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GHF13c

Location: Heywood

Australian Soil Classification: Melacic, Eutrophic, Brown FERROSOL
General Landscape Description: Undulating rises to low hills
Site Description: Lower slope
Land Unit: Drumborg Basalt Hills
Geology: Quaternary basalt

General Land Unit Description:
This land unit consists of the undulating rises of Sugarloaf Hill and Sheaok Rise, north of Heywood. The soils consist of Red Dermosols and occasionally Kurosols on the crests and slopes of the rises. On the lower slopes and plains in between the rises, Ferric Brown Chromosols or Dermosols predominate. There are minor occurrences of Black Vertosols in local depressions. Here a two year old Eucalyptus globulus plantation exists on ex-agricultural land


Soil pit Qua98 3 landscape

Soil Profile Morphology

Surface

A10-20 cmDark brown (10YR3/3) clay loam, moderate granular structure (10-20 mm) parting to moderate granular structure (2-5 mm), very weak consistence when moderately moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, common medium roots. Abrupt and smooth transition to:


Soil pit Qua98 3 profile
Subsoil


B2120-60 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/6) with common coarse distinct red (2.5YR4/6) mottles, light clay, moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate polyhedral structure (5-10 mm), weak consistence when moderately moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, few fine macropores, areal porosity 0.3%, common very fine roots. Diffuse and smooth transition to:


B2260-100 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/6) with many coarse distinct red (2.5YR4/6) mottles, light clay, moderate polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to moderate polyhedral structure (5-10 mm), weak consistence when moderately moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, few fine macropores, areal porosity 0.3%, few very fine roots. Gradual and smooth transition to:


B23100-150 cmRed (2.5YR4/6) with many coarse prominent light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) mottles, light clay, strong polyhedral structure (20-50 mm) parting to strong polyhedral structure (5-10 mm), firm consistence when moderately moist, few medium ferruginous nodules, few fine macropores, areal porosity 0.3%, few very fine roots.


150-400 cmMedium clays, a little harder with depth but no impeding layer to roots, decomposing rock between 350-400 cm, and may become impeding to roots, live roots found at 350-400 cm.






Soil Profile Characteristics:
-

pH
Salinity
Surface Soil
(A1 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
Subsoil
(B21 Horizon)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
Deeper Subsoil
(150-180 cm)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic




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)
%
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-20
5.3
4.8
0.08
35
14
3.6
2.5
0.29
0.12
21
28
14
30
B21
20-60
6.2
6.0
0.10
<10
12
2.8
5.6
0.13
0.64
9
15
10
61
B22
60-100
6.1
6.0
0.12
<10
11
2.7
5.8
0.13
0.87
9
12
11
65


Profile Described By: Ian Sargeant and Paul Feikema, 25th July 2000.
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