lenticular structure and some slickensides; smooth ped fabric; complete dispersion; pH 8.8:
B24	60–80	Medium clay; smooth ped fabric; pH 9.0 ;
B25	80–130	Medium heavy clay; strong fine lenticular, parting to very fine lenticular structure; smooth ped-fabric; pH 9.3:
B26	130–180+	Heavy clay; some slickensides; smooth ped fabric; few soft and hard calcareous and silica nodules; pH 9.1.
Management Considerations
Uniform clay throughout profile. Alkaline profile, strongly sodic subsoil and increased salinity at depth. Plant Available Water Capacity (PAWC) is considered to be low (estimated at 70 mm) for this site profile based on an Effective Rooting Depth (ERD) of 40 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), very high carbonate (lime) content (not applicable to all plant species ) or hard rock. Self-mulching surface when cultivated. Uneven drainage, due to gilgai micro-relief. Lenticular structure and slickensides indicate high shrinking and swelling of the clay subsoil, which results in surface cracking and gilgai micro-relief. Very poor 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 %
Horizon	Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl₂)	EC dS/m	NaCl %	Ca	Mg	K	Na	Wilting Point (pF4.2)	Coarse Sand %	Fine Sand %	Silt %	Clay %
A1	0–10	8.6	7.9	0.14		22	5.6	1.5	0.8	20.3	7.4	28.6	7	48
B21	10–20	8.7	7.8	0.2						25.9	6.1	20.4	5	58
B21	10–20	8.4	7.1	0.06		6.8	2.8	0.4	0.9	8.5	14.4	47.4	12	21.5
B22	20–40	8.7	7.5	0.25		15	13	1.6	6.4		4.6	15.7	8	62.5
B23	40–60	8.8	8	0.32	<0.05	13	14	1.6	8.4
B24	60–80	9	8.2	0.27
B25	80–130	9.3	8.5	0.74	0.07	9.2	14	1.3	12
B26	130–180+	9.1	8.6	1.1	0.16

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