CRC2

Location: Murroa

Australian Soil Classification: Bleached-Ferric (& Reticulate), Eutrophic, Yellow CHROMOSOL
General Landscape Description: Low rises
Site Description: Upper slope of low rise
Geology: Tertiary/Quaternary basalt.

Site CRC2 Landscape

A1	0-10 cm	Dark brown (10YR3/3); fine sandy clay loam (slightly spongy); weak coarse blocky, parting to moderate blocky structure; firm consistence (dry); ferruginous nodules (2-8 mm) common (20%); pH 6.3:	Site CRC2 Profile
A2c	10-25 cm	Dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4) (10YR6/4 dry); fine sandy clay loam; very many (50%) ferruginous nodules (2-15 mm); ferromanganiferous (magnetic) nodules; pH 5.6:
Subsoil
B21	25-35 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/6); light clay (subplastic); weak medium blocky, parting to moderate-strong medium to fine polyhedral structure; very firm consistence (moist) to strong consistence (dry); ferruginous nodules (2-10 mm) are common (20%); pH 6.2:
B22	35-50 cm	Reddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) with few dark red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; light medium clay; strong coarse to medium polyhedral structure; very firm consistence (moist) to strong consistence (dry); few (5%) ferruginous nodules; pH 6.5; gradual change to:
B23	50-100 cm	Reddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) with many (50%) dark red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; medium clay; strong coarse to medium polyhedral, parting to fine polyhedral structure (shiny-faced peds); very firm consistence (moist); few ferruginous nodules (2-5 mm); pH 6.3; gradual change to:
B24	100-140+ cm	Light yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with many dark red (2.5YR4/8) and light grey (10YR7/1) mottles (reticulated mottling); medium clay; strong medium to coarse polyhedral, parting to fine polyhedral structure (shiny-faced peds); with nests of lenticular structure; very firm consistence (dry); pH 6.2.

• Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B) horizons.
• Many ferruginous nodules in the subsurface (A2) horizon.

	pH	Salinity Rating	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Strongly Acid	Low	Non-Sodic	None
Subsoil (B21c horizon)	Slightly Acid	Very Low	Non-Sodic	None
Deeper subsoil (at 100-140+ cm)	Slightly Acid	Very Low	Marginally Sodic	None

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	EC dS/m	Exchangeable Aluminium ppm	Exchangeable Acididty meq/100g	Exchangeable Cations				Coarse Sand (0.2-2.0 mm) %	Fine Sand (0.02-0.2 mm) %	Silt (0.002-0.02 mm) %	Clay (<0.002 mm) %	Field Capacity % w/w	Wilting Point % w/w
							Ca	Mg	K	Na
							meq/100g
A1	0-10	5.1	4.7	0.25	35	17	4.6	1.6	1.0	0.51	12	33	22	19	35	15
A2c	10-25	5.6	4.9	0.06	16	8.8	3.4	1.6	0.21	0.35	24	32	21	18	25	10
B21c	25-35	6.2	5.6	0.08	<10	9.7	4.2	4	0.15	0.58	9	19	11	57	33	22
B22	35-50	6.5	6.2	0.11		11	4.6	5.4	0.16	0.87	2	8	11	75	42	31
B23	50-100	6.3	6.1	0.13	<10	9.3	4.1	5.7	0.12	1	3	8	8	79	43	32
B24	100-140+	6.2	6.1	0.14	<10	9.0	3.5	7.1	0.11	1.2	3	10	13	75

• The surface soil (upper 10 cm) is strongly acid which indicates that aluminium and manganese toxicity may occur. The level of exchangeable aluminium measured at this site is in the low range i.e. 35 mg/kg. However, a pH/aluminium test is best performed from samples taken across the paddock and bulked together. Other factors also need to be considered before lime is recommended e.g. pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost/benefit.

• The upper subsoil is non-sodic and well structured, parting to fine polyhedral aggregates. This will be conducive to root and water movement, although the strong texture contrast will provide some restrictions.