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MP29

Location: WoomelangGroup: Birchip Cropping Demonstration Group
Australian Soil Classification: Episodic-Endocalcareous Epipedal, Grey VERTOSOL
General Landscape Description: Lower lying plain within the Hopetoun Land System (Rowan and Downes, 1963).


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-35 cmDark brown (7.5YR4/2); medium clay (sandy); surface cracking; strong very coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; pH 7.7; sharp and wavy change to:
MP29 profile
MP29 Profile
Subsoil

B2135-55 cmReddish yellow (7.5YR6/6); light medium clay; moderate fine to medium prismatic structure; very firm consistence dry; pH 9.4; gradual change to:
B22k55-80 cmReddish yellow (7.5YR6/6); medium clay; strong consistence dry; contains a common (10%) amount of soft carbonate; gradual change to:
B3180 cm+Pinkish grey (7.5YR6/2); heavy clay; strong medium prismatic structure; firm consistence moderately moist; contains patches of soft carbonate; pH 9.1.

Key Profile Features:

Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity
Sodicity
Dispersion
Surface
(A1 horizon)
slightly alkaline
very low
sodic
none1
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
very strongly alkaline
medium to high
very strongly sodic
none2
Deeper subsoil
(at 80 cm)
very strongly alkaline
very high
very strongly sodic
none2
1 Strong dispersion after remoulding
2 Probably due to high levels of soluble salts.

MP29 graphs

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
1:5
NaCl
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Meq/100g
A1
0-35
7.7
6.7
0.08
9.4
3.8
1.0
1.1
B21
35-55
9.4
8.8
0.97
0.08
6.1
10
0.8
9.5
B22k
55-80
B31
80+
9.1
8.7
1.5
0.23
4.7
9.9
1.1
11.2

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
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
0-35
21.3
25.1
B21
35-55
50.7
36.3
B22k
55-80
B31
80+


Management Considerations

Surface (A) Horizon
  • The surface soil is sodic and disperses strongly after remoulding. This suggests that structural damage will occur if the soil is cultivated in a moist to wet condition. Raindrop action on exposed soil will also damage soil structure.

Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The subsoil is very strongly sodic and has a low exchangeable calcium to magnesium ratio. Soil structural conditions will therefore be unfavourable for plant root development.
  • The level of soluble salts is medium to high. This may affect the growth of salt sensitive species (eg. chickpeas, lupins).
  • The subsoil is very strongly alkaline. This indicates that certain nutrients (eg. iron, manganese, zinc and boron) may be poorly available to plants.

Comments from Landholder:
  • After heavy winter rains water lies on surface.
  • Gypsum has been applied.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof and John Martin (23/1/93).
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