Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

Site GL173

Location: Dobie.

Australian Soil Classification: Mottled, Epipedal, Brown VERTOSOL (confidence level 1)


Land Mapping Unit:
Hillside Basalts.


General Land Unit Description: This land unit represents the gently undulating to undulating basalt plains around Ararat. The plains are often dissected with very slight rises. The soils on the plains are commonly Brown Vertosols (represented by this site). There are commonly large cracks on the surface when the soil is dry. The soil indicates that there is some gilgai micro-relief although it is not that evident at the surface. Rock outcrop can occur, particularly on the crests of the small rises. Ferromanganiferous nodules may also occur above the clayey subsoil, often occurring as a thin band.

PHOTO: Soil Site GL173 Landscape
Site GL173 Landscape

Site Description:

Slope: 2%
Geology: Quaternary basalt.
Landform pattern: Level to gently undulating plain.
Position in landscape: Plain.
Internal drainage: Poorly drained.


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-15 cmDark brown (10YR3/3) medium clay; strong very fine polyhedral structure; firm consistence when dry; pH 5.6; clear but wavy change to:

PHOTO: Soil Site GL173 Profile
Site GL173 Profile
Subsoil

B2115-40 cmBrown (10YR5/3) with many distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR6/8) mottles; heavy clay; strong coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse angular blocky structure, very firm consistence (dry); pH 6.1; clear change to:

B2240-90 cmDark greyish brown (10YR4/2) with many distinct strong brown (7.5YR4/6) mottles; heavy clay; strong coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse angular blocky structure; few distinct slickensides; pH 6.4; diffuse change to:

B390-140 cmLight olive brown (2.5Y5/4) with many faint light brownish grey (2.5YR6/2) mottles; heavy clay; strong lenticular structure; few distinct slickensides; pH 6.5.

Key Profile Features:
  • Clay texture throughout soil profile.
  • Significant cracking when dry.

Soil Profile Characteristics:


pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Moderately Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
None 1
Subsoil
(15-40 cm)
Slightly Acid
Low
Marginally Sodic
None 1
Deeper Subsoil
(90-140 cm)
Slightly Acid
Low
Sodic
None 2
1 Complete dispersion after remoulding. 2 Slight dispersion after remoulding.

GRAPH: Soil Site GL173 pH
GRAPH: Soil Site GL173 Salt
GRAPH: Soil Site GL173 Sodicity
GRAPH: Soil Site GL173 Clay

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC 1:5
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-15
5.6
4.6
0.09
6.4
7.6
0.80
0.86
B21
15-40
6.1
5.1
0.14
6.4
10
0.60
1.9
B22
40-80
6.4
5.3
0.26
5.5
9.4
<0.1
2.6
B3
80-140
6.5
6.3
0.27
4.7
11
0.1
4.3


Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
Exchangeable
Aluminium mg/kg
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
0-15
28
15
34
45
6
19
14
55
B21
15-40
13
14
22
28
5
14
10
69
B22
40-80
<10
13
43
51
3
13
14
67
B3
80-140
<10
11
27
31
1
10
8
79
Page top