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Kalkee group

In the present survey, the dark grey and grey self-mulching VERTOSOLS (referred to as Kalkee Group) include the following soil series:

1) Kalkee Series 1
2) Kalkee Series 2
3) Kalkee Series 3

1) Kalkee Series 1

The soil series is characterised by having a dominantly dark, to very dark grey horizon immediately below the self-mulching surface layer. Subsoil colours usually become gradually lighter with depth.

This series consists of the following soil type:

Kalkee Clay - type 1 (Kc-1)

Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

  • 10-15 cm thick.
  • Dark grey to very dark greyish brown.
  • Light to medium clay.
  • Friable to very friable.
  • Trace to slight amounts of hard CaCO3.

Subsoil
  • Very dark grey with dark grey or greyish brown ‘in-fills’, gradually becoming mottled brown and grey colours at about 40-50 cm. At depth, the degree of mottling increases and some yellow and/or red colours may occur.
  • Medium to heavy clay.
  • Friable.
  • Trace to slight amounts of soft and/or hard CaCO3; may increase up to light amounts with depth.
  • Pockets of fine crystals of gypsum may occur in the deep subsoils.

Analytical Data for Selected Depths Down the Profile:

Depth
pH
Total Soluble Salts
Sodium Chloride
Moisture Retention @ 15-Bar
Moisture Retention @ 1/3-Bar
.
.
%
%
%
%
A
8.5
0.058
0.013
18.8
29.6
B
8.9
0.090
0.025
23.0
39.6
C
9.2
0.295
0.098
27.8
50.0

Occurrence:

Kalkee Clay-type 1 occurs mainly in shallow depressions and level areas of the gently undulating gilgai plains. It also occurs in some parts of the flood plains.

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2) Kalkee Series 2

The soil series is characterised by having a dominantly grey to yellowish grey horizon immediately below the self-mulching surface layer. Subsoil colours may become lighter and/or moderately mottled with depth.

The following three soil types are included in this series (Kalkee Clay-type 2, Type L and Type M)

Kalkee Clay - type 2 (Kc-2)

Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil
  • 10-15 cm thick.
  • Yellowish, or brownish, grey to grey-brown.
  • Light to medium clay.
  • Friable to very friable.
  • Trace to slight amounts of hard CaCO3.

Subsoil
  • Grey to greyish brown, sometimes slightly mottled with yellow, or yellowish grey colours. At about 40-70 cm, the degree of mottling may gradually increase and the main colours become lighter and/or browner with depth.
  • Streaks of surface soil material ‘in-fills’ usually occur and may continue to depths greater than 100 cm.
  • Medium to heavy clay.
  • Friable.
  • Trace to slight amounts of soft and/or hard CaCO3; may increase up to light amounts with depth.
  • Fine crystals of gypsum may occur in isolated pockets in the deep subsoils.

Analytical Data for Selected Depths Down the Profile:

.Depth
.pH
Total Soluble Salts
Sodium Chloride
Moisture Retention @ 15-Bar
Moisture Retention @ 1/3-Bar
%
%
%
%
A
8.3
0.050
0.008
21.5
34.9
B
9.0
0.101
0.030
25.9
43.2
C
9.3
0.234
0.087
28.9
52.2

Occurrence:

Kalkee Clay-type 2 occurs commonly on the gently undulating gilgai plains.


Type L

Profile Morphology:

In general, the main profile features of this soil type are similar to those of Kalkee Clay-type 2. However, Type L is distinguishable by the following characteristics:
  • The soil consistence is generally very hard to extremely hard (dry) and non-friable (moist) throughout the profile and particularly so for the surface horizons.
  • The soil profile is often carbonate free to a depth of about 50 cm.

Analytical Data for Selected Depths Down the Profile:

Depth
pH
Total Soluble Salts
Sodium Chloride
Moisture Retention @ 15-Bar
Moisture Retention @ 1/3-Bar
.
.
%
%
%
%
A
7.4
0.057
0.019
17.8
29.6
B
8.3
0.149
0.085
22.4
36.7
C
8.7
0.479
0.282
24.6
44.2

Occurrence:

Type L occurs mainly in the flood plains and low-lying areas.


Type M

Profile Morphology:

In general, the main profile features of this soil type are similar to those of Kalkee Clay-type 2. However, the essential differences concern the surface soil properties of Type M as listed below:
  • Shallow (3-10 cm).
  • Compacted or hardsetting (therefore, it is less self-mulching and non or weakly pedal).
  • Sandy clay.
  • Hard to very hard (dry) and moderately friable to non-friable (moist).
  • CaCO3 may be absent.

Analytical Data for Selected Depths Down the Profile:

Depth
pH
Total Soluble Salts
Sodium Chloride
Moisture Retention @ 15-Bar
Moisture Retention @ 1/3-Bar
..
%
%
%
%
A
8.1
0.054
0.016
19.8
29.7
B
9.1
0.111
0.046
29.5
47.6
C
9.1
0.363
0.155
29.1
53.4

Occurrence:

Type M occurs mainly in depressions and flood plains.


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3) Kalkee Series 3

The soil series is characterised by having a dominantly grey to yellowish grey horizon immediately below the self-mulching surface layer. Subsoils change gradually to brown and/or red ‘or reddish’ colours and usually become mottled, before total depth of 150 cm.

This series consists of the following soil type:

Kalkee Clay - type 3 (Kc-3)

Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

  • 15-20 cm thick.
  • Brown to grey-brown.
  • Medium to heavy clay.
  • Friable to very friable.
  • Trace to slight amounts of hard CaCo3.

Subsoil

  • Grey to brown, dark grey-brown, or yellow-grey, sometimes slightly mottled. At about 70-100 cm, the degree of mottling usually gradually increases and the main colours change into brown, pale ‘or yellowish’ brown and/or reddish yellow.
  • Streaks of surface soil material ‘in-fills’ usually occur and may continue to depths greater than 100 cm.
  • Medium to heavy clay.
  • Friable.
  • Trace to slight amounts of soft and/or hard CaCO3; may increase up to light amounts with depth.
  • Fine crystals of gypsum may occur in isolated pockets in the deep subsoils.

Analytical Data for Selected Depths Down the Profile:

Depth
pH
Total Soluble Salts
Sodium Chloride
Moisture Retention @ 15-Bar
Moisture Retention @ 1/3-Bar
..
%
%
%
%
A
8.4
0.043
*
21.1
32.6
B
8.8
0.065
0.010
25.1
41.5
C
9.1
0.213
0.058
26.4
47.0

* Sodium chloride contents were not measured and are expected to be very low (based on TSS < 0.05%).

Occurrence:

Kalkee Clay - type 3 occurs commonly on the gently undulating gilgai plains.
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