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MP47

Location: Murrayville Landcare Group.Australian Soil Classification: Endohypersodic, Pedal, Hypercalcic, CALCAROSOL.
Geology: Quaternary (Woorinen Formation) deposits.General Landscape Description: Flat plain.
Site Description: Grazing paddock.


Image: MP47 landscape
MP47 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A110-10 cmDark greyish brown (7.5YR3/4); sandy clay loam; weak to firm consistence (dry); slightly calcareous; pH 8.3; clear change to:
    Photo: Soil Pit Site MP47 Profile
MP47 Profile
A1210-20 cmDarkish greyish brown (7.5YR4/4); sandy clay loam (heavy); firm consistence (moist); moderately calcareous; pH 8.5; clear change to:
Subsoil

B120-30 cmDarkish greyish brown (7.5YR4/4); light clay; strong medium blocky structure; firm to very firm consistence (moist); highly calcareous; pH 9.0; clear change to:

B21k30-60 cmGreyish brown (7.5YR5/4), with light greyish brown (10RY7/2) mottles; light medium clay; strong coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; strong consistence (dry); many (20%) fine-earth carbonates; highly calcareous; pH 9.8; gradual change to:

B2260-100 cmBrown (7.5YR5/6); medium heavy clay; strong coarse prismatic parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; strong consistence (dry); few (5%) fine-earth carbonates; highly calcareous; pH 9.8; change to:

B23100+ cmReddish brown (5YR5/6); strong very coarse prismatic, parting to strong fine to medium blocky structure; strong consistence (moist); contains few (2%) fine-earth carbonates; moderately calcareous; pH 9.5.

Key Profile Features:
  • Gradual increase in texture with depth down the soil profile.
  • Soil profile is calcareous throughout.
Soil Profile Characteristics:
pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Moderately alkaline
low
Non-sodic
None
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Extremely alkaline
low-medium
Strongly sodic
Mod-strong
Deeper subsoil
(at 1 m)
Very strongly alkaline
Very high
Strongly sodic
strong
Graph: pH levels in MP47
Graph: Salinity levels in Site MP47
The soil profile becomes increasingly alkaline with depth.The level of soluble salts increases with depth down the profile.


Graph: Sodicity levels in Site MP47


Graph: Clay % in Site MP47
The soil profile becomes increasingly sodic with depth.The clay content increases gradually with depth down the profile.
Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC
1:5
NaCl
Total Nitrogen
%
Organic Carbon
%
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Meq/100g
A11
0-10
8.3
7.8
0.15
-
0.1
2.9
20
2.5
1.7
0.13
A12
10-20
8.5
7.9
0.14
-
-
-
22
3.1
1.1
0.18
B1
20-30
9
8.2
0.22
-
-
-
27
8.6
1.2
1.4
B21k
30-60
9.8
8.7
0.57
0.03
-
-
7.5
11
1.1
3.6
B22
60-100
9.8
9.1
1.2
0.15
-
-
5.5
9.2
1.4
7.6
B23
100+
9.5
9.1
1.5
0.21
-
-
-
-
-
-

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
Exchangeable Aluminium
mg/kg
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)
A11

0-10
-
16
6.7
34
44
5
15
A12
10-20
-
16.5
7.4
32
42
4
19
B1
20-30
-
27.2
13.6
23
31
10
23
B21k
30-60
<5
35.3
18.5
22
23
5
33
B22
60-100
<5
41.7
20.7
21
23
6
43
B23
100+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Management Considerations:

Whole Profile

  • Much of the soil profile is extremely alkaline. This suggests that some nutrients (e.g. manganese, zinc, iron, copper) may be poorly available to plants.

Surface (A) Horizons
  • The surface soil has a relatively high nutrient holding capacity compared to many other soils in the area. This is due to the relatively higher clay and organic matter contents.

Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The subsoil is sodic and dispersive. Root and water movement into the subsoil will be restricted as a result. It is important to avoid cultivating this soil whilst in a moist to wet condition as some structural degradation could occur.
  • The high level of soluble salts in the deeper subsoil may restrict the growth of deeper- rooted salt sensitive species.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof (August 1999).
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