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LSWW26

WLRA - soil pit WW26- landscape
Sandy soils of the Little Desert

    Site Code
LSWW26
WLRA - soil pit WW26- profile
Bleached-Ferric, Yellow KUROSOL

    Location

Coleraine-Edenhope Road, Kadnook, western Victoria

    Landform

Plain

    Geology

Quaternary Lowan Formation:
aeolian fine to medium grained dune sand

    Element

Plain

Horizon
Depth (cm)
Description

A1

0–10

Disturbed horizon.

A2

10–30

Greyish brown (2.5Y5/2);
sand (organic); weak to massive structure; weak consistence when dry; pH 5.7:

A2

30–75

Light yellowish brown (2.5Y6/3), conspicuously bleached, with a few faint orange and brown mottles;
sand; massive (structureless); weak consistence when dry; pH 5.2:

Bs

75–90

Brownish yellow (10YR6/6) with common distinct orange mottles;
sand; ferruginous and indurated sandstone are abundant; pH 5.5.

B2

90–130

Brownish yellow (10YR6/6) with many prominent coarse red and orange mottles;
light medium clay; strong fine to very fine polyhedral structure; clay skins on the ped-faces; pH 5.5:

B3

130+

Abundant very coarse red prominent mottles; partially weathered sandstone and
clay; clay skins on the clay-ped faces; horizon grading towards BC.

Management considerations

  • Strong texture contrast between topsoil and subsoil.
  • Deep sandy acidic surface and subsurface soil.
  • Hydrophobic surface soil.
  • Bleached A2 horizon with little nutrient.
  • Acidic, mottled subsoil, limited nutrient availability.
  • Ferric ‘ironstone’ pan above subsoil, possible Podosol.
  • Weathered sandstone occurring at depth.
  • Gently undulating plain, poor to imperfect site drainage.

Horizon
Depth (cm)
pH (water)
pH (CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
A1
0–10
A2
10–30
5.7
4.4
<0.05
A2
30–75
5.2
4.2
<0.05
Bs
75–90
5.5
4.4
<0.05
B2
90–130
5.5
4.3
<0.05
B3
130+
Site: LSWW26Land Unit: Sand Plains and Rises
Aust. Soil Class.: Bleach-Ferric, ?, Yellow CHROMOSOL (very thick sandy surface) (confidence level 4)

Soil pit WW26 landscapeGeneral Land Unit Description:
This land unit comprises areas with reasonably deep sand deposits, mainly north of the Kanawinka fault. The vegetation commonly marks the distinct changes from a landscape comprising of deep sand to one of shallow sand. The major tree species on the deep sand is brown Stringybark, with an understorey of heath vegetation, such as Blackboys and Tea Trees. Yellow Gums prefer the shallower sandy topsoils. The major landform in this land unit is gently undulating plains where there are gentle rises and low dunes. The common soil type on the gentle rises and low dunes is a sandy topsoil over mottled clay. The depth of sand is variable (often deeper than 50 cm) similar to this site, and can be as deep as two metres in some areas. The subsoils can be strongly acidic (Kurosol), although Chromosols and Sodosols also occur. Ferruginous nodules above the clay horizon are common. There are minor areas where dunes are the dominant landform. Podosols, Tenosols and soils with a deep sandy topsoil over a clay subsoil occur on the steeper dunes and Chromosols or Kurosols occur on the gentler dunes, with Sodosols and Vertosols on the swales and drainage depression. Podosols are soil types with a deep sandy profile that have a ‘coffee rock’ layer commonly at depth.

Site Description:
Geology: Quaternary aeolianLandform pattern: Undulating plains and rises
Position in landscape: Upper slopeInternal drainage: Moderately well drained

Soil Profile Morphology

Ap0-10 cmDisturbed horizon.Soil pit WW26 profile
1A110-30 cmGreyish brown (2.5Y5/2) sand (organic) weak to massive structure, weak consistence when dry. pH 5.7.
1A230-75 cmLight yellowish brown (2.5Y6/3) sand, conspicuously bleached, a few faint orange and brown mottles, structureless, weak consistence when dry. pH 5.2.
Subsoil
1Bs75-90 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) sand, distinct orange mottles are common, ferruginised iron and indurated sandstone are abundant. pH 5.5.
1B290-130 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) light medium clay, many prominent coarse red and orange mottles are common, strong polyhedral structure (peds 5-10 mm breaking to 2-5 mm), clay skins on the ped faces. pH 5.5.
1B3130+ cmPartially weathered sandstone and clay, very coarse red, prominent mottles are abundant, clay skins on the clay ped faces. Horizon heading towards BC.

Key Profile Features

  • Deep sandy topsoil
  • Hydrophobic topsoil
  • Strong texture contrast between topsoil and subsoil
  • Bleached A2 horizon
  • Mottled subsoil
  • Ferric pan
  • Acidic topsoil
  • Acidic subsoil
  • Weathered sandstone occurring at depth
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