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GL47

Location: Dirk Dirk

Australian Soil Classification: Haplic, Eutrophic, Red CHROMOSOL (high free iron) (confidence level 1)
General Landscape Description: Dune
Site Description: Lower slope of a north facing dune
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 we see 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. 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.

This site is characterised by a strong texture contrast (Chromosol) but it also has a high level of free iron (7.9 %) in the subsoil, which is it’s most distinguishing feature. This soil typically occurs on the lower dunes and slopes of some of the dunes. This soil tends to have a heavier textured subsoil compared to the Tenosols and Rudosol. This soil type has been mapped as aeolian geology, possibly due to the deep sandy topsoil. It is not clear what the origin of the subsoil is, although it is likely that it may be of basalt origin, since high free iron is often associated with this geology. This soil type is similar to site GL41, GL42, GL43 and GL80 and they tend to have a higher capability of supporting a range of land uses (e.g. Viticulture), due to their favourable physical and chemical properties.


Soil pit GL47 auger


Soil Profile Morphology

A110-10 cmVery dark grey (10YR3/1) sand, massive structure, weak consistence when dry, pH 5.7; transition to:


A1210-25 cmDark greyish brown (10YR4/2) sand, massive structure, weak consistence when dry, pH 5.7; transition to:


A1325-40 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4) sand, massive structure, weak consistence when dry, pH 5.7; transition to:


A1440-95 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) sand, very faint red mottles are common, massive structure, strong consistence when dry, pH 6.0; transition to:


Subsoil


2B2195-200 cmDark red (2.5YR3/6) light clay, moderate to strong structure, sand veins present, pH 6.2.

Key profile features:
  • Deep sandy topsoil
  • Strong textural contrast between topsoil and subsoil
  • High free iron in the subsoil


Soil Profile Characteristics:
-

pH
Salinity
Surface Soil
(A11 horizon)
Moderately Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None
Subsoil
(2B21 horizon)
Slightly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
None

Soil pit GL47 graphs


Chemical and Physical Analysis:
Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl
2)
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
A11
0-10
5.7
5.0
0.06
1.3
0.06
<10
7.6
3.0
0.45
0.16
0.11
6.4
4.1
A12
10-25
5.7
5.0
0.05
<10
4.8
1.4
0.31
0.13
0.08
4.4
2.3
A13
25-40
5.7
5.0
<0.05
<10
3.0
0.84
0.22
0.14
0.06
3.9
1.7
A14
40-95
6.0
5.4
0.11
<10
6.2
1.4
0.80
0.161
0.33
21
61
6
11
8.3
4.5
2B21(upper)
95-140
6.2
5.7
0.07
<10
12
6
4.9
0.13
0.36
4
23
2
73
34.6
25.4
2B21(lower)
140-200
6.3
5.9
0.09
<10
12
7.2
5.2
0.15
0.54
2
18
1
78
40.0
28.6


Profile Described By: Natalie Baxter and Grant Boyle, 3rd October 2000.
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