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EGC205

Location: Hinnomunjie

Australian Soil Classification: Eutrophic, Brown CHROMOSOL

Map Unit: Hinnomunjie (Component 2)
Previous Site Name: EG205

General Landscape Description: Rolling low hills
Site description: Lower north-west facing slope (8% slope)
Land Use: Grazing on annual pasture
Native Vegetation: Montane dry woodland
Geology: Ordovician metamorphosed sediments

Soils and landforms of the Omeo/Benambra and Tambo Valley region - soil-landform unit Hinnomunjie EG250 landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface soil

Soils and landforms of the Omeo/Benambra and Tambo Valley region - soil-landform unit Hinnomunjie EG250 profile
A110 – 15 cmReddish brown (5YR4/3); clay loam; weak medium polyhedral structure; weak consistence dry; pH 5.2; clear change to:

A1215 – 25 cmReddish brown (5YR5/4); clay loam; weak medium (10 – 20 mm) polyhedral structure; weak consistence dry; many angular tabular pebbles; pH 5.2; clear change to:

A1325 – 30 cmRed (2.5YR4/6); clay loam; strong fine granular structure; firm consistence dry; many angular tabular (20 – 60 mm) pebbles; pH 5.6; diffuse change to:
Subsoil

B130 – 40 cmRed (2.5YR4/6); light medium clay; strong fine granular structure; firm consistence dry; pH 6.0; clear change to:

B2140 – 65 cmReddish brown (7.5YR4/4); medium clay; strong fine granular structure; firm consistence dry; pH 6.0; clear change to:

C65 – 85 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4); medium clay with soft rock; common angular tabular (6 – 20 mm) pebbles; soft rock increasing with depth.

Key Profile Features:
  • Gradual increase in soil texture down the soil profile.


Soil Profile Characteristics:
-

pH
Salinity
Surface soil
(A1 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Very Low
Non-sodic
None
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Moderately Acid
Very Low
Non-sodic
None
Deep subsoil (B22 horizon)

Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-sodic
None



Chemical and Physical Analysis:
Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl
2)
EC
dS/m
Organic Carbon
%
Total
Nitrogen
%
Free
Fe
2O3
% w/w
Exchangeable Aluminium
ppm
Exchangeable Acididty
meq/100g
Exchangeable Cations
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0 mm)
%
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2 mm)
%
Silt
(0.002-0.02 mm)
%
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
%
Field Capacity
% w/w
Wilting Point
% w/w
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A11
0-15
5.2
4.7
0.13
2.5
0.19
3.4
12
5.7
3
1
0.5
0.07
16
51
10
16
19.7
6.1
A12
15-25
5.2
4.6
0.07
1.2
0.09
18
5.1
2.3
0.83
0.22
0.08
18
52
8
18
18.3
5.4
A13
25-30
5.6
4.9
<0.05
0.84
11
4.7
2.5
1.5
0.22
0.09
18
49
12
17
19.6
6.6
B21
30-40
6.0
5.2
<0.05
0.68
<10
6.2
3.3
3.8
0.25
0.16
7
46
13
31
24.5
11.4
B22
40-65
6.5
5.6
<0.05
0.7
11.0
5.3
9
0.37
0.28
2
16
9
70
37.9
24.7


Management Considerations

Whole profile
  • Infiltration of water though the upper part of the soil profile will be rapid due to porous nature of the surface horizons.
  • Plant available water content for this profile is considered to be moderate, based on a plant root depth of 65 cm.
  • The clay content increases quite markedly at 40 cm.
Surface (A) horizons
  • The low wilting point (6.1, 5.4 and 6.6) of the surface soils indicates the plants are able to utilise very light rains when the soil is dry. However, due to the low water storage capacity, plants will soon suffer moisture stress unless further rains occur.
  • The organic matter content of the soil is high. Such levels result in a good structural condition and good structural stability.
  • The surface soil is strongly acid and a pasture response to lime additions would be quite likely. As the soil is also fairly high in iron oxide, deficiencies in phosphorus and molybdenum are likely and lime applications would increase nutrient availability.
  • Potassium at a moderate level for pastures and no response to potassium fertiliser would be expected.
  • Salinity is not a problem in the surface soil.
  • The nutrient holding capacity of the surface horizons is low (based on the sum of the exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium cations). Organic matter is important for maintaining soil fertility on such soils.
Subsoil (B) horizons
  • The subsoil and the deep subsoil are not sodic and do not disperse. However both slake considerably and if the subsoil is exposed, for example by a gully head, headward erosion is very highly likely.

Profile Described By: Heather Adams, Julieanne Sargant and Ian Sargeant, June 2009.
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