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WLRA148

WLRA - soil pit WLRA148- landscape
Lucerne on an alluvial plain

    Site Code
WLRA148

    Location

Landsborough Road, Joel, western Victoria

    Landform

Alluvial plain

    Geology

Quaternary recent alluvium:
fluvial gravel, sand, silt

    Element

Plain

    Slope

<1%

    Aspect

East

Horizon
Depth (cm)

A1

0–15

Brown (10YR5/3);
sandy loam; strong fine subangular blocky, parting to fine to very fine granular structure; rough-ped fabric; weak dry consistence; common medium to coarse and fine to very fine roots; slightly water repellent; pH 5.6; abrupt and smooth boundary to:
WLRA - soil pit WLRA148- profile
Calcic, Mottled-Subnatric, Grey SODOSOL

A2

15–45

Light brownish grey (10YR6/2), conspicuously bleached very pale brown (10YR8/2);
silty loam; massive (structureless); firm dry consistence; common medium to coarse roots, few fine to very fine roots; pH 5.8; abrupt and irregular boundary to:

B21

45–70

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2) with many medium distinct yellowish red (5YR4/6) mottles;
medium heavy clay; strong medium prismatic, parting to fine subangular blocky structure; smooth and rough ped-fabric; very strong dry consistence; few distinct mangans; common medium to coarse and common fine to very fine roots; pH 7.8 clear and smooth boundary to:

B22

70–110

Yellowish brown (10YR5/8);
light clay; massive (structureless); very firm dry consistence; few medium to coarse calcareous nodules and soft segregation patches; common medium to coarse and few fine to very fine roots; pH 8.8; gradual and smooth boundary to:

B3

110–140+

Yellowish brown (10YR5/6);
silty clay loam; massive (structureless); very firm dry consistence; few medium to coarse calcareous nodules and soft segregation patches; common medium to coarse and few fine to very fine roots; pH 8.7.

Management Considerations

  • Texture contrast profile, occasionally gradational; sodic subsoil
  • Subsurface horizon is leached (bleached). Fewer nutrients available
  • Slightly acidic surface and subsurface soil and alkaline subsoil
  • Note high fine sand content throughout
  • Less clay with deeper subsoil and higher proportion of magnesium to calcium at depth
  • Red mottling of upper subsoil; some minor drainage restrictions. Carbonate at depth.
  • Subsoil is highly dispersive. Limited (preferably no) exposure required to remain stable. Slight salinity potential at depth.
  • Surface and subsurface soil is only slightly dispersive
  • Landscape position, alluvial plain. Water shedding potential is low


Chemical Analysis:


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
0–15
5.6
5
0.11
4.4
1
0.93
0.09
29.8
6.9
2.6
56.2
12.5
27.5
A2
15–45
5.8
5.2
0.05
1.4
0.79
0.09
0.16
18.8
3.7
2
63
13
17.5
B21
45–70
7.8
7
0.18
3.7
6.4
0.82
1.8
27.6
14.4
0.4
36.9
22
35.5
B22
70–110
8.8
8.2
0.25
2
5.1
0.46
1.6
B3
110–140+
8.7
8.2
0.4
0.08
1.4
5.4
0.5
1.2
24.7
7.4
0.2
69.6
11.5
15.5
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