NE45

NE45 Landscape

Surface Soil

A1	0-10 cm	Strong brown (7.5YR4/6); fine sandy loam; hardsetting; weakly structured; firm consistence dry; pH 6.5; clear change to:	NE45 Profile
A2	10-18 cm	Strong brown (7.5YR5/6) (7.5YR6/4d); light fine sandy clay loam; contains a common (10%) amount of ferromanganiferous nodules (2-10 mm size); firm consistence dry; pH 5.9; abrupt change to:
Subsoil
B1	18-35 cm	Reddish yellow (7.5YR6/6); fine sandy clay loam, becoming light clay with depth; weakly structured; very firm consistence dry; contains a few (2-5%) ferromanganiferous nodules. pH 6.8; gradual change to:
B21	35-70 cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/8) with dark yellowish brown (10YR3/6) mottles; light medium clay; moderate medium polyhedral, breaking to strong fine polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains some patches of quartz from 50 cm depth; pH 6.8; clear change to:
B22	70-90 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/8) with yellowish brown (10YR5/6) mottles; medium heavy clay; moderate medium polyhedral, breaking to strong fine polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a few (5-10%) manganese stains; pH 6.6; gradual change to:
B31	90-120 cm	Yellowish brown (10YR5/4) with bright yellowish brown (10YR5/8) mottles; medium heavy clay; moderate very coarse prismatic, breaking to strong medium polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains many (20%) manganese stains and patches of quartz gravel; pH 7.6; gradual change to:
B32	120+ cm	Brown (10YR5/3) with yellowish brown (10YR5/6) and strong brown (7.5YR4/6) mottles; medium heavy clay; moderate very coarse prismatic, breaking to strong medium polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a common (10%) amount of manganese stains; pH 8.5.

Key Profile Features:

• Lack of strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B21) horizon.
• Significant amount of soft manganese segregations in deeper subsoil.

	The surface soil is slightly acid and the subsurface (A2) horizon is moderately acid. The upper subsoil is mainly slightly acid. The deeper subsoil becomes slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline.		The upper part of the profile is non-sodic. From 70 cm depth the subsoil becomes sodic. The deep subsoil (120 cm+) is sodic and strongly dispersive. (note also prismatic structure at depth).
	There is a very low level of soluble salts throughout the profile.		The clay context increases gradually with depth down the profile.

Management Considerations:

Whole Profile

• Plant available water capacity (PAWC) is considered to be low (estimated at 85 mm) for the top metre of the soil profile. This is based on available laboratory data.

• The surface soil has a high fine sand and silt content (76 %). Soil structural stability on such soils depends largely on organic matter to maintain aggregation and prevent slaking. The organic carbon value is low (0.9%) at this pit site. Organic matter levels can be improved by adopting practices such as minimum tillage, stubble retention, pasture rotations and direct drilling.
• The surface soil has a low nutrient status (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations). Improving organic matter levels will assist in increasing soil fertility and water holding capacity.
• The relatively low wilting point value (5%) indicates that plants will be able to utilise light rains falling on relatively dry soil.

• The upper subsoil is non-sodic (with a reasonably high exchangeable calcium:magnesium ratio) and is quite well structured (breaking to fine polyhedral shaped peds). As a result, root and water movement will not be significantly restricted. The deeper subsoil is sodic and strongly dispersive and will restrict deeper drainage.
• The upper subsoil has a low-medium nutrient status (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations).
• The presence of manganese staining in the deep subsoil may have a toxic effect on deeper rooted manganese sensitive plants.

• Deep ripped (1984), Paraploughed (1990), cultivated five times since 1984.
• Lucerne sowed (1994)
• Lime not used in last 12 years.