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Site NE38

Property: Rutherglen Research Institute.
Paddock #: F

Australian Soil Classification: Bleached-Sodic, Eutrophic, Red CHROMOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Dy 3.43
Great Soil Group: No suitable group.

General Landscape Description: Higher area of plain.
Soil Mapping Unit: Type A.

Photo: Site NE38 Landscape
Site NE38 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil


A10-12 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4); light fine sandy clay loam; weak coarse blocky structure; weak consistence moist; pH 5.4; clear change to:Profile: Site NE38 Profile
Site NE38 Profile
A212-30 cmPinkish brown (7.5YR6.5/4) conspicuously bleached (7.5YR8/2d); light fine sandy clay loam; structureless; firm consistence dry; pH 6.0; clear change to:
Subsoil
B2130-55 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); light medium clay; weak medium polyhedral, parting to weak fine polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; manganese stains occur in patches; pH 6.8; gradual change to:
B2255-80 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with dark red (2.5YR4/6) mottles; light medium clay; moderate medium polyhedral, parting to fine polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; pH 6.0; clear change to:
B2380-100 cmPale yellow (2.5Y7/4) [with yellowish red (5YR5/8) colours associated with root channels]; light medium clay; weakly structured; strong consistence dry; pH 6.8; clear change to:
B24100-140 cm Very pale brown (10YR7/3) with brownish yellow (10YR6/8) mottles; light medium clay; moderate coarse polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains many (30%) manganese stains along ped faces and very few nodules (up to 1 cm size); pH 7.0; clear change to:
B3140 cm+Light brownish grey (10YR6/2) with yellowish red (5YR5/8) mottles; light medium clay; strong coarse prismatic, breaking to strong coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; pH 8.0.


Key Profile Features:
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons (15% clay) and subsoil (B21) horizon (38% clay).
  • Conspicuously bleached subsurface (A2) horizon.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

Graph: ph levels in Site NE38





The surface horizon is strongly acid. The upper subsoil is mainly slightly acid. The deeper subsoil is alkaline.
Graph: Sodicity in Site NE38


The top metre of the soil profile is non-sodic. The deeper subsoil is
sodic and dispersive. Note: prismatic structure occurs below 140 cm depth.
Graph: Salinity in Site NE38





The level of soluble salts is very low throughout the soil profile.
Graph: Clay% in Site NE38



The clay % increases sharply at the A/B horizon interface.

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC 1:5
Exchangeable Cations
Exchangeable
Aluminium mg/kg
Field
Capacity
pF 2.5
Wilting Point
pF 4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2 - 2 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
0-12
5.3
4.4
0.11
2.9
0.56
1.5
<0.05
10
28
7
2
53
22
15
A2
12-30
6
5.3
0.09
2.6
0.69
0.64
<0.05

20
5
2
54
29
15
B21
30-55
6.8
5.6
<0.05
3.1
2.1
2.2
0.09

25
13
1
37
25
38
B22
55-80
6
5.1
0.08
3.2
2.2
2.7
0.14

29
13
2
33
23
44
B23
80-100
6.8
5.9
0.06
3.1
2.1
1.5
0.14







B24
100-140
7
6.1
0.09
3.9
4.8
0.9
0.56







B3
140+
8
6.8
0.11
6.9
9.9
0.74
1.8








Management Considerations:

Whole Profile
  • Plant available water capacity (PAWC) is considered to be low (estimated at 85 mm) for the top metre of the soil profile. This is based on available laboratory data.
  • Exchangeable potassium levels are relatively high throughout the soil profile. According to Baker and Eldershaw (1993) levels of exchangeable potassium (relative to Cation Exchange Capacity) above 10% can result in magnesium deficiency.

Surface (A) Horizons
  • Although the surface horizons are non-sodic, slight dispersion occurs after remoulding. This indicates that some structural degradation may occur if the soil is cultivated in a moist-wet condition.
  • The surface horizon has high fine sand (53%) and silt (22%) content. Organic matter is therefore important for maintaining soil aggregation and preventing slaking. The soil is likely to become 'powdery' when cultivated dry, which may result in surface sealing occurring.
  • The surface soil has a low nutrient status (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations).
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The upper subsoil is non-sodic but disperses completely after remoulding. Deep tillage should therefore be avoided if the soil is in a moist to wet condition.
  • Upper subsoil drainage should be reasonable due to the non-sodic conditions. Water movement will be restricted to some degree at the A/B horizon interface due to the reasonably large increase in clay content.
  • The subsoil has a low-medium nutrient status (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations).
  • The large amount of manganese segregations in the deep subsoil may restrict the growth of deep rooted manganese sensitive plants.
  • Deep profile drainage will be restricted by the sodic and strongly dispersive deeper subsoil.
Management Details:
  • Pasture since 1969.
  • Sown to Trikkala clover in 1990.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof and Paul Rampant (7/5/96).

References:

Baker, D.E. and Eldershaw, V.J. (1993). Interpreting Soil Analysis for Agricultural Land Use in Queensland. Project Report Series. Queensland, Department of Primary Industries.
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