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LP71

Group: Oakvale Farm Advance GroupAustralian Soil Classification: Calcic, Hypernatric, Red SODOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Dr 2.13Great Soil Group: solodic soil
General Landscape Description: Drainage way on level plain. Original vegetation included Buloke (Casuarina luehmanni). This site has not been cropped.

Photo: Soil Pit Site LP 71 Landscape
LP71 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology

Surface Soil

A10-8 cmReddish brown (5YR4/4); light fine sandy clay loam; hardsetting surface condition; weak coarse blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 7.4; sharp change to:Photo: Soil Pit Site LP 71 Profile
LP71
Subsoil
B218-25 cmYellowish red (5YR4/4); light medium clay; strong medium blocky structure; firm consistence moist; pH 7.5; clear change to:
B22k25-50 cmYellowish red (5YR5/6); medium clay; strong medium blocky structure; strong consistence dry; contains a few (2-5%) soft carbonates and very few (<1%) semi-hard carbonates (up to 10 mm diameter); pH 8.2; clear change to:
B2350-100 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6); and yellowish red (5YR5/6); medium clay; moderate blocky structure (earthy fabric); strong consistence dry; contains a few (2-5%) fine gypsum crystals in pockets as well as very few (<2%) carbonate nodules (5-8 mm diameter); pH 8.8; gradual change to:
B24100+ cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6); medium clay; strong medium blocky, parting to strong fine polyhedral structure (with shiny faced peds); very strong consistence dry; contains very few (<2%) hard and semi-hard carbonates (10-20 mm diameter); pH 8.9.

Key Profile Features
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizon and top of the subsoil (B21) horizon.
  • Calcareous and sodic subsoil.

Key Profile Characteristics

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
slightly alkaline
low
non-sodic
none1
Subsoil
(25-45 horizon)
slightly alkaline
low
sodic
slight - moderate
Deeper subsoil
(1 m)
strongly alkaline
medium
strongly sodic
none2
1 Strong dispersion with remoulding.
2 Due to high level of soluble salts.

Photo: Soil Pit Site LP 71 Graphs

Horizon
Horizon Depth
pH (water)
pH CaCl2
EC 1:5
NaCl
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meq/100g
A1
0-8
7.4
6.7
0.09
7.4
3.2
1.6
0.2
B21
8-25
7.5
6.6
0.14
2.7
2.4
0.7
0.9
B22
25-50
8.2
7
0.21
5.5
6
0.8
4.2
B23
50-100
8.8
8.3
0.55
0.39
5.2
9.3
1.2
9.5
B24
100+
8.9
8.4
0.55
0.44
5.1
11
1.2
11

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
0-8
16.6
6.3
20
50
13
15
B21
8-25
29
7.7
15
30
9
44
B22
25-50
35.6
20.9
12
28
6
51
B23
50-100
B24
100+

Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizons
  • The surface horizon is hardsetting and has a high fine sand (50%) content. When cultivated in a dry condition, these soils will become "powdery" and subsequent rain may form a surface crust. Maintaining adequate organic matter levels is important to assist in reducing structural degradation (e.g. compaction) and hardsetting on such soils. Practices such as minimum tillage, stubble retention and pasture rotation should be encouraged if cropping occurs.
  • The surface soil disperses strongly after remoulding. Over-stocking or excessive cultivation of these soils when wet may result in surface sealing and exacerbation of the hardsetting condition. Raindrop action can have a similar effect to remoulding, so maintaining a protective cover of plants or stubble is important.

Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • The strongly alkaline subsoil (from 50 cm depth) suggests that some nutrients (e.g. copper, iron, manganese and zinc) may be poorly available at depth.
  • The coarsely structured subsoil is strongly sodic and disperses strongly in water. This is likely to significantly restrict root and water movement through the profile.
  • From 50 cm in depth the salinity rating is medium (based on sodium chloride levels measured in the laboratory). This level may restrict the growth of salt sensitive species (e.g. maize, linseed, faba beans, chickpeas and some other legumes).

Notes
  • Repeats of analyses are being done for some of the horizons at this site, due to some irregular results.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant and Sonia Thompson (25/5/95).
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