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PVI2

Location: PVI Hamilton

Australian Soil Classification: Vertic (&Ferric), Eutrophic, Yellow SODOSOL (thick, clay loamy surface)
Northcote Factual Key: Dy3.42

Geology: Tertiary/Quaternary basalt.
General Landscape Description: Mid-slope of a low rise (lower lying position).
Soil Mapping Unit: Monivae gravelly loam (slope phase).

Site Description: Edge of a cereal cropping paddock.

Photo: Soil Pit  PVI 2 Landscape
PVI2 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-20 cmBrown (10YR4/3); very fine sandy clay loam; weak coarse blocky (occasionally parting to strong coarse to medium polyhedral structure); very weak consistence (dry); pH 5.5; clear change to:

Photo: Soil Pit PVI 2 Profile
PVI2 Profile
A2120-40 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/4) with strong brown (7.5YR5/8) mottles; conspicuously bleached (10YR7/2 dry); fine sandy clay loam; massive; strong consistence (dry); pH 6.0; clear change to:

A2240-55 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/4); conspicuously bleached (10YR7/2 dry); fine sandy clay loam; massive; firm consistence (dry); very many (80%) ferruginous nodules; (2-10 mm size); pH 6.3; abrupt and wavy change to:

Subsoil

B2155-65 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with brown (10YR4/3) and dark red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; medium clay; moderate coarse blocky, parting to strong medium blocky structure; some dark staining on ped faces; very firm consistence (moist); pH 7.1; clear change to:

Note: In some areas the upper subsoil (B21 horizon) can be darker (10YR4/4) with brownish yellow (10YR6/6) mottles. In these areas, there is usually less ferruginous gravel in the A2 horizon. These variations are associated with the original gilgai micro-relief.

B2265-90 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/8) with very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2) mottles; medium clay; moderate to strong coarse prismatic, parting to moderate to strong medium prismatic and moderate coarse to medium blocky structure; some manganese stains; very firm consistence (moist); pH 7.1; gradual change to:

B2390-120+ cm

Brownish yellow (10YR6/6) with many (40%) light grey (2.5Y7/2) mottles; medium heavy clay; strong lenticular structure; firm consistence (moist); pH 7.2.

Key Profile Features:
  • Variation in soil profile features associated with gilgai micro-relief.
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B) horizons.
  • Thick conspicuously bleached subsurface (A2) horizons.
  • Large amount of ferruginous nodules in the subsurface (A22) horizon.
  • Vertic properties (i.e. lenticular peds) in the deep subsoil.
Soil Profile Characteristics:


pH
Salinity Rating
Surface Soil
(A1 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None
Upper Subsoil
(55 - 65 cm)
Near Neutral
Low
Marginally Sodic
None
Deep Subsoil
(at 90 - 120 cm)
Near Neutral
Low
Sodic
None

Graph: pH in PVI 2
Graph: Salinity in PVI 2
Graph: Sodicity in PVI 2
Graph: Clay in PVI 2

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC 1:5
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-20
5.5
4.2
0.09
3.5
1.7
0.28
0.28
A21
20-40
6.0
4.8
<0.05
2.2
1.3
0.10
0.17
A22
40-55
6.3
5.2
<0.05
2.4
1.5
0.13
0.18
B21
55-65
7.1
5.8
0.08
3.9
6.5
0.33
1.2
B22
65-90
7.1
5.7
0.11
4.9
8.9
0.33
1.9
B23
90-120
7.2
5.9
0.17
4.8
9.8
0.28
2.9


Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
Exchangeable Acidity
meq/100g
Field Capacity
pF2.5
Wilting Point
pF4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2- 2.0 mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02- 0.2 mm)
Silt
(0.002- 0.02 mm)
Clay
(<0.002 mm)
A1
0-20
37
11
4
40
29
19
A21
20-40
26
8
11
40
29
19
A22
40-55
17
9
55
16
13
15
B21
55-65
8.7
40
24
10
17
10
62
B22
65-90
50
30
1
10
7
81
B23
90-120
52
30
3
13
9
76

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant (January 2001).
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