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MP49

Location: Murrayville Landcare Group.Australian Soil Classification: Epibasic, Petrocalcic, Lithocalcic, CALCAROSOL
General Landscape Description: Low rise on a gently undulating plain.Geology: Quaternary (Woorinen Formation) deposits.


Image:  MP49 landscape

MP49 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A110-10 cmDark greyish brown (7.5YR3/4); sandy loam; non-calcareous; pH 7.8:

Photo: Soil Pit Site MP49 Profile
MP49 Profile
A1210-20 cmReddish brown (5YR5/8); sandy clay loam; very firm consistence dry; contains many (40%) soft calcareous segregations and calcrete fragments formed insitu; moderately calcareous; pH 8.2:
Subsoil

C20-45 cmCalcrete Layer:
2B2145-70 cmLightish red-brown (2.5YR5/8); light clay (fine sandy); contains many (50%) soft calcareous segregations with calcrete fragments are common (20%); highly calcareous; many macropores; pH 9.6:
2B2270-100 cmLight medium clay (sandy); soft calcareous segregations are common (20%); highly calcareous; pH 9.8:
2B23100+ cmMedium clay (fine sandy); contains a few (2-5%) soft manganiferous segregations; moderately calcareous; pH 9.4.

Key Profile Features:
  • Medium depth of surface soil overlying calcrete.
  • Presence of thick calcrete layer below surface soil.
Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A11 horizon)
Slightly alkaline
Low
Non-sodic
None
Sub-surface
(A12 horizon)
Moderately alkaline
Low
Non-sodic
None1
Deeper Subsoil
(at 0.45 m)
Very strongly alkaline
Very high
Sodic
None2
1Moderate dispersion after remoulding. 2Slight dispersion after remoulding.



Image:  MP49 graph

The soil profile becomes increasingly alkaline with depth.The level of soluble salts increases with depth.The soil profile becomes increasingly sodic with depth.The clay content gradually increases with depth.


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
7.8
7.1
0.19
0.12
1.5
6.5
2.1
1.4
0.09
A12
10-20
8.2
7.6
0.17
11
3.5
1
0.19
2B21
45-70
9.6
8.9
1.1
0.2
5.6
8.3
0.7
2.1
2B22
70-100
9.8
9
0.97
0.18
2B23
100+
9.4
8.6
1.4
0.28
1.1
11
1.8
5.1

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)
A11
0-10

11
5
39
45
4
12
A12
10-20

14
6
34
42
5
18
2B21
45-70
<5

20
28
7
13
2B22
70-100

-
2B23
100+
<5

20
38
13
27


Management Considerations:

Whole Profile

  • In general, management strategies for all soils should aim to: increase organic matter levels in the surface soil, minimise the degradation of soil aggregates and porosity, promote the development of stable biopores, break up any hardpans, and improve the calcium status of the ion exchange complex. Particularly when sodium plays a significant part i.e. the soil is sodic. Less frequent tillage, using less aggressive implements, and working the soil at optimum moisture conditions can all assist in maintaining soil aggregation and porosity, as well as reducing the breakdown of organic matter.
  • The soil profile will be well drained. Water is likely to move rapidly through the fractured calcrete layer.
  • Plant available water capacity will be restricted by the shallow depth of soil above the calcrete layer.
Surface (A) Horizons
  • The subsurface (A12) horizon disperses moderately after remoulding. Disturbance to this horizon by tillage when in a moist to wet condition, may result in some structural degradation.

Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The calcrete layer will restrict root and water movement.
  • The soil below the calcrete layer is also likely to restrict plant root growth. It is sodic, has a very high level of soluble salts and is very strongly alkaline.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof (August 1999).
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