CLRA07

Location: Drysdale district, Bellarine Peninsula

Australian Soil Classification: Melacic, Sesquic, Aeric, PODOSOL


General Landscape Description: Crest of Dunes unit.
Geology: Quaternary Aeolian: coastal and inland dunes: dune sand, some swamp deposits


CLRA7 Landscape. Cutting in side of dune at Curlewis Golf Club

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A11	0–10 cm	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); loamy sand; weak medium sub-angular blocky structure; rough fabric; very weak consistence dry; pH 4.5; smooth clear boundary to:				CLRA7 Profile
A12	10–20 cm	Very dark grey (10YR3/1); light loamy sand; apedal single grain structure; sandy fabric; very weak consistence dry; pH 4.5; smooth gradual boundary to:
A2	20–50 cm	Light yellowish brown (10YR6/3), conspicuous bleach (10YR7/2); sand; apedal single grain structure; sandy fabric; very weak consistence dry; pH 5.0; wavy clear boundary to:
Subsoil
Bhs	50–90 cm	Brown (7.5YR4/3); heavy sand; apedal massive structure; sandy fabric; very weak consistence dry; pH 6.0; wavy diffuse boundary to:
C1	90–140 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); sand; apedal single grain structure; sandy fabric; very weak consistence dry; few argillaceous laminae; pH 6.0; wavy diffuse boundary to:
C2	140–195 cm	Very pale brown (10YR7/4); sand; apedal massive structure; sandy fabric; weak consistence dry; few argillaceous laminae; pH 7.0; wavy diffuse boundary to:
C3	195–210+ cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/8); sand; apedal massive structure; sandy fabric; strong consistence dry; pH 6.5.

Horizon	Sample Depth (cm)	Organic Carbon %	Exchangeable Aluminium mg/kg	Exchangeable Acidity cmolc/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)
A11	0–10	5.5	16	10	12.3	12.7	16.6	74.9	1	3
A12	10–20	2.9	28	6.2	8.1	3.5	14.8	71	4.5	8.5
A2	20–50		23	2.4	9.2	1.6	16.6	71.3	6.5	4
Bhs	50–90		32	2.9	9.7	1.8	13.1	83.2	0.5	4
C1	90–140		<10	-	7.3	0.8	13.5	82.6	0.5	1.5
C2	140–195			-	5.9	0.5	30.4	66.2	0	2
C3	195+			1	7.2	2.8	34.1	55.1	0.5	9.5

• This soil has a strong consistence contrast between the loose/weakly coherent deep sandy soil and the coherent subsoil which is sodic.

• It is important to maintain or improve the upper soil by increasing organic matter (particularly in the subsurface soil). The organic carbon content of the upper surface (A11) is 5.5% and the surface (A12) is 2.9%. This surface organic layer is important for soil stability as is the maintenance of a vegetative cover is important particularly where the surface soil is light and susceptible to water and wind erosion and variable slope (dunefield in this case).

• Root penetration of the “coffee rock” at depth may be difficult with the hardsetting nature of the layer, but the sandy soil above provides a suitable physical medium for growth though with little water and nutrient holding capacity.