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CRC2

Location: Murroa

Australian Soil Classification: Bleached-Ferric (& Reticulate), Eutrophic, Yellow CHROMOSOL
General Landscape Description: Low rises
Site Description: Upper slope of low rise
Geology: Tertiary/Quaternary basalt.


Image:  CRC2 Landscape
Site CRC2 Landscape




Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-10 cmDark brown (10YR3/3); fine sandy clay loam (slightly spongy); weak coarse blocky, parting to moderate blocky structure; firm consistence (dry); ferruginous nodules (2-8 mm) common (20%); pH 6.3:


Image:  CRC2 Profile
Site CRC2 Profile


A2c10-25 cmDark yellowish brown (10YR4/4) (10YR6/4 dry); fine sandy clay loam; very many (50%) ferruginous nodules (2-15 mm); ferromanganiferous (magnetic) nodules; pH 5.6:

Subsoil

B2125-35 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/6); light clay (subplastic); weak medium blocky, parting to moderate-strong medium to fine polyhedral structure; very firm consistence (moist) to strong consistence (dry); ferruginous nodules (2-10 mm) are common (20%); pH 6.2:

B2235-50 cmReddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) with few dark red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; light medium clay; strong coarse to medium polyhedral structure; very firm consistence (moist) to strong consistence (dry); few (5%) ferruginous nodules; pH 6.5; gradual change to:

B2350-100 cmReddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) with many (50%) dark red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; medium clay; strong coarse to medium polyhedral, parting to fine polyhedral structure (shiny-faced peds); very firm consistence (moist); few ferruginous nodules (2-5 mm); pH 6.3; gradual change to:

B24100-140+ cmLight yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with many dark red (2.5YR4/8) and light grey (10YR7/1) mottles (reticulated mottling); medium clay; strong medium to coarse polyhedral, parting to fine polyhedral structure (shiny-faced peds); with nests of lenticular structure; very firm consistence (dry); pH 6.2.

Key Profile Features:
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B) horizons.
  • Many ferruginous nodules in the subsurface (A2) horizon.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None
Subsoil
(B21c horizon)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
None
Deeper subsoil
(at 100-140+ cm)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Marginally Sodic
None

Image:  CRC2 Graphs

Chemical and Physical Analysis:
Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl
2)
EC
dS/m
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
A1
0-10
5.1
4.7
0.25
35
17
4.6
1.6
1.0
0.51
12
33
22
19
35
15
A2c
10-25
5.6
4.9
0.06
16
8.8
3.4
1.6
0.21
0.35
24
32
21
18
25
10
B21c
25-35
6.2
5.6
0.08
<10
9.7
4.2
4
0.15
0.58
9
19
11
57
33
22
B22
35-50
6.5
6.2
0.11
11
4.6
5.4
0.16
0.87
2
8
11
75
42
31
B23
50-100
6.3
6.1
0.13
<10
9.3
4.1
5.7
0.12
1
3
8
8
79
43
32
B24
100-140+
6.2
6.1
0.14
<10
9.0
3.5
7.1
0.11
1.2
3
10
13
75


Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizons
  • The surface soil (upper 10 cm) is strongly acid which indicates that aluminium and manganese toxicity may occur. The level of exchangeable aluminium measured at this site is in the low range i.e. 35 mg/kg. However, a pH/aluminium test is best performed from samples taken across the paddock and bulked together. Other factors also need to be considered before lime is recommended e.g. pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost/benefit.
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The upper subsoil is non-sodic and well structured, parting to fine polyhedral aggregates. This will be conducive to root and water movement, although the strong texture contrast will provide some restrictions.


Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Austin Brown, Darren Bennetts and Malcolm McCaskill, March 2003.
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