GL169

Site: GL169	Land Unit: Ararat Alluvial
*Aust. Soil Class.:* Eutrophic, Mottled-Subnatric, Grey SODOSOL (confidence level 1)

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.

Site Description:

Slope: <1%	Geology: Quaternary Alluvium
Landform pattern: Level to gently undulating plain	Position in landscape: Flat
Internal drainage: Imperfect to poorly drained

Soil Profile Morphology

A1	0-15 cm	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2) clay loam, strong polyhedral structure (5-10 mm), weak consistence when dry, a few small rounded pebbles (2-6 mm), pH 5.3; clear transition to:
	Subsoil
B21	15-40 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1) heavy clay, distinct fine brownish yellow (10YR6/6) mottles are common, strong prismatic (50-100 mm) to moderate polyhedral structure (5-10 mm), very firm consistence when dry, pH7.3; clear and wavy transition to:
B22	40-60 cm	Greyish brown (2.5Y5/2) heavy clay, fine faint yellow mottles (10YR7/6) are common, pH 8.4; gradual and wavy transition to:
B23	60-90 cm	Light olive brown (2.5Y5/4) heavy clay, distinct medium yellowish brown (10YR5/6) mottles are common, moderate angular structure, very firm consistence when dry, pH 9.1; gradual and wavy transition to:
B24	90+ cm	Light yellowish brown (2.5Y3/6) heavy clay, pH 9.5.

Key profile features:

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

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