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.