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GBLRA023

Location: Benalla

Australian Soil Classification: Vertic (Sodic), Eutrophic, Grey CHROMOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Dy2.22

General Landscape Description: Alluvial Plain.
Site Description: Flat plain.
Geology: Quaternary Alluvium.
Land Use: Pasture includes Phalaris sp.
Map Unit: Burns CFg
Native Vegetation: Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis).

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-10Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); loam (organic) coarse sandy; moderate very fine sub-angular blocky structure; rough ped fabric; firm consistence dry; pH 5.3; clear change to:

A210-20Light olive brown (2.5Y5/3), (2.5Y6/3 dry); light clay, fine sandy; massive to weakly structured; rough ped fabric; firm consistence dry; organic staining present; pH 5.6; gradual change to:

Subsoil

B2120-40Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); medium heavy clay; possible lenticular structure breaking to strong fine sub-angular blocky and lenticular structure; smooth ped fabric; very firm consistence moderately moist; pH 6.2; gradual change to:

B2240-70Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); heavy clay; possible lenticular structure breaking to strong fine sub-angular blocky and lenticular structure; smooth ped fabric; very firm consistence moderately moist; pH 7.1.

Soil Profile Characteristics:


pH


Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Medium
Non-Sodic
None
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Slightly Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None1
Deeper Subsoil
(at 40-70 cm)
Slightly Alkaline
Low
Strongly Sodic
Strong2
1Strong dispersion after remoulding. 2Complete dispersion after remoulding.


GBLRA023 Graphs

    The surface horizon is strongly acid. The upper subsoil is slightly acid becoming slightly alkaline at depth.
    The salinity rating is medium in the surface. The subsoil has a low salinity rating.
    The surface is non-sodic. The upper subsoil is non-sodic becoming strongly sodic with depth.
    The clay content increases sharply at the A/B interface.

Chemical and Physical Analysis:

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(field)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
ds/m
Organic Carbon
g/100g
Total
Nitrogen
%
Exchangeable Cations
Exchangeable Acidity
meq/100g
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2mm)
Silt
(0.002-0.02mm)
Clay
(<0.002mm)
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A11
0-10
6.0
5.3
4.6
0.19
3.2
0.27
3.4
1.9
0.5
0.3
15
8
34
26
21
A12
10-20
6.5
5.6
4.5
0.1
2.3
2.1
0.4
0.3
8
7
36
26
26
B21
20-40
7.0
6.2
4.9
0.12
3.3
6.5
0.5
1.1
9.6
4
21
16
52
B22
40-70
8.0
7.1
6.0
0.19
4.6
9.1
0.4
2.8
4
22
15
54

Profile Described By: Nathalie Baxter and Mark Hocking (1998).
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