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NE3

Group: Chiltern Landcare GroupAustralian Soil Classification: Bleached, Dystrophic, Yellow KUROSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Dy 2.41 Great Soil Group: yellow podzolic

North East 3 - landscape photo
NE3 landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-5 cmDark brown (10YR3/3); light sandy clay loam with a hardsetting surface condition; weak coarse blocky structure; firm consistence dry; contains a common (20%) amount of quartz gravel (2-5 mm); pH 5.3; sharp and wavy change to:
North East 3 - profile photo
NE3 profile
A25-25 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/6) conspicuously bleached (10YR8/4d); light sandy clay loam; massive; very firm consistence dry; contains a common (20%) amount of quartz gravel (2-5 mm); pH 5.1; abrupt and wavy change to:
Subsoil
B2125-50 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/8); light medium clay (sandy); massive; strong consistence dry; contains a few (10%) quartz gravels (2-5 mm); pH 4.9; gradual change to:
B2250-70 cmBrownish yellow (10YR6/8); medium clay (sandy); moderate medium polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a common (15%) amount of quartz gravel; pH 4.8; gradual change to:
B2370-90 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/6) and red (2.5YR4/8); light medium clay (sandy); strong medium to fine polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a common (20%) amount of quartz gravels (2-5%); pH 5.0; gradual change to:
B2490+ cmLight brownish grey (10YR6/2) with red (2.5YR4/8) and brownish yellow (10YR6/8) bands; light medium clay (sandy); strong medium to fine polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains many (25%) quartz gravels (2-5 mm); pH 4.8.


Key Profile Features:
  • Strong texture contrast between the surface (A) horizons and clay (B) horizons.
  • Conspicuously bleached subsurface A2 horizon.
  • Soil pH (water) is < 5.5 throughout the profile.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

Horizon
pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
strongly acid
very low
non-sodic
water-stable
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
very strongly acid
very low
non-sodic
slaking, no dispersion
Deeper subsoil
(at 1 m)
very strongly acid
very low
non-sodic
slaking, no dispersion


North East 3 - graphs photo
Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH
(CaCl2)
EC 1:5
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-5
5.3 (5.2)
4.3
0.06
5
0.8
0.2
<0.1
A2
5-25
5.1 (4.9)
4.0
<0.05
1.1
0.3
0.1
<0.1
B21
25-50
4.9 (4.9)
4.1
<0.05
1.2
1.2
0.2
0.1
B22
50-70
4.8
<0.05
0.6
1.9
0.3
0.1
B23
70-90
5
<0.05
0.4
2.4
0.4
0.1
B24
90+
4.8
<0.05
0.2
2.4
0.4
0.1

Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
Exchangeable Aluminium
mg/kg
Field Capacity
pF 2.5
Wilting Point
pF 4.2
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
0-5
56
26.2
14.1
23
35
17
16
A2
5-25
132
17.9
10
24
39
17
19
B21
25-50
242
27.5
19.5
15
18
9
57
B22
50-70
244
31.9
24.2
12
11
8
68
B23
70-90
239
B24
90+
236

Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizons
  • The strongly acid surface soil indicates that aluminium and manganese toxicity may occur. The level of exchangeable aluminium measured in the laboratory (56 ug/g) suggests that highly sensitive species such as barley, lucerne, phalaris, medics and some wheat varieties may be effected. Raising the pH level of the surface soil will help reduce that toxicity. A lime test (sampled at the paddock level) may be appropriate to determine how much lime is needed to raise pH levels. Deficiencies in molybdenum, calcium and potassium may also occur. The level of exchangeable aluminium increases in the A2 horizon to a level (132 ug/g) which is likely to effect sensitive species such as canola and other wheat varieties as well as highly sensitive species.
  • The overall nutrient status for the surface is low (in terms of the sum of the exchangeable basic cations). However, the total nitrogen and organic matter levels are high. The high organic matter is important for maintaining surface soil structure and minimising surface soil slaking. However, soils with high organic matter levels require larger quantities of lime to raise the pH. Surface soil organic matter is also important for improving soil fertility and water holding capacity.
  • Subsurface (A2) horizon has a very low overall nutrient status (in terms of the sum of the exchangeable basic cations).

Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The subsoil is non-sodic and non-dispersive. Subsoil drainage is therefore likely to be reasonable.
  • The subsoil is very strongly acid and exchangeable aluminium (240 ug/g) levels measured in the laboratory are high and will affect the growth of aluminium sensitive species and possibly even some aluminium tolerant species.
  • The overall nutrient status in the subsoil is very low (in terms of the sum of the exchangeable cations).

Comments from Landholder:
  • Superphosphate applied every year.
  • Half a tonne of lime applied five years ago.

Notes
Profile described by Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant and Sonia Thompson (15/3/95)


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