EGW87c

Location: Seldom Seen

Australian Soil Classification: Bleached, Dystrophic, Grey KANDOSOL

Map Unit: Carrabungla
Previous Site Name: EG87c

General Landscape Description: Steep hills
Site Description: Upper slope, NE aspect, 21 % slope
Land Use: Native forest
Geology: Devonian Volcanics (Snowy River Volcanics)

Surface soil
A1	0 – 5 cm	Grey (7.5YR6/1); silty loam; weak subangular blocky structure, weak consistence dry; few subangular gravel fragments; clear change to:
A21	5 – 20 cm	Pinkish grey (7.5YR7/2;) conspicuously bleached (5YR8/1d) silty loam; massive, firm consistence moderately moist; few subangular gravel fragments; pH 5.1; gradual change to:
A22	20 – 45cm	Pinkish grey (7.5YR7/2); silty loam; massive structure, firm consistence moderately moist; few subangular gravel fragments; pH 4.9; clear change to:
Subsoil
B2	45 – 75+ cm	Mottled pinkish grey (7.5YR7/3) and pinkish white (7.5YR7/3) silty clay loam; weak coarse prismatic structure, firm consistence moderately moist common subangular gravel fragments; pH 5.4.

• Lack of strong texture contrast between the surface soils (A1, A21 and A22) horizons and the subsoil (B) horizon.

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	EC dS/m	Organic Carbon %	Total Nitrogen %	Exchangeable Aluminium ppm	Exchangeable Acididty meq/100g	Exchangeable Cations				Coarse Sand (0.2-2.0 mm) %	Fine Sand (0.02-0.2 mm) %	Silt (0.002-0.02 mm) %	Clay (<0.002 mm) %	Field Capacity % w/w	Wilting Point % w/w
									Ca	Mg	K	Na
									meq/100g
A21	5-20	5.1	4.7	<0.05	3.5	0.11	330	7.4	0.37	0.67	0.28	0.08	16	22	43	18	25.8	8.3
A22	20-45	4.9	4.5	<0.05			320	9.3	0.49	0.35	0.27	0.10	19	23	44	12	27.6	6.0
B2	45-75	5.4	4.5	<0.05			270	6.2	0.13	0.9	0.32	0.11	20	23	37	20	25.8	10.5

• The profile is strongly acid throughout.
• The level of exchangeable aluminium measured for this site is quite high (330 ppm). The growth of aluminium sensitive species, such as lucerne, may be restricted. Aluminium and manganese toxicity may occur.
• There should be likely long term benefits of applying lime, preferably incorporated, on this site if the test results are representative of the paddock. A pH/aluminium test is, however, best performed from samples taken across the paddock and bulked together.
• Before lime is recommended other factors need to be considered including pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost/benefit.
• If the soil was under pasture with an effective rooting depth of 75 cm the plant available water capacity is considered to be low; estimated at 54 mm.

• The soil has a reasonable organic matter content.
• The low wilting point of the surface horizons indicates if pasture species are grown, they will be able to use light rains when the soil is dry. Due to the low water storage capacity of the soil, plants will suffer water stress unless further rains occur.
• The soils are strongly acidic and, if under pasture, would show a marked response to lime.
• The nutrient holding capacity of the soil is very low (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations).
• Potassium levels are deficient and a response to potassium fertilisers would be expected if the soils were under pasture.