GHF02b

Location: Cavendish

Australian Soil Classification: Fragic, Humic, Aquic, PODOSOL
General Landscape Description: Sand plain
Site Description: Flat
Land Unit: Grampians Plains
Geology: Quaternary alluvial

General Land Unit Description: This land unit consists of the alluvial plains around the Grampians. The soils are commonly poorly drained Grey Sodosols in association with Podosols. Some areas experience months of inundation. These soils are commonly Hydrosols. The vegetation is mainly thick scrubby tea tree on the wetter soils.

This site is near the base of the Grampians, and it appears that water drains onto the alluvial plains from the Grampians. Apparently groundwater closer to the Grampians (about 1 km to the east) is at a depth of 3 m. Currently there exists a 1.5 year old E. globulus plantation on ex-agricultural land.




Soil Profile Morphology

A1	0-35 cm	Black (10YR2/1); loamy sand;single grain structure; loose consistence,moist; clear and smooth change to:
Subsoil
Bh	35-65 cm	Dark brown (7.5YR3/4); loamy sand; single grain structure; loose consistence, moist; gradual and smooth change to:
B2	65-90 cm	Yellow (10YR7/6); sand; single grain structure; loose consistence, moist; gradual and smooth change to:
C	90-140 cm	Pinkish white (7.5YR8/2); sand; single grain structure; loose consistence, wet; changes to:
	140-300 cm	Clay layer (not hard) observed at 250-300 cm, sands below this layer, anaerobic conditions (smell of hydrogen sulphide).

Notes: The PSP takes in an area of poor tree growth and survival. An additional pit in an area of better growth and survival revealed no apparent difference in soil profiles that would lead to the observed differences in tree growth.

Profile Described By: Ian sargeant, Paul Feikema, Martin Clark and Kiet Quach, 26th October 2000.