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LP48

Property: LP48Australian Soil Classification: Haplic, Hypercalcic, Red CHROMOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Dr 2.23Great Soil Group: no suitable group
General Landscape Description: Mid to upper slope of a gently undulating rise within the Granite Highland Landscape Unit. The original vegetation includes Buloke (Casuarina luehmannii).

Photo:  Landscape photo - Mitiamo soil pit LP48

LP48 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology

Surface Soil

A1 0-5 cmDark reddish brown (5YR3/4); heavy sandy loam; structureless and hardsetting surface condition; firm consistence dry; pH 7.9; clear change to:
Photo:  Profile photo - Mitiamo soil pit LP48
LP48 Profile
A25-20 cmReddish brown (5YR4/4); clay loam, (sandy); structureless; firm consistence dry; pH 8.4; clear and wavy change to:
Subsoil
B2120-35 cmRed (2.5YR4/6); light medium clay; moderate medium polyhedral structure; very firm consistence dry; biological activity abundant (e.g. ants); pH 8.3; clear and wavy change to:
B22k35-60 cm Very many (80%) fine-earth carbonates and calcrete - incorporating some soil from above horizon in cracks; wavy change to:
B23k60-90 cmReddish yellow (5YR6/6); sandy clay loam; contains very many (50%) coarse fragments of weathered granite and scattered fine-earth carbonates throughout:
C90+ cmWeathered granite.

NOTE: This soil corresponds to Terricks Sandy Loam (shallow phase) as described by Skene (1971).

Key Profile Features
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons (clay content 25 to 33%) and subsoil (B21) horizon (clay content 57%).
  • Hardsetting nature of the soil surface.
  • Maximum carbonate accumulation in the 35-60 cm horizon (80% carbonates).
  • Weathered granite beneath 90 cm.

Key Profile Characteristics

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
slightly alkaline
low
non-sodic
none
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
moderately alkaline
low
non-sodic
none

Photo:  Graphs - Mitiamo soil pit LP48

Horizon
Horizon Depth
pH (water)
EC 1:5
NaCl
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-5
7.9
0.24
9.2
0.9
1.6
0.2
A2
5-20
8.4
0.14
12
1
1.5
0.1
B21
20-35
8.3
0.23
15
2
1.6
0.4

Horizon
Horizon Depth
Ex Al
mg/kg
Ex Ac
meq/100g
Field
pF2.5
Wilting Point
pF4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2mm)
Silt
(0.002-0.02mm)
Clay
(<0.002mm)
A1
0-5
19.2
10.8
23
38
10
25
A2
5-20
21.5
12.6
18
34
10
33
B21
20-35
26.6
20
12
20
7
57

Management Considerations:
  • 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; improve the calcium status of the ion exchange complex (particularly when sodium is a significant part), and break up any hardpans. 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.

Surface (A) Horizons
  • The surface horizon is hard-setting and moderately coherent; therefore it could restrict seedling emergence and may not be easy to work.
  • The surface has a relatively low organic matter content. Improving soil surface organic matter levels will assist in minimising structural problems such as hardsetting, as well as improving soil fertility and water holding capacity.

Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The upper subsoil is non-sodic and non-dispersive. This is likely to present fewer limitations to root and water movement compared to more sodic subsoils in the region.
  • The upper subsoil is moderately alkaline and becomes extremely alkaline at 35 cm. This indicates that phosphorus and some trace elements such as iron, manganese, zinc and copper may be poorly available to plants and deficiencies may occur. Deficiencies can be determined by plant tissue analysis. Boron toxicity can also occur in strongly alkaline soils.

Landholder Comments:
  • Has not been cropped often. Oats have been grown once.

Notes:
Soil profile described by Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant and Karen de Plater (1/3/95)
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