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Site NE5

Property: Rutherglen Research Institute.
Paddock Number: 29.

Australian Soil Classification: Sodic, Mesotrophic, Yellow DERMOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: G 2.23
Great Soil Group: No suitable group.

General Landscape Description: Lower slope of a gently undulating rise (2%).
Soil Mapping Unit: Stillards Loam.
Native Vegetation: The original vegetation includes Yellow Box (E.melliodora).

Photo: NE5 Landscape
Site NE5 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A110-10 cmDark brown (7.5YR3/4); light fine sandy clay loam; hardsetting; weakly structured; earthy fabric; weak consistence dry; contains a trace (1%) amount of quartz gravel; pH 6.4; abrupt change to:

Photo: NE5 Profile
Site NE5 Profile
A1210-25 cmYellowish red (5YR4/6); fine sandy clay loam; massive; earthy fabric; strong consistence dry; contains a trace (1%) amount of quartz gravel; pH 5.3; clear and wavy change to:

Subsoil

B125-50 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); clay loam, fine sandy (becoming light clay with depth); weakly structured; earthy fabric; firm consistence dry; contains a few (7%) ferromanganiferous nodules, as well as a few (3%) angular quartz fragments (2-5 mm size); pH 6.5; gradual and wavy change to:

B2150-75 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; light medium clay; moderate medium blocky structure; strong consistence dry; contains a few (10%) manganese stains in patches, as well as a few (3%) quartz fragments (2-5 mm size); pH 7.1; gradual and wavy change to:

B2275-110 cmLight yellowish brown (10YR6/4) with red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; light clay; moderate medium polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a common (10-20%) amount of manganese segregations; pH 6.9; gradual change to:

B23110+ cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/6); light clay; strong medium polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a common (10%) amount of manganese segregations; pH 8.5.

Key Profile Features:
  • A lack of clear or abrupt texture change to the B Horizon i.e. gradual increase in clay content down the profile.
Soil Profile Characteristics:

Graph: pH level in Site NE5

The surface soil is slightly acid and the subsurface (A2) horizon is strongly acid. The upper subsoil is mainly slightly acid and the deeper subsoil (below 1 metre depth) is moderately alkaline.
Graph: Sodicity level in Site NE5


The upper soil profile is non-sodic. The deeper subsoil (below 1 metre depth) becomes
sodic.
Graph: Salinity level in Site NE5


The level of soluble salts are very low throughout the profile.
Graph: Clay% in Site NE5


The clay percentage increases gradually with depth.

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 - 2.0 mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02 -0.2 mm)
Silt
(0.002 -0.02 mm)
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A11
0-10
6.4
5.8
0.09
4.4
0.8
0.7
<0.1

20
9
11
57
14
15
A12
10-25
5.3
4.5
0.05
2.2
0.5
0.6
<0.1
24
19
9
13
51
17
20
B1
25-50
6.5
5.7
<0.05
4.3
1.5
0.5
0.1



12
46
15
27
B21
50-75
7.1
6
<0.05
4
2.4
0.3
0.2

24
14
6
33
15
47
B22
75-110
6.9
5.5
<0.05
1.7
3.1
0.3
0.4







B23
110+
8.5
6.8
<0.05
3.4
5.6
0.4
2.3








Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizons
  • The surface (A11) horizon has a high fine sand content (ie. 57%). Organic matter is therefore very important for maintaining aggregation and preventing slaking.
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The upper subsoil is non-sodic and does not disperse and will be relatively well drained. The redder soil colour of the upper B Horizon is also indicative of reasonable drainage conditions.
  • The deeper subsoil becomes sodic and dispersive. Deep drainage and root movement will be restricted as a consequence.
  • The presence of manganese segregations in the subsoil may have a toxic effect on deep-rooted manganese sensitive plants.
Management Details:
  • Disc ploughed in 1971 and ploughed in 1973, 1974 and 1978. Disced and cultivated in 1994.
  • Lucerne grown in 1994.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant, Sonia Thompson (16/3/95).
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