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WCSS4

Location: Longerenong


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

Soil Map Unit: Kalkee Clay.
World Reference Base: Sodic, Calcic VERTISOL

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

Image: WCSS3 & 4 landscape

WWPS4 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-15 cmDark grey (10YR4/1); self-mulching; medium clay; weak to firm consistence dry; pH 8.5; clear change to:

Image: WCSS4profile
WWPS4 Profile
Subsoil



B2115-40 cmDark grey (10YR4/1) with very dark grey (10YR3/1) in some areas; medium heavy clay; moderate medium sub-angular blocky structure; weak to firm consistence moist; compacted; pH 8.9; clear change to:

B22

40-60 cmDark grey (10YR4/1); heavy clay; moderate to strong medium sub-angular blocky structure; firm to very firm consistence moist and very firm to strong consistence dry; very few (2%) calcareous segregations; some slickensides present; pH 7.5; gradual change to:
B2360-80 cmDark grey (10YR4/1) with light brown (10YR6/4) mottles; heavy clay; moderate to strong very coarse to coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; soft and semi hard calcareous segregations (10-20%) common; pH 9.3; gradual change to:

2B2180-120 cmLight brown (7.5YR6/4); medium heavy clay; strong very coarse to coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; strong consistence dry; many soft and semi hard calcareous segregations; pH 9.3; gradual change to:
2B22120+ cmPink (7.5YR7/4); heavy clay; moderate coarse sub-angular blocky, parting to moderate fine lenticular structure; many soft and semi hard calcareous nodules; pH 9.3.


Soil Profile Characteristics:

-

pH
Salinity
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Moderately Alkaline
Low
None1
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Strongly Alkaline
Low
Slight1
Deeper Subsoil
(at 80-120 cm)
Very Strongly Alkaline
Medium - High
Slight
1 Strong dispersion after remoulding.

Image: WCSS4 graphs
The surface is moderately alkaline. The upper subsoil is strongly alkaline becoming very strongly alkaline with depth.The salinity rating in the surface and upper subsoil is low. The salinity rating becomes high with depth.Boron content increases with depth becoming high below 50 cm.


Chemical and Physical Analysis:

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
Sodium Chloride
%
Organic Carbon
%
Total Nitrogen
%
Boron
mg/kg
A1
0-15
8.5
7.8
0.16
0.8
0.067
2.9
B21
15-40
8.9
8.0
0.22
0.72
0.053
3.1
B22
40-60
-
-
-
-
-
-
B23
60-80
9.3
8.5
0.76
0.075
0.36
20
2B21
80-120
9.3
8.7
1.1
0.135
39
2B22
120+
9.3
8.7
1.2
0.16
36

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