GHF11b

Location: Macarthur

Australian Soil Classification: Humose (Reticulate), Mesotrophic, Brown CHROMOSOL
General Landscape Description: Level Plain
Site Description: Almost Flat
Land Unit: Warrakbook Basalts
Geology: Quaternary basalt

General Land Unit Description:
This land unit consists of gently undulating basalt plains in the Macarthur area. In some drainage lines, the basalt has been dissected sufficiently to expose the underlying sediments. The soils on the basalt plains are commonly Brown Kurosols or Chromosols, intermixed with Sodosols, particularly on the lower slopes and drainage depressions.

Soil pit Man98 1-4 landscape

Soil Profile Morphology

Surface

A1	0-20 cm	Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2) fine sandy clay loam; weak polyhedral structure (10-20 mm) parting to weak granular structure (2-5 mm); very weak consistence when moderately moist; many medium roots; clear and smooth transition to:
A2	20-35 cm	Dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4) fine sandy clay loam; weak polyhedral structure (10-20 mm) parting to weak granular (2-5 mm); very weak consistence when moist; very many medium ferruginous nodules; few very fine roots; abrupt and smooth transition to:
Subsoil
B21	35-65 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/7) with few medium faint yellowsh red (5YR5/8) mottles, light medium clay; moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (5-10 mm); weak consistence when moist; few medium ferruginous nodules; common very fine macropores; areal porosity 0.3%; few very fine roots; diffuse and smooth transition to:
B22	65-110 cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/6) with many very coarse distinct red (2.5YR4/6) mottles, light medium clay; moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (5-10 mm); weak consistence when moist; few medium ferruginous nodules; common fine macropores; areal porosity 0.4%; few very fine roots; gradual and smooth transition to:
B23	110-150 cm	Red (10YR7/1) with many very coarse red (2.5YR5/6) mottles, medium clay; strong subangular blocky structure (20-50 mm) parting to strong polyhedral structure (10-20 mm); weak consistence when moist; very few coarse ferruginous nodules; few fine macropores; areal porosity 0.03%; few very fine roots.
	150-250 cm	Similar to above.
	250-350 cm	Heavy clay and weathered basalt rock (60-200 mm). No live roots observed but some old remnant roots were observed between 300-350 cm.
	350-420 cm	More rock than above, still some soil between rocks, no roots observed.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

-	pH	Salinity	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface Soil (A1 horizon)	Very Strongly Acid	Low	Non-Sodic	None
Subsoil (B21 Horizon)	Slightly Acid	Very Low	Non-Sodic	None
Deeper Subsoil (65-110 cm)	Moderately Acid	Low	Non-Sodic	None

Chemical and Physical Analysis:

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	4.8	4.2	0.07	96	18	2.2	0.84	0.18	0.09	34	26	15	18
A2	20-35	5.9	5.2	0.06	<10	9.9	3.2	2.2	0.13	0.16	37	19	10	31
B21	35-65	6.4	6.1	0.12	<10	11	2.6	4.9	0.09	0.73	15	13	10	63
B22	65-110	6.1	6.0	0.14	<10	9.7	1.9	4.9	0.06	0.98
B23	110-150	5.7	5.8	0.18	<10

Profile Described By: Ian Sargeant, Paul Feikema, Martin Clark and Kiet Quach, 30th October 2000.

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