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GL164

Location: Balmoral

Australian Soil Classification: Melanic-Mottled (& Ferric), Mesotrophic, Brown CHROMOSOL

Northocte Factual Key: Db2.41


General Land Unit Description: This site is situated on the level surface of the Dundas Tablelands.
Site Description: Level plain. Moderately well drained.
Geology: Tertiary marine sandstone.

Native Vegetation: Red gums are the dominant vegetation.

PHOTO: Soil Site GL164 Landscape
GL164 Landscape



Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil


A10-25 cm Very dark grey (7.5YR3/1) sandy loam; weak medium blocky structure; weak consistence dry; very few medium angular ferruginised nodules (6-20 mm); pH 6.5; clear and wavy change to:

PHOTO: Soil Site GL164 Profile
GL164 Profile
A225-40 cmDark yellowish brown (10YR4/4) fine sandy clay loam; weak to massive medium blocky structure, firm consistence moist; many medium to coarse ferruginous and manganiferous nodules; pH 4.7; clear and wavy change to:

Subsoil

B240-60 cmDark yellowish brown (10YR4/6) light medium clay (sandy); weak fine blocky structure; firm consistence moist; many coarse ferruginous and manganiferous nodules; pH 5.5; clear and wavy change to:

BC60-85 cmMainly buckshot; ferruginous and manganiferous nodules are abundant; moderately cemented discontinuous, may be cemented (petroferric). ; ferricrete pan; abrupt and wavy change to:

C85-150 cm

NOTE: The soil is developed over a highly weathered mottled zone. The mottled zone, sometimes referred to as ‘tiger mottling’, is thought to be the result of fluctuating watertables which occurred mainly in the Tertiary period.


Key Profile Features:
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B) horizons.
  • Ferric pan at base of subsoil.

Soil Profile Characteristics:


pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Slightly Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None
Subsoil
(40-60 cm)
Strongly Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None





GRAPH: Soil Site GL164 pH
GRAPH: Soil Site GL164 Salinity
GRAPH: Soil Site GL164 Sodicity
GRAPH: Soil Site GL164 Clay
The surface horizon is slightly acid. the subsoil is strongly acid.The salinity rating for both the surface and subsoil is low.The surface and the subsoil are non-sodic.There is a sharp increase in clay content at 40 cm.

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
dS/m
Organic Carbon
%
Total
Nitrogen
%
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
0-25
6.5
6.0
0.11
2.4
0.21
7.8
8.1
2.2
0.42
0.38
14
54
9
17
20
9
A2
25-40
4.7
4.0
0.08
220
11
0.54
1.7
0.12
0.4
13
47
8
30
20
9
B21
40-60
5.5
4.6
0.08
53
9.8
1.4
4.0
0.16
0.68
10
35
8
47
27
15



Profile Described By: Natalie Baxter, Nathan Robinson, Grant Boyle and Mark Imhof (October 2001).

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