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

Victorian Resources Online

MP26

Group: Birchip Cropping Group.Location: Curyo.
Australian Soil Classification: Hypercalcic, Mesonatric, Red SODOSOL.
General Landscape Description: Low rise (possibly a lunette) on a plain within the Culgoa Land System (Rowan and Downes, 1963).


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-10 cmDark brown (7.5YR4/4); light sandy clay loam; massive and hardsetting; firm consistence dry; pH 8.6; sharp change to:

Photo: Site MP26 Soil Profile
Site MP26 Profile
A210-20 cmBrown (7.5YR4/6); light sandy loam; massive; weak to firm consistence dry; thin bleached layer occurs at the interface with the subsoil; pH 8.4; sharp change to:


Subsoil

B2120-40 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); light medium clay (sandy); moderate coarse to very coarse prismatic structure; pH 9.6:

B2240-60 cmReddish yellow (5YR6/8); medium clay; moderate coarse prismatic structure; very firm consistence dry; pH 8.9; gradual change to:

B23k60-160 cmReddish yellow (7.5YR6/6); light medium clay; moderate medium prismatic structure; strong consistence dry; contains many (20-30%) fine earth carbonate segregations, hard carbonate nodules and some ironstone fragments common (10-20%); pH 9.8; gradual change to:

B31160 cm+Reddish yellow (7.5YR6/6); medium heavy clay; strong medium prismatic structure (smooth-faced peds); strong consistence dry; contains a zone of soft manganese segregations at 160-165 cm; pH 6.8.

Soil Profile Characteristics:


pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
strongly alkaline
very low
non-sodic
none
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
extremely alkaline
low
strongly sodic
strong
Deeper subsoil
(at 1 m)
extremely alkaline
medium-high
very strongly sodic
slight-moderate
1 Strong dispersion after remoulding.


Graph: Site MP26 pH levels
Graph: Site MP26 Salinity levels
Graph: Site MP26 Sodicity levels

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH (CaCl2)
EC
1:5
NaCI %
Exchangeable Cations
Field
Capacity
pF 2.5
Wilting Point
pF 4.2
Coarse Sand (0.2 - 2.0 mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02 -0.2 mm)
Silt
(0.002 -0.02 mm)
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-10
8.6
7.9
0.09

14.6
2.7
1.9
0.3
23
8
36
31
4
23
A2
10-20
8.4
7.9

<0.05
5.9
1.2
0.2
0.5
15
3




B21
20-40
9.6
8.6
0.34
<0.05
5.8
10.3
0.8
5.2
37
16
32
26
2
36
B22
40-60
8.9
7.6
0.08

6.8
5.4
0.5
2.2
28
12




B23k
60-160
9.8
8.9
0.92
0.12
2.6
8
0.9
9.1
38
16




B31
160+
6.8
6.4
1.38
0.25
3.4
8.7
0.8
5.7







Management Considerations:

General
  • Management strategies for all soils should aim to increase organic matter levels in the surface soil; minimise the degradation of soil aggregates and porosity; promote the development of stable biopores; improve the calcium status of the cation exchange complex (particularly when sodium is a significant part), and break up any hardpans. Less frequent tillage, using less aggressive implements, and working the soil at optimum moisture content can all assist in maintaining soil aggregation and porosity as well as reducing the breakdown of organic matter.
Surface (A) Horizons
  • The upper surface soil is strongly alkaline which indicates that phosphorus and some trace elements (e.g. iron, manganese, copper and zinc) may be poorly available to plants.
  • The hardsetting surface horizon requires organic matter for maintaining soil aggregation.
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The strongly sodic and dispersive subsoil is coarsely structured and likely to significantly restrict root and water movement down the profile.
  • A medium to high level of soluble salts occur from 80 cm in the soil profile and is likely to affect the growth of salt-sensitive species (e.g. lucerne, faba beans and linseed).
  • The subsoil is extremely alkaline which indicates that phosphorus and some trace elements (e.g. iron, manganese, copper and zinc) may be poorly available to plants.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof and John Martin (23/1/93).
Page top