GL34
Location: Dartmoor
Australian Soil Classification: Parapanic, Humosesquic, Semiaquic PODOSOL (confidence level 1)
General Landscape Description: Dune
Site Description: Lower slope, 2%
Land Unit: Follet Dunes and Plains
Geology: Quaternary aeolian
General Land Unit Description: The majority of this land unit falls south of the Kanawinka fault. This land unit comprises areas with deep sand deposits. The residual landscape is thought to be influenced by the retreat of the Murray Sea which left stranded beach ridges oriented south west–north east. These were subsequently covered by superficial sand sheets in later depositional phases, which formed the landscape seen today.
The major landforms in this land unit are dunes and swales. Podosols and Kurosols or Chromosols are the major soil types found on the dunes and rises. Podosols are soils with a ‘coffee rock’ layer (refer to photograph). The Kurosols or Chromosols tend to have a deep sandy topsoil over the clay. The common soil types on the swales are black cracking clay (Vertosols) or Grey Sodosols. Some Ferric Kurosols or Chromosols can also occur on the swales or lower slopes of the dunes.
Soil Profile Morphology
| A1 | 0-30 cm | Very dark grey (2.5Y3/1); loamy sand; apedal structure; loose consistence, dry; pH 6.1; changes to: |
| A2 | 30-50 cm | Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2), bleached (10YR6/1d); sand; massive structure; very weak consistence, dry; pH 5.0; changes to: |
| Subsoil | ||
| Bhs | 50-70 cm | Black (7.5YR2.5/1); loamy sand; massive structure; strong consistence, dry; pH 5.3; changes to: |
| B21 | 70-90 cm | Pale brown (10YR6/3), with many orange mottles; sandy clay; very firm consistence, moderately moist; some organic staining along root channels evident; pH 6.9; changes to: |
| B22 | 90-150 cm | Light grey (10YR7/2), with many orange mottles; light medium clay; very firm consistence, moderately moist; pH 7.0; changes to: |
| B23 | 150-170 cm | Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2), with many orange and few red mottles; medium clay; very firm consistence, moderately moist; pH 7.0; changes to: |
| BC | 170-200 cm | Heavy clay; very firm consistence, moderately moist; pH 7. |
Key profile features:
- Strongly acidic topsoil
- Strongly acidic top of the subsoil
- Sandy topsoil
- Strong texture contrast between topsoil and subsoil
- Mottled subsoil
- Sodic subsoil
- ‘Coffee rock’
Profile Described By: Natalie Baxter and Grant Boyle, 2nd October 2000.
© State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) 1996 - .
This work, Victorian Resources Online, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) as author, indicate if changes were made and comply with the other licence terms.
The licence does not apply to ‘branding’ or some ‘images or photographs’ that may be owned by third parties. We ask you to seek prior approval to use images using the VRO feedback form. Access to higher quality images can also be provided on request.
This page was last updated on .