CRC8

Location: Warrayure

Australian Soil Classification: Ferric (& Magnesic) Subnatric, Brown SODOSOL (very thick sandy surface horizons)
Geology: Possible strand line (Dorodong sands).



Site CRC8 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-20 cm	Dark brown (10YR3/3); loamy sand; soft surface condition; very weak consistence (dry); pH 5.6:	Site CRC8 profile
A21	20-40 cm	Brown (10YR4/3); sand; very weak consistence (dry); pH 5.6:
A22c	40-70 cm	Dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4); sand; many (40%) ferruginous nodules (rounded pisoliths) (4-12 mm); pH 6.4:
A23c	70-90 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); conspicuously bleached; sand; very many (50%) round and sub-angular ferruginous nodules or pisoliths (4-20 mm in size); abrupt change to; pH 6.7:
Subsoil
B1	90-105 cm	Dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4) with yellowish brown (10YR5/6) and red (2.5YR5/8) mottles; heavy sandy clay loam; weakly structured; very firm consistence (moist); few (5%) ferruginous nodules; pH 7.2:
B21	105-120+ cm	Dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4) with reddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) and dark red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; light medium clay; strong-moderate coarse to medium polyhedral structure (in patches); firm to very firm consistence (moist); pH 5.1.

• Strong texture contrast between sandy surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B21) horizon.
• Very thick sandy surface horizons.

	pH	Salinity Rating	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Moderately Acid	Very Low	Non-Sodic	None
Subsoil (B1 horizon)	Slightly Alkaline	Very Low	Sodic	None
Deeper subsoil (at 105-120 cm)	Slightly Alkaline	Low	Sodic	Moderate

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	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) %
							Ca	Mg	K	Na
							meq/100g
A1	0-20	5.6	4.8	0.06	<10	4.5	1.7	082	0.13	0.13	68	20	8	1
A21	20-40	5.6	4.7	<0.05	<10	1.9	0.45	0.39	<0.05	0.12
A22c	40-70	6.4	5.5	<0.05	<10	1.9	0.40	0.58	<0.05	0.16
A23c	70-90	6.7	6.1	<0.05		1.8	0.34	0.54	<0.05	0.19	70	24	3	2
B1	90-105	7.2	5.9	0.09		4.0	0.55	4.2	0.05	1.0	53	16	3	30
B21	105-120	7.3	6.2	0.14		5.1	0.40	6.2	0.09	1.7

• The surface horizons are deep and sandy. Infiltration of water will be relatively rapid as a result and the surface soil will be well drained.
  
  
• The low wilting point in the surface horizons indicates that plants will be able to utilise very light rains when the soil is dry. However, due to the low water storage capacity, plants will soon suffer moisture stress unless further rain or watering occurs.

• The subsoil has very high levels of exchangeable magnesium relative to exchangeable calcium. This may result in nutrient imbalances e.g. calcium deficiency.
  
  
• The coarsely structured subsoil is sodic and disperses. This will result in restricted root and water movement in the subsoil. Water will tend to build up on the top of the subsoil in wet periods.