WCSS5

Location: Longerenong

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

Soil Map Unit: Kalkee Clay.

General Landscape Description: Level plain.
Site Description: Long-term trial site for dryland cropping.
Geology: Quaternary alluvial and aeolian deposits / lacustrine.
Native Vegetation: Sparse stands of remnant Buloke.

Image: WCSS5 landscape

WWPS5 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-12 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); self-mulching surface condition; light medium clay; moderately calcareous; pH 8.3; clear change to: ;	WWPS5 Profile
A2	12-25 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1) bleached (10YR6/1 dry); light clay; firm to very firm consistence dry; pH 8.7; clear change to:
Subsoil
B21	25-45 cm	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); medium heavy clay; strong medium to weak sub-angular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly calcareous; pH 8.6; gradual change to:
B22	45-100 cm	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); medium clay; strong very coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse to medium angular blocky structure; pH 8.7; diffuse change to:
B23	100-150 cm	Pale brown (10YR6/3) with very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); medium heavy clay; strong medium to fine lenticular structure; few (2-5%) soft and semi hard calcareous segregations; slickensides present; pH 8.8.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

-	pH	Salinity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Moderately Alkaline	Low	None¹
Subsoil (B21 horizon)	Strongly Alkaline	Low	Moderate²
Deeper Subsoil (at 45-100 cm)	Strongly Alkaline	Low	Moderate³

¹Slight dispersion after remoulding. ²Strong dispersion after remoulding. ³Complete dispersion after remoulding.

Image: WCSS5 graphs

The surface is moderately alkaline. The subsoil is strongly alkaline.

The salinity rating is low to 1 metre, then increases with depth.

Boron content increases after 60 cm depth.

The clay content is high throughout the profile.

Chemical and Physical Analysis:

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl₂)	EC dS/m	Sodium Chloride %	Organic Carbon %	Total Nitrogen %	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)


A1	0-12	8.3	7.8	0.24		1.2	0.088	2.7	42.43	22.16	10	19	17	44
A2	12-25	8.7	7.9	0.15		0.7	<0.05	1.4	27.29	11.99	23	31	13	30
B21	25-45	8.6	7.6	0.15		0.71		1.1	41.41	19.33	18	21	18	44
B22	45-100	8.7	7.6	0.21		0.93		1.8	49.66	24.73	13	16	13	51
B23	100-150	8.8	8.4	1.7	0.274			27	61.49	29.98	8	16	10	60

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

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