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WLRA144

WLRA - soil pit WLRA144- landscape
Level plain, strong texture contrast soil

    Site Code
WLRA144
WLRA - soil pit WLRA144- profile
Vertic, Subnatric, Brown SODOSOL

    Location

Six Mile Creek, Joel South, western Victoria

    Landform

Level plain

    Geology

Quaternary recent alluvium:
fluvial gravel, sand, silt

    Element

Plain

    Slope

1%

    Aspect

West

Horizon
Depth (cm)
Description

A1

0–10

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2);
sandy clay loam; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; rough ped-fabric; weak dry consistence; water repellent; pH 5.0; abrupt and smooth boundary to:

A2

10–50

Conspicuously bleached pale brown; common medium to coarse ferruginous nodules; clear and irregular boundary to:

B1

10–30

Strong brown (7.5YR4/6), with very few fine faint pale brown mottles;
light clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; rough ped-fabric; firm dry consistence; pH 5.3; clear and irregular boundary to:

B21

30/50–60

Yellowish brown (10YR5/6) with a few fine distinct orange and pale brown mottles;
heavy clay; moderate fine angular blocky structure; smooth ped-fabric; strong moderately moist consistence; pH 5.8; gradual and smooth boundary to:

B22

60–105

Light olive brown (2.5Y5/4);
heavy clay; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; rough ped-fabric; strong moderately moist consistence; few fine to coarse calcareous nodules and soft segregation patches, very few fine manganiferous fragments and nodules; pH 7.5; diffuse and smooth boundary to:

B23

105–140+

Brownish yellow (10YR6/6);
medium clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; rough ped-fabric; strong moderately moist consistence; few coarse to very coarse calcareous soft segregation patches; pH 8.6.
Management Considerations

  • Strong texture contrast profile, slightly sodic subsoil, possible uniform clay soil (vertosol) in association
  • Intermittent deeper subsurface horizon is leached (bleached) with restrictive interface with subsoil (Note less clay than above and below). Few nutrients available
  • Local soil variation; gilgai with intermittent bleached horizon. Rooting depth is variable
  • Strongly acidic surface and subsurface soil, acidic upper subsoil and alkaline deeper subsoil
  • Clay percentage decreasing at depth. Carbonate at depth
  • Deep subsoil is highly to very highly dispersive. Limited (preferably no) exposure necessary to remain stable. May be slightly saline with depth.
  • Surface soil is only slightly dispersive
  • Landscape position (ie. plain). Limited site drainage

Horizon
Depth (cm)
pH (water)
pH (CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
NaCl
%
Exchangeable Cations
cmol-/kg
Field Capacity
(pF2.5)
Wilting Point
(pF4.2)
Coarse Sand
%
Fine Sand
%
Silt
%
Clay
%
Ca
Mg
K
Na
A1
0–10
5.0
4.4
0.12
2.9
1.1
0.47
0.15
27.4
8.9
9.4
50.4
6.5
31
A2
10–50
B1
10–30
5.3
4.6
0.1
3.6
4.5
0.49
0.37
34.9
16.5
4.2
36.8
8
46.5
B21
30/50–60
5.8
5.0
0.13
5.4
9.7
0.64
1.1
41.1
24.7
2.2
21.3
12
59
B22
60–105
7.8
6.9
0.14
6.5
12
0.58
2
37
21
1.1
25.4
20
50.5
B23
105–140+
8.6
8.1
0.3
<0.01
7.7
13
0.6
2.6
34.2
20.1
1.4
33.1
15.5
45.5
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