Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

GL168

Site: GL168Land Unit: Ararat Granites
Aust. Soil Class.: Mesotrophic, Mottled-Mesonatric, Grey SODOSOL (confidence level 1)

Soil pit GL168 landscapeGeneral Land Unit Description:
This land unit consists of granitic hills and rises around Ararat. Granitic tors are common on the crests and at the break of slope in some areas. Landslips are evident on the steeper slopes. This site is on a long slope off a rocky crest (GL167). Granite rock outcrop is common at the break-of-slope, although it is generally absent on the slope. The soils are deeper than GL167, although there is still a deep C horizon present. Soil depth is variable. The C horizon tends to act as a barrier for water penetration. The clay B22 horizon has an intermittent gleyed appearance that supports this. The prismatic and angular structure of the subsoil is probably a result of the high dispersibility of the clay. The dominant soil type is a Grey Sodosol, often found on the lower slopes, similar to this site. Chromosols are more likely to occur on the crests and steeper slopes. The steeper slopes and rocky crests would have a lower capability of supporting land use due to land and soil limitations.

Site Description:

Slope: 6%Geology: Ordovician granite
Landform pattern: Low hillsPosition in landscape: Lower slope
Internal drainage: Well drained

Soil Profile Morphology

A10-10 cmDark brown (7.5YR3/3) loamy coarse sand, weak polyhedral structure (10-20 mm), very weak consistence when dry, a few small angular pebbles (2-6 mm), pH 5.4. Gradual transition to: Soil pit GL168 profile
A2110-30 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4) loamy coarse sand, massive, weak consistence when dry, pH 5.2. Gradual transition to:
A2230-40 cmBrown (7.5YR5/4) loamy coarse sand, conspicuously bleached (7.5YR7/4) when dry, massive, weak consistence when dry, pH 5.9. Clear transition to:
Subsoil
B2140-55 cmBrown (10YR4/2) heavy clay, many prominent fine dark red (2.5YR3/6) mottles, strong prismatic (50-100 mm) parting to strong angular (2-5 mm) structure, clay skins are common, pH 7.4. Clear and wavy transition to:
B2255-80 cmWeak red (10R5/3), heavy clay, medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR6/6) mottles are common, strong prismatic structure (50-100 mm), very few fine manganiferous flecks, clay skins are common, pH 7.9. Sharp transition of variable depth to:
C80-180+ cmWeathered granite

Key profile features:

  • Sandy topsoil
  • Acidic topsoil
  • Strong texture contrast between topsoil and subsoil
  • Strongly sodic subsoil
  • Strong dispersive deeper subsoil
  • Mottled subsoil
Soil pit GL168 graphs
Page top