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Site SW19

Location: Glenormiston College.

Australian Soil Classification: Melacic, Eutrophic, Brown CHROMOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Db2.12
Great Soil Group: podzolic

Geology: Quaternary volcanic tuff deposits (Qvs) derived from Mt. Noorat.
General Landscape Description: Level Plain.
Site Description: Paddock reserve associated with a non-irrigated dairy paddock.

PHOTO: Landscape of soil site SW 19
Site SW19 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A110-30 cmVery dark brown (10YR2/2); fine sandy clay loam; strong polyhedral, parting to fine polyhedral structure; slight compaction evident; weak consistence dry; pH 4.9; abrupt change to:
PHOTO: Landscape of soil site SW 19
Site SW19 Profile
A1230-35 cmVery dark brown (10YR2/2); fine sandy clay loam; very firm consistence dry; contains many (40%) manganese nodules (2-6 mm in size) as well as an ironstone accumulation and many dark root channels; pH 5.6; abrupt change to:
Subsoil

B21

35-70 cm

Brown (7.5YR4/4);
medium heavy clay; strong polyhedral, parting to fine polyhedral structure (shiny-faced peds); very firm consistence moist; contains few (5%) manganese nodules (2-5 mm in size) as well as worm casts; pH 6.4; clear change to:
B2270-100 cmBrown (7.5YR4/4) with slight strong brown (7.5YR5/6) mottles; medium clay; moderate coarse polyhedral, parting to strong fine polyhedral structure; very firm consistence moist; contains few (2%) manganese nodules (2-5 mm in size) as well as few (10%) manganese stains; pH 7.0; abrupt change to:
C1100-120 cmMainly weathered yellow brown volcanic tuff:

C2

120+ cm

Dark brown (7.5YR3/3); volcanic tuff; contains some olivine.

Key Profile Features:
  • Strong texture contrast between the sub-surface (A12) horizon (29% clay) and the sodic subsoil (B21) horizon (65% clay).
Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
very strongly acid
low
non-sodic
none
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
slightly acid
very low
non-sodic
none
Deeper subsoil
(at 1m)
neutral
very low
non-sodic
none

Image:  SW19 pH
Image:  SW19 Salinity
Image:  SW19 Clay
The surface is very strongly acid. The subsoil is slightly acid, becoming neutral at 80 cm depth.
The salinity rating is low to very low throughout the profile.
The clay content increases abruptly at the A/B horizon boundary.

Horizon
Horizon
Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC 1:5
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A12
30-35
5.6
4.7
0.06
7.1
2.6
0.46
0.33
B21
35-70
6.4
5.4
<0.05
14
8.8
0.81
0.52
B22
70-100
7
6.2
0.08
13
15
0.66
0.74

Horizon
Horizon
Depth
(cm)
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)
A12
30-35
16.4
24
23
18
29
B21
35-70
28.9
9
12
5
65
B22
70-100
29.6
5
18
14
57


Management Considerations:

Whole Profile

  • Plant available water capacity (PAWC) is considered to be medium (estimated at 120 mm). This is based on available laboratory data and assumes an effective rooting depth of 100 cm. Effective plant available water in the subsoil will be higher for this profile compared to sites SW17 and SW18. The subsoil at site SW19 and SW16 is non-sodic and has better structure.

Surface (A) Horizon

  • The inherent fertility of the surface soil is low-moderate, based on the sum of the exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K).

  • The surface (A1) horizon is very strongly acid. This indicates that aluminium and manganese toxicity may occur. The level of exchangeable aluminium measured at this site is high (140 mg/kg) and may restrict the growth of aluminium sensitive species e.g. lucerne. However, a pH/aluminium test is best performed from samples taken across the paddock and bulked together. There may be benefits in applying lime on this soil. Other factors also need to be considered before lime is recommended e.g. pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost benefit.

  • Manganese toxicity can also occur in strongly acid soils, particularly under waterlogged conditions.

  • Deficiencies of molybdenum, phosphorus and potassium can occur in strongly acid soil. Increasing pH by lime application should enable phosphorus (from superphosphate) and molybdenum to become more available. If lime is required, and pH is increased, then the availability of major nutrients should improve.

Subsoil (B) Horizons

  • The subsoil has a high inherent fertility, based on the sum of the exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K).

  • The subsoil is non-sodic and non-dispersive. It is also well structured, parting down to fine polyhedral shaped peds. Water movement should not be significantly restricted as a result and subsoil drainage will be better than for sites SW17 and SW18. The increase in clay content at the A/B horizon interface may result in some restricted water movement as compared to sites SW16 and SW20 where there is a more gradual texture change.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof and David Rees, 12 May 1997.
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