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WCSS3

Location: Longerenong


Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL

Soil Map Unit: Kalkee Clay.
World Reference Base: VERTISOL

General Landscape Description: Very gently undulating plain.
Site Description: Flat, gilgai evident.
Native Vegetation: Sparse stands of remnant Buloke.
Geology: Quaternary alluvial and aeolian deposits.
Land Use: Long-term trial site for dryland cropping.

Image: WCSS3 & 4 landscape

WWPS3 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil
A10-10 cmDark grey (10YR4/1); self mulching surface condition with slight compaction evident; light clay; weak consistence moist; pH 8.2; clear change to:

Image: WCSS3 profile
WWPS3 Profile
Subsoil
B2110-35 cmDark greyish brown (10YR4/2); medium clay; moderate medium to fine sub-angular blocky structure; weak to firm consistence moist; pH 8.5; clear change to:

B22

35-65 cmDark grey (10YR4/1); medium heavy clay; strong very coarse to coarse prismatic, parting to strong medium to fine sub-angular blocky structure; very firm consistence moist; slickensides in lower horizon; pH 9.0; gradual change to:
B23k65-95 cmVery dark grey (10YR3/1); medium clay; strong very coarse prismatic, parting to moderate to strong coarse to medium sub-angular blocky structure; very firm to strong consistence dry; soft and semi-hard very coarse (50 mm in size) calcareous segregations common (20%); pH 9.1; abrupt and tongued change to:

B24k95-130 cmLight brown (7.5YR6/4); medium heavy clay; moderate to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; very firm to strong consistence dry; many (40%) soft and semi-hard calcareous segregations; pH 9.2.

Image: WCSS3 profile variation

WWPS3 Profile variation

Soil Profile Characteristics:

-

pH
Salinity
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Moderately Alkaline
Very low
Non-Sodic
None 1
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Strongly Alkaline
Low
Non-Sodic
None 2
Deeper Subsoil
(at 90-130 cm)
Very Strongly Alkaline
High
Strongly sodic
None
1 Slight-moderate dispersion after remoulding. 2 Moderate-strong dispersion after remoulding.

Image: WCSS3 graphs
The surface is moderately alkaline. The upper subsoil is strongly alkaline, becoming very strongly alkaline with depth.The salinity rating in the surface is very low. The subsoil has a low salinity rating, becoming high with depth.The surface is non-sodic. The upper subsoil is non-sodic, becoming strongly sodic with depth.
    The clay content is high throughout the profile.
Boron levels are relatively low in the upper soil profile but become high below 50 cm depth.

Chemical and Physical Analysis:

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
water
pH CaCl2
EC
dS/m
Sodium Chloride
l%
Organic Carbon
%
Total Nitrogen
%
Exchangeable Cations
Boron
mg/kg
Field Capacity
pF2.5
Wilting Point
pF4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2 - 2.0 mm)
Fine Sand (0.02-0.2 mm)
Silt
(0.002-0.02 mm)
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-10
8.2
7.7
0.17
-
1.2
0.11
31
4.9
3.1
0.42
1.7
42.9
19.7
9
20
17
46
B21
10-35
8.5
7.8
0.22
-
0.84
0.07
30
7.6
1.8
1.6
1.8
49.8
25.9
8
15
17
51
B22
35-65
9.0
8.2
0.43
0.29
0.68
23
14
2.3
7.3
3
54.7
27.8
8
13
14
56
B23k
65-95
9.1
8.5
0.80
0.109
12
17
2.4
10
16
50.3
26.6
9
24
23
36
B24k
95-130
9.2
8.6
1.1
0.149
8.3
17
2.6
13
21
53.3
26.3
8
14
10
53

Profile Described By:
Mark Imhof and David Rees (March 2010).
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