WCSS3

Location: Longerenong

Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL

Soil Map Unit: Kalkee Clay.
World Reference Base: VERTISOL

General Landscape Description: Very gently undulating plain.
Site Description: Flat, gilgai evident.
Native Vegetation: Sparse stands of remnant Buloke.
Geology: Quaternary alluvial and aeolian deposits.
Land Use: Long-term trial site for dryland cropping.

Image: WCSS3 & 4 landscape

WWPS3 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-10 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); self mulching surface condition with slight compaction evident; light clay; weak consistence moist; pH 8.2; clear change to:	WWPS3 Profile
Subsoil
B21	10-35 cm	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); medium clay; moderate medium to fine sub-angular blocky structure; weak to firm consistence moist; pH 8.5; clear change to:
B22	35-65 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); medium heavy clay; strong very coarse to coarse prismatic, parting to strong medium to fine sub-angular blocky structure; very firm consistence moist; slickensides in lower horizon; pH 9.0; gradual change to:
B23k	65-95 cm	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); medium clay; strong very coarse prismatic, parting to moderate to strong coarse to medium sub-angular blocky structure; very firm to strong consistence dry; soft and semi-hard very coarse (50 mm in size) calcareous segregations common (20%); pH 9.1; abrupt and tongued change to:
B24k	95-130 cm	Light brown (7.5YR6/4); medium heavy clay; moderate to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; very firm to strong consistence dry; many (40%) soft and semi-hard calcareous segregations; pH 9.2.

WWPS3 Profile variation

Soil Profile Characteristics:

-	pH	Salinity	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Moderately Alkaline	Very low	Non-Sodic	None ¹
Subsoil (B21 horizon)	Strongly Alkaline	Low	Non-Sodic	None ²
Deeper Subsoil (at 90-130 cm)	Very Strongly Alkaline	High	Strongly sodic	None

¹Slight-moderate dispersion after remoulding. ² Moderate-strong dispersion after remoulding.

Image: WCSS3 graphs

The surface is moderately alkaline. The upper subsoil is strongly alkaline, becoming very strongly alkaline with depth.

The salinity rating in the surface is very low. The subsoil has a low salinity rating, becoming high with depth.

The surface is non-sodic. The upper subsoil is non-sodic, becoming strongly sodic with depth.

The clay content is high throughout the profile.

Boron levels are relatively low in the upper soil profile but become high below 50 cm depth.

Chemical and Physical Analysis:

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH water	pH CaCl₂	EC dS/m	Sodium Chloride l%	Organic Carbon %	Total Nitrogen %	Exchangeable Cations				Boron mg/kg	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)
								Ca	Mg	K	Na
								meq/100g
A1	0-10	8.2	7.7	0.17	-	1.2	0.11	31	4.9	3.1	0.42	1.7	42.9	19.7	9	20	17	46
B21	10-35	8.5	7.8	0.22	-	0.84	0.07	30	7.6	1.8	1.6	1.8	49.8	25.9	8	15	17	51
B22	35-65	9.0	8.2	0.43	0.29	0.68		23	14	2.3	7.3	3	54.7	27.8	8	13	14	56
B23k	65-95	9.1	8.5	0.80	0.109			12	17	2.4	10	16	50.3	26.6	9	24	23	36
B24k	95-130	9.2	8.6	1.1	0.149			8.3	17	2.6	13	21	53.3	26.3	8	14	10	53

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof and David Rees (March 2010).

Page top