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LP80

Group: Navarre and Districts Landcare GroupMap Sheet: ST ARNAUD
Aust. Soil Class.: Bleached, Eutrophic, Red CHROMOSOLNorthcote Factual Key: Dy 2.42
General Landscape Description: Lower alluvial terrace.Geology: Quaternary alluvial deposits (Shepparton Formation)

Photo: Soil Pit Site LP80 Landscape
Soil Site LP 80 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology

Surface Soil
A110-12 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4); fine sandy loam; massive; weak consistence moist; pH 5.3; clear change to:
Photo: Soil Pit Site LP80 Profile
Soil Site LP80 Profile
A212-25 cmConspicuously bleached; light fine sandy loam; structureless; weak consistence moist; pH 5.4; abrupt change to:
Subsoil
B125-30 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); fine sandy clay loam; weak medium blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 5.4; abrupt change to:
B2130-45 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); medium clay; moderate medium blocky, parting to fine blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 6.1 abrupt and wavy change to:
B2245-65 cmYellowish red (5YR4/6); medium heavy clay; weak coarse blocky, parting to moderate fine blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 6.7; gradual change to:
B2365-90 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6); medium clay; strong medium blocky, parting to fine blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 7.0; gradual change to:
B390+ cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with yellowish red (5YR5/6) and red (2.5YR5/8) mottles; very fine sandy clay loam; weakly structured; very firm consistence slightly moist; pH 7.3.

Key Profile Features
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizon and the upper subsoil (B21) horizon.

Key Profile Characteristics

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
strongly acid
low
non-sodic
-
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
strongly acid
very low
non-sodic
none1
Deeper subsoil
(at 90 cm)
slightly alkaline
very low
non-sodic
-
1 Moderate dispersion when remoulded.

Graph: pH levels in Site LP80
Graph: Salniity levels in Site LP80
Graph: Sodicity levels in Site LP80

Horizon
Horizon Depth
pH (water)
pH CaCl2
EC 1:5
NaCl
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Meq/100g
A11
0-12
5.3
4.3
0.05
1.3
0.4
0.3
<0.1
A12
12-25
5.4
4.4
<0.05
0.4
0.1
0.2
<0.1
B1
25-30
5.4
4.4
<0.05
1.8
0.7
0.4
<0.1
B21
30-45
6.1
5.3
0.05
3.7
1.9
0.6
0.1
B22
45-65
6.7
5.7
<0.05
5.1
3.4
0.7
0.1
B23
65-90
7.0
6.0
<0.05
4.4
3.7
0.6
0.2
B24
90
7.3
6.2
<0.05
2.5
1.9
0.3
0.1

Horizon
Horizon Depth
Ex Al
mg/kg
Ex Ac
meq/100g
Field
pF2.5
Wilting Point
pF4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2mm)
Silt
(0.002-0.02mm)
Clay
(<0.002mm)
A11
0-12
19
5.4
A12
12-25
25
1.4
B1
25-30
32
4.1
B21
30-45
B22
45-65
B23
65-90
B24
90

Management Considerations:

Whole Profile Surface (A) Horizons
  • The strongly acid surface soil indicates that some nutrients (eg. aluminium, manganese) may become toxic to plants. Some plant species such as lucerne and phalaris are sensitive to significant levels of aluminium. The level of exchangeable aluminium measured in the laboratory is, however, not high at this pit site (ie. 19-32 ug/g) but may affect highly aluminium-sensitive species. A pH/aluminium test, sampled across the paddock, may be most appropriate to determine if lime is needed to raise soil pH. Other factors need to be considered, however, before lime is recommended (e.g. pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost/benefit).
  • Deficiencies in molybdenum, phosphorus and potassium may occur in strongly acid soils. Lime application may assist in increasing phosphorus availability. Plant tissue analysis may give a more accurate assessment of molybdenum requirements.
  • The inherent fertility (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations) is low for the surface horizons.
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The upper subsoil is non-sodic, has a favourable calcium:magnesium ratio (ie. 2:1), and is reasonably well structured (parting to fine blocky peds). Root and water movement should be relatively good as a result.
  • The pH increases with depth down the subsoil. As a result nutrient toxicities (e.g. aluminium) are less likely to occur in the subsoil.
Comments from Landholder:
  • Regarded as some of the best soil on the property; stocked at 4-5 sheep per acre.
  • Will grow any crop.
Notes:
  • Profile described by Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant and Karen De Plater (5/6/95).
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