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Site WW10

Location: Lillimur

Australian Soil Classification: Endocalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-mulching, Grey VERTOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Ug5.2
Great Soil Group: grey clay

General Landscape Description: Level plain. These cracking clay soils are often found in association with lakes or on plains between rises. This soil type is regarded as the most appropriate to represent the gently undulating clay plains land unit. A large area of these soils can be found around Neuarpur where irrigated white clover is grown for seed production.

Site 10 Landscape
Site WW10 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil
A10-10 cm Dark grey (10YR4/1) light clay; moderate blocky structure (peds 20-50 mm); very firm consistence when dry; pH 7.8; clear transition to:

Site Profile
Site WW10 Profile
Subsoil

B2110-75 cmDark grey (10YR4/1) medium clay; strong blocky structure, (peds 20-50 mm); smooth fabric; strong consistence when dry; pH 8.6; gradual and tongued transition to:

B22K75-100 cmLight grey (2.5Y7/2) light medium clay; strong blocky structure, (peds 20-30 mm); very strong consistence when slightly moist; many (10-30%) soft and semi-hard calcium carbonate segregations; pH 9.4:

B23100-200 cm+Light grey (2.5Y7/2) medium heavy clay; a few red mottles; prismatic structure parting to strong polyhedral structure, (peds 10-20 mm); patches of soft calcium carbonate segregations and a few hard calcium carbonate and iron/carbonate/silica segregations; pH 9.4.
Soil Profile Characteristics:
Horizon
pH
Salinity
Internal Drainage
Hydro- phobicity
Surface
(A1 horizon)
slightly alkaline
low
non-sodic
nil
moderately well drained
nil
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
strongly alkaline
low
sodic
slight1
-
-
Deeper subsoil
(at 1 metre)
very strongly alkaline
high-very high
strongly sodic
none2
-
-
1 Moderate-strong dispersion after remoulding.
2 Possibly due to the high levels of soluble salts.

Graph
Graph
Graph
Graph

Key Profile Features:
  • Surface condition slightly self-mulching. Surface becomes more self-mulching following cultivation.
  • Sodic clay subsoil.
  • Subsoils will disperse following cultivation when wet.
  • Presence of a carbonate horizon.
  • Alkaline subsoil.
  • High soil salinity at 75 cm.
  • Gilgai characteristics results in uneven depth of carbonate.
  • Uniform clay throughout profile.
Soil Restrictions and Management Prescriptions:
Feature
Result
Management Prescription
Sodic clay subsoil.
      • Poor water and air movement into the subsoil resulting in waterlogging (impeded internal drainage).
      • Poor root growth into the subsoil reducing the volume of the soil able to be exploited.
      • Gypsum applications if the subsoil is close to the surface and topsoil textures are light.
Dryland Cropping.
      • Include deep rooted crops in the rotation, minimum tillage and stubble retention.
Horticulture.
      • Deep ripping with gypsum, install tile drainage (if appropriate).
Dispersion when reworked.
      • Indication of soil sodicity. Soil structure collapses following tillage and wetting. Resulting in poor soil structure that reduces water movement and plant root growth (see sodic subsoil).
      • Increases water erosion hazard.
      • Do not cultivate wet soil (cultivate when moist.)
      • Apply gypsum if growing high value crops.
Carbonate layer (lime).
      • Highly alkaline layer. Can restrict root growth of sensitive plant species.
      • Potential for nutrient imbalance.
      • May restrict water movement if layer is hard rock.
      • Grow alkaline tolerant species.
      • Supply trace elements ie. zinc.
      • Considered sub-surface drainage (if appropriate).
Alkaline subsoil.
      • Potential nutrient imbalance.
      • Unsuitable for alkaline intolerant plants.
      • May indicate subsoil sodicity.
      • Grow alkaline tolerant plants.
Soil salinity at depth.
      • Poor or no plant growth for deeper rooted species.
      • Indication of waterlogging (impeded internal drainage) or high water table.
      • Increase plant water use throughout the catchment.
      • Install subsoil drainage (if appropriate).
      • Minimise irrigation water loss below the root zone (improve irrigation efficiency).

Land Suitability Rating Table:
LAND USE
SUITABILITY CLASS
MAJOR LIMITING COMPONENT
Wheat
2
Climate, soil
Canola
2
Climate, soil
Chickpeas
2
Climate, soil
Lentils
2
Climate, soil
White clover seed
2
Soil
Lucerne for seed production
2
Soil
Viticulture
2
Climate, soil
Apples
3
Soil
Potatoes
3
Soil
Carrots
3
Soil
Onions
3
Soil
Sweet corn
2
Climate, soil
Radiata Pine
3
Climate
Blue Gum
3
Climate

Land Suitability Assessment and Primary Limitations:
Wheat Climate2Moderate frost risk, slightly high rainfall.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline subsoil pH.
CanolaClimate2Moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline subsoil pH.
ChickpeasClimate2*Moderate to high rainfall, moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly impeded internal drainage, subsoil texture, slightly alkaline subsoil pH, soil salinity.
LentilsClimate2Slightly high rainfall, moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly impeded internal drainage, subsoil texture, slightly alkaline subsoil pH, soil salinity.
White clover seedClimate1No major limitation.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline pH, soil salinity.
ViticultureClimate2Moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline subsoil pH, soil salinity, slightly impeded internal drainage.
ApplesClimate2Slight frost risk, slightly high mean maximum January temperature.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline subsoil.
PotatoesClimate2Slightly high mean maximum January temperature.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline topsoil pH.
Lucerne for seed productionClimate1No major limitation.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline subsoil pH, slightly impeded internal drainage.
CarrotsClimate1No major limitation.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline topsoil pH.
Onions Climate2Moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline topsoil pH.
Sweet cornClimate2Slightly low mean monthly temperature (October - March).
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline topsoil pH, slightly impeded internal drainage.
Radiata PineClimate3Low rainfall.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Depth of topsoil, slightly alkaline pH.
Blue GumClimate3Low rainfall.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Depth of topsoil, slightly alkaline pH.
* Some areas may have higher rainfall.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Nathalie Baxter (08/01/97).
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