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MP50

Location: Murrayville Landcare Group.Australian Soil Classification: Calcareous, Arenic, Orthic TENOSOL
General Landscape Description: East-west dunefield near the Big Desert.Geology: Quaternary (Woorinen Formation) deposits.


Photo: Soil Pit Site MP50 Landscape
MP50 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-12 cmGreyish brown (7.5YR5/4); sand; non-calcareous; pH 7.6:

Photo: Soil Pit Site MP50 Profile
MP50 Profile
A212-40 cmBrown (7.5YR5/6); sand; non-calcareous; pH 8.9:

Subsoil

B2140-65 cmLightish brown (7.5YR6/6); sand; moderately calcareous; pH 9.2:

B2265-100 cmLightish brown (7.5YR6/6); sand; contains a few (5%) soft calcareous segregations; very highly calcareous; pH 9.2:

B23k100+ cmSand; contains hard calcareous material formed into scattered boulders (60 cm size).


Key Profile Features:
  • Sandy throughout profile.
  • Large carbonate segregations in deeper profile.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Slightly alkaline
Very low
-
-
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Very strongly alkaline
Very low
-
-
Deeper subsoil
(at 65-100cm)
Very strongly alkaline
Very low
-
-


Image: MP50 graphs

The soil profile becomes increasingly alkaline with depth.The level of soluble salts is low throughout the profile.The coarse sand content is high throughout the profile.The clay content remains low throughout the soil profile.


Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
1:5
Total Nitrogen
%
Organic Carbon
%
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-12
7.6
7
0.06
<0.05
0.32
1.8
0.61
0.4
<0.05
A2
12-40
8.9
8.3
0.07
2.8
0.49
0.27
<0.05
B21
40-65
9.2
8.6
0.09
4.9
0.5
0.18
0.14
B22
65-100
9.2
8.6
0.09
15
1.8
0.25
0.08

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
Field
Capacity
pF2.5
Wilting Point
pF4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0 mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2 mm)
Silt
(0.002-0.02 mm)
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
A1
0-12
4
2
46
50
1
4
A2
12-40
6
2
32
62
1
6
B21
40-65
5
2
35
59
1
6
B22
65-100
7
2
33
60
0
7


Management Considerations

Whole Profile

  • In 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, break up any hardpans, and improve the calcium status of the ion exchange complex. Particularly when sodium plays a significant part i.e. the soil is sodic. Less frequent tillage, using less aggressive implements, and working the soil at optimum moisture conditions can all assist in maintaining soil aggregation and porosity, as well as reducing the breakdown of organic matter.
  • Plant available water capacity (PAWC) will be low due to the sandy textured profile. The low wilting point value (2%) in the surface horizons indicates that plants will be able to utilise light rains better than for some of the heavier textured surface soils in the area. However, due to the low water storage capacity, plants will soon suffer moisture stress unless further rainfalls occur.

  • The sandy soil profile will have a low nutrient holding capacity and will be well drained throughout.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof (August 1999).
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