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MP23

Group: Birchip Cropping Demonstration Group
Aust. Soil Class.: Epihypersodic, Pedal, Hypercalcic CALCAROSOLNorthcote Factual Key:Dy 2.13

MP23 Landscape
MP23 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-10 cmDark brown (10YR3/3); heavy clay loam (sandy); hardsetting and massive; strong consistence dry; pH 8.5; sharp and wavy change to:
MP23 Profile
MP23 Profile
    Subsoil
B2110-25 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/4); light medium clay; moderate coarse prismatic, breaking down to medium blocky structure; strong consistence dry; pH 9.4; clear and wavy change to:
B22k25-100 cmLight yellowish brown (10YR6/4); light medium clay; moderate prismatic structure; strong consistence dry; contains many soft carbonates; pH 9.9; sharp and wavy boundary to:
B23100-150 cmVery pale brown (10YR7/3) and reddish yellow (5YR6/8) mottles; medium clay; coarse prismatic structure; strong consistence dry; contains a band of manganese segregations in 145-150cm zone; pH 9.5; gradual change to :
B31150-190 cmYellowish red (5YR5/8); heavy clay; strong very coarse prismatic structure; very strong consistence dry; pH 5.7.


Key Profile Features:

Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Moderately Alkaline
Low
Non-Sodic
None1
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Very Strongly Alkaline
Low
Sodic
None2
Deeper subsoil
(at 1 m)
Extremely Alkaline
Very High
Strongly Sodic
Strong
    1slight dispersion after remoulding
    2strong dispersion after remoulding

MP23 Graphs

Horizon
Horizon Depth
pH (water)
pH CaCl2
EC
1:5
NaCl
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Meq/100g
A1
0-10
8.5
7.8
0.1
19.6
4.6
2.5
0.2
B21
10-25
9.4
8.3
0.24
14.2
11.1
1.1
3.2
B22k
25-100
9.9
8.9
0.77
2.7
9.8
1.1
10.4
B23
100-150
9.5
8.9
1.5
0.27
3.8
12.3
1.6
14.3
B31
150-190
5.7
5.2
1.54
0.3
2.1
8.6
0.8
7.5

Horizon
Horizon Depth
Boron
mg/kg
Field
pF2.5
g/100g
Wilting Point
pF4.2
g/100g
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0mm)
%
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2mm)
%
Silt
(0.002-0.02mm)
%
Clay
(<0.002mm)
%
A1
0-10
27.7
15
32
27
4
31
B21
10-25
34.8
21.7
27
19
4
40
B22k
25-100
38.4
23.8
B23
100-150
46.6
27.6
B31
150-190


Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizon

  • The hardsetting surface condition can be improved by using management practises such as minimum tillage, stubble retention and pasture rotations to improve organic matter levels.
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The top of the subsoil is sodic and as a result root and water movement through the subsoil is likely to be restricted.
  • The top of the subsoil is sodic becoming strongly sodic by >25 cm and very strongly sodic by 40 cm, with strong dispersion. These conditions are likely to restrict water and root movement into the subsoil. Also, the calcium to magnesium ratio is low (0.3) which will add to the deleterious effect of exchangeable sodium on soil structure.
  • Very strongly alkaline to extremely alkaline conditions exist in the subsoil. This indicates that certain nutrients (eg. zinc, copper, iron, boron and manganese) may be poorly available to plants.
  • The level of soluble salts becomes very high in the deeper subsoil. This is likely to restrict the growth of deeper rooted species.
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