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SW2

Location: Grassmere

Australian Soil Classification: Humose, Hypocalcic, Black CHROMOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Dd1.13
Great Soil Group:rendzina
General Landscape Description: Lower terrace of Merri Creek.
Land Unit: Port Campbell Limestone (Tmc).
Geology: Quaternary alluvial material and volcanic ash deposits overlying Tertiary period


SW2 landscape photo
SW2 Landscape



Soil Profile Morphology:


Surface Soil


A110-15 cmBlack (10YR2/1); clay loam; strong medium polyhedral, parting to strong fine polyhedral structure; weak consistence moist; pH 7.6; gradual change to:


SW2 profile photo
SW2 Profile
A1215-25 cmBlack (10YR2/1) clay loam; strong medium polyhedral, parting to strong fine polyhedral structure; weak consistence moist; pH 7.8; clear to gradual change to:
Subsoil

B2125-45 cmBlack (10YR2/1) light medium clay; strong medium polyhedral, parting to strong fine polyhedral structure (smooth faced peds); weak consistence moist; pH 8.0; gradual change to:
B2245-60 cmDark brown (7.5YR3/2) light clay; moderate medium blocky, parting to strong fine subangular blocky structure; weak consistence moist; pH 8.1 ; abrupt change to:


The underlying horizons are layered tuff, volcanic ash and alluvial deposits of varying thickness.


D160-80 cmGreyish brown (10YR5/2) clayey marl; weakly structured; very weak consistence moist; contains a few (10%) carbonate nodules (5 -15 mm size); pH 8.6; clear change to:


D280-90 cmDark greyish brown (10YR4/2) fine sandy marl, structureless; very firm consistence moderately moist; abrupt change to:


D390-100 cmVery dark greyish brown (2.5Y3/2) fine sandy loam; structureless; pH 8.8; sharp change to:


D4100-102 cmCarbonate layer


D5102-120 cmVery dark grey (10YR3/1) fine sandy marl; very firm consistence, moderately moist; variably compacted; distinctly layered.

Key Profile Features:
  • Texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and upper subsoil (B21) horizon.
  • High organic matter content in surface horizons.
  • Presence of old lake bed deposits from 60 cm depth.


Soil Profile Characteristics:
-

pH
Salinity
Surface Soil
(A11 horizon)
Slightly Alkaline
Medium
Non-Sodic
-
Subsoil
(25-45 cm)
Moderately Alkaline
Medium
Non-Sodic
None
Deeper Subsoil
(102-120 cm)
Strongly Alkaline
High
Sodic
None


SW2 pH graphSW2 salinitySW2 sodicitySW2 clay
The surface horizons are slightly alkaline. The subsoil is moderately alkaline. The marly D horizons are strongly alkaline. The salinity rating is low-moderate for the upper 45 cm of the profile. The rating then becomes medium-high in the deeper subsoil before decreasing in the marl D horizons. The surface horizons and upper subsoil are non-sodic. The deeper subsoil and marl D horizons are marginally sodic. The clay percentage increases significantly at the A/B horizon interface
Chemical and Physical Analysis:
Horizon Horizon Depth (cm) pH (water) pH (CaCl2) EC dS/m Organic Carbon % Total Nitrogen % 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) % Wilting Point % w/w
Ca Mg K Na
meq/100g
A11 0-15 7.6 7.0 0.35 6.0 0.62 42 13 0.72 2.9 8 20 22 27 39.7
A12 15-25 7.8 7.3 0.43 4.5 47 12 0.58 2.2 8 21 24 26 32.6
B21 25-45 8.0 7.4 0.42 1.5 49 18 1.03 3.2 7 15 14 49 46.2
B22 45-60 8.1 7.6 0.61 48 25 0.99 4.8 6 16 22 41 47.6
D1 60-80 8.6 7.9 0.53 49 24 0.45 4.6 3 18 12 14 27.6
D2 80-90 8.6 8.0 0.46 43 18 0.63 5.3 15 39 7 2 21.8
D5 102-120 8.8 8.1 0.31 29 8.3 0.79 3.2 17 46 2 3 12.6
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Austin Brown and Ruth Lourey, 15th April 1996.
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