GL169

Australian Soil Classification: Eutrophic, Mottled-Subnatric, Grey SODOSOL (confidence level 1)

General Landscape Description: Level to gently undulating plain.
Site Description: Flat.
Land Unit: Ararat Alluvial.
Geology: Quaternary Alluvium.
General Land Unit Description: This soil represents the alluvial plains in the north east of the study area around Ararat and Moyston. The soils tend to be Black or Grey Sodosols, Vertosols or Vertic Chromosols. They are generally imperfectly drained and have very little relief.







Soil Profile Morphology:

Horizon	Depth (cm)
A1	0-15	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); clay loam; strong fine polyhedral structure; weak consistence, dry; contains a few fine rounded pebbles; pH 5.3; clear change to:
B21	15–40	Dark grey (10YR4/1), with common distinct fine brownish yellow (10YR6/6) mottles; heavy clay; strong very coarse prismatic parting to moderate fine polyhedral structure; very firm consistence, dry; pH7.3; clear and wavy change to:
B22	40–60	Greyish brown (2.5Y5/2), with common fine faint yellow mottles (10YR7/6); heavy clay; pH 8.4; gradual and wavy change to:
B23	60–90	Light olive brown (2.5Y5/4), with distinct medium yellowish brown (10YR5/6) mottles; heavy clay; moderate angular blocky structure; very firm consistence, dry; pH 9.1; gradual and wavy change to:
B24	90+	Light yellowish brown (2.5Y3/6); heavy clay; pH 9.5.

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	0-15	5.3	4.3	0.08	2.6	0.24	69	14	3.6	3.1	0.55	0.59	7	38	22	28	30.8	12.3
B21	15–40	7.3	6.2	0.19				9.4	8.3	14	1.7	3.7	2	15	11	70	49.6	27.0
B22	40–60	8.4	7.3	0.18					8.7	17	1.7	0.05	2	12	8	75	50.8	28.4
B23	60–90	9.1	8.4	0.52					6.6	16	1.8	8.5	3	15	10	71	49.4	27.0
B24	90+	9.5	9.1	0.2					7.2	19	1.3	13

• Acidic topsoil
• Topsoil dispersive when worked when wet
• Strongly dispersive subsoil when dry
• Sodic subsoil
• Deeper subsoil highly alkaline
• Mottled subsoil