Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

WLRA132

WLRA - soil pit WLRA132- landscape
Midslope of a long gently undulating plain

    Site Code
WLRA132
WLRA - soil pit WLRA132- profile
Hypercalcic, Subnatric Red SODOSOL

    Location

Jeparit Road, Pepper Plains, Western Victoria

    Landform

Plain

    Geology

Quaternary Woorinen Formation:
aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay

    Element

Mid slope

    Slope

2%

    Aspect

East

HorizonDepth (cm)
Description

A11

0–5

Dark brown (7.5YR3/3);
loam, fine sandy; moderate medium to fine polyhedral structure; rough ped fabric; weak consistence dry; many fine roots observed; pH 7.8; smooth and sharp change to:

A12

5–15

Dark brown (7.5YR3/2);
clay loam, fine sandy; massive (structureless); earthy ped fabric; strong consistence dry; many fine roots observed; weakly cemented cultivation pan evident; pH 7.9; abrupt and wavy change to:

B21

15–35

Reddish brown (5YR4/3);
light medium clay; strong medium to fine prismatic, parting to fine angular block structure; smooth ped fabric; strong consistence dry; common distinct cutans evident; common fine roots observed ; moderately calcareous; pH 8.9; gradual and smooth change to:

B22k

35–60

Strong brown (7.5YR5/6) with a few distinct medium dark brown (7.5YR3/3) mottles;
light medium clay; moderate medium prismatic, parting to medium angular structure; rough ped fabric; strong consistence dry; contains many extremely coarse calcareous soft segregations; a few distinct cutans evident; common fine roots observed; very highly calcareous; pH 9.5; gradual and smooth change to:

D

60–130+

Light brownish grey (10YR6/2) with very few coarse faint red mottles;
medium heavy clay; weak coarse polyhedral structure; rough ped fabric; firm consistence, moist; contains a very few to few medium calcareous nodules and soft segregations, and very few fine manganiferous fragments; very highly calcareous; pH 9.6.

Management Considerations

  • High susceptibility to wind erosion.
  • Alkaline subsoils with calcareous soft segregations and nodules and manganese flecks.
  • Minor subsoil constraint >35 cm as mottling indicates slightly imperfect drainage.
  • Possible plough pan (5-15 cm).
  • Medium to very fine roots observed down to and throughout the B22k horizon (35-60 cm).
  • Poorer structure and increased dispersibility in the deeper subsoil.

Horizon
Depth (cm)
pH (water)
pH (CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
Exchangeable Cations
cmol-/kg
Ca
Mg
K
Na
A11
0–5
7.8
7.5
0.2
12
4.3
1.5
0.43
A12
5–15
7.9
7.4
0.23
12
5
1.1
1.5
B21
15–35
8.9
8.3
0.51
15
15
1.8
5
B22K
35–60
9.5
8.8
1.1
5.8
14
1.9
8.3
D
60–135+
9.6
8.9
1.3
4.4
14
1.9
10
Page top