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WLRA130

WLRA - soil pit WLRA130- landscape

    Site Code
WLRA130
WLRA - soil pit WLRA130- profile
Epihypersodic, Regolithic, Hypercalcic Calcarosol

    Location

Jeparit Road, Peppers Plains, western Victoria

    Landform

Undulating plain

    Geology

Quaternary Woorinen Formation:
aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay

    Element

Lower slope

    Slope

0–1%

    Aspect

North-west

Horizon
Depth (cm)
Description

A1

0–5

Dark brown (10YR4/3);
sandy clay loam; massive (structureless); earthy fabric; weak consistence dry; contains a few medium and fine calcareous nodules; highly calcareous; field pH 9.0; smooth and sharp change to:

B21

5–25

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2);
light clay, fine sandy; very coarse weak columnar structure; rough ped fabric; very firm consistence dry; contains very few fine calcareous nodules and fragments, very few fine gypseous nodules and very few fine argillaceous tubules; moderately cemented cultivation pan evident; highly calcareous; field pH 9.0; gradual and smooth change to:

B22

25–50

Yellowish brown (10YR5/4) with many medium faint greyish brown mottles;
light clay, fine sandy; massive (structureless); earthy fabric; weak consistence, moderately moist; very few fine calcareous nodules and fragments and very few fine argillaceous tubules; highly calcareous; field pH 9.0; diffuse and smooth change to:

B23k

50–100

Reddish yellow (7.5YR7/6);
light clay; massive (structureless); earthy fabric; weak consistence, moderately moist; contains very many extremely coarse calcareous soft segregations and very few medium argillaceous tubules; very highly calcareous; field pH 9.5; gradual and wavy change to:

2B21

100–145

Yellowish red (5YR5/6) with many very coarse distinct greyish brown mottles;
heavy clay; weak medium to coarse polyhedral structure; rough ped fabric; weak consistence, moderately moist; contains a few fine manganese flecks and a few extremely coarse calcareous nodules; highly calcareous; field pH 9.5; gradual and smooth change to:

2B22

145–180+

Yellowish brown (10YR5/4) with many very coarse distinct yellowish red mottles;
light medium clay; coarse to very coarse strong lenticular structure; smooth ped fabric; weak consistence, moist; contains a few fine manganese flecks and very few extremely coarse calcareous nodules; highly calcareous; field pH 9.5.

Management Considerations

  • High susceptibility to wind erosion.
  • Alkaline subsoils with calcareous soft segregations, manganese flecks and argillaceous (clayey) tubules.
  • Minor subsoil constraint >50 cm as mottling indicates slightly imperfect drainage.
  • Possible plough pan (5-25 cm).
  • Massive surface structure with weak resistance to breaking down makes it vulnerable to wind erosion without stubble and trash retention.
  • Medium to very fine roots observed to 50 cm.
  • Possible slight to moderate soil structure decline susceptibility due to poorer structure and dispersibility in the subsoil.

Horizon
Depth (cm)
pH (water)
pH (CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
Exchangeable Cations
cmol-/kg
Ca
Mg
K
Na
A1
0-­5
8.4
8.2
2.3
12
3.3
1.4
3.1
B21
5­-25
8.7
8.4
2.8
13
6
1.2
5.9
B22
25­-50
8.9
8.7
1.9
8.6
7.5
0.7
5.3
B23K
50­-100
9.5
8.9
1.5
3.4
9.9
1.2
6.2
2B21
100-­145
9.4
8.8
1.6
3.2
14
2
11
2B22
145­-180+
9.4
9
1.5
2.2
13
1.9
10
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