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ALRA068

WLRA - soil pit ALRA68 - landscape
Alluvial plain bordering undulating plain

    Site Code
ALRA068




    Location

Moyston West Road

    Landform

Alluvial plain

    Geology

Quaternary alluvium

    Element

Plain

    Slope

2%

    Aspect

North
Horizon
Depth (cm)

A1

0–5

Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); loam, medium sandy; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky structure; rough fabric; weak consistence when moderately moist; common fine ferruginous-organic root lining segregations; pH 6.0; abrupt boundary to:
WLRA - soil pit ALRA68 - profile
Epihypersodic, Massive, Grey VERTOSOL

B1

5–15

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); loamy clay; moderate coarse prismatic parting to weak fine to medium subangular blocky structure; rough fabric; very strong consistence when dry; few fine ferruginous-organic root lining segregations; pH 6.5; clear boundary to:

B21

15–70

Dark grey (5Y4/1); medium heavy clay; moderate coarse prismatic parting to weak medium to coarse polyhedral structure; very strong consistence when dry; common distinct slickensides; pH 7.0; clear boundary to:

B22

70–100

Olive grey (5Y5/2)with many medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR5/8) mottles; medium heavy clay; subplastic; strong coarse prismatic parting to fine prismatic structure; smooth fabric; firm consistence when moderately moist; common prominent slickensides; pH 7.0; gradual boundary to:

B3

100–135+

Greyish brown (2.5Y5/2) with common medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) mottles; heavy clay; strong coarse prismatic parting to fine prismatic structure; smooth fabric; firm consistence when moist; pH 7.0.
Management Considerations:

  • Acidic surface soil becoming alkaline and then neutral with depth
  • Cracking clay profile with coarse structure, roots will follow this structure, but must cope with shrinkage properties
  • Soil structure exhibits vertical cracking from below A1 horizon with the B22 horizon sub plastic in nature
  • Subsoil has high inherent fertility based upon the sum of the exchangeable basic cations. Note magnesic tendency in subsoil
  • High salinity (EC) in lower subsoil. Dispersion tests indicate moderate dispersion in upper subsoil and nil to slight dispersion in the lower subsoil due to concentration of soluble salts
  • Sand lenses are evident within B3 and clay proportion decreases with depth

Chemical Analysis:


Horizon
Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
NaCl
%

Exchangeable Aluminium
cmol-/kg
Exchangeable Acidity
cmol-/kg
Phosporus
(Olsen)
mg/kg
Total Nitrogen
Organic Carbon
%
Exchangeable Cations
cmol-/kg
Field Capacity
(pF2.5)
Wilting Point
(pF4.2)
Coarse Sand
%
Fine Sand
%
Silt
%
Clay
%
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Bulk sample
0–10
5.4
5.1
0.49
140
0.77
12
A1
0-5
5.4
5.2
0.73
0.14
17.0
20
>12.0
14.0
9.5
0.6
0.7
56.6
34
13.4
10.9
22.5
30.5
B1
5-15
6.7
6.3
0.54
0.09
9.0
4.9
7.9
12.0
0.4
1.9
35.2
20.4
7.0
8.8
29.5
51.0
B21
15-70
8.0
7.6
1.1
0.21
-
6.5
17.0
0.8
4.8
37.5
19.3
2.3
11.0
29.5
57.0
B22
70-100
7.6
7.4
2.2
0.53
-
6.1
19.0
0.4
7.9
43.1
22.4
0.3
10.4
31.5
56.5
B3
100-135+
7.4
7.2
2.3
0.03
3.2
5.9
17.0
0.4
8.7
43.9
25.1
0.4
10.7
36.0
49.0
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