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LP83

Group: Navarre and Districts Landcare GroupMap Sheet: ST ARNAUD
Aust. Soil Class.: Haplic, Mesotrophic, Red CHROMOSOLNorthcote Factual Key: Dr 2.21
General Landscape Description: Crest of hill (11% slope) on Rolling Hills landform pattern. Original vegetation included Red Stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha).
Geology: Cambrian sediments. (sandstone and slate).

Photo: Site LP83 Soil Landscape
Soil Site LP 83 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology

Surface Soil

A10-10 cmDark reddish brown (5YR3/3); sandy loam; weak medium blocky structure; very weak consistence dry; contains many (25%) sandstone fragments (7 mm average diameter); pH 5.7; abrupt change to:Photo: Site LP83 Soil Profile
Soil Site LP83 Profile
A210-25 cmReddish brown (5YR4/4); fine sandy clay loam; weak medium blocky, parting down to moderate fine polyhedral structure; weak consistence dry; contains many (25%) fine sandstone fragments (10 mm average diameter); pH 6.2; clear change to:
Subsoil
B125-60 cmYellowish red (5YR4/6); medium clay; moderate medium polyhedral, parting to strong fine polyhedral structure; firm consistence dry; contains very few (< 2%) soft and hard manganiferous segregations (6-8 mm diameter); and many (50%) fine sandstone fragments (up to 100 mm diameter); pH 5.9; gradual change to:
BC60+ cmMainly sandstone (90%). Contains (10%) yellowish red (5YR5/8); medium clay; contains very few (<2%) soft and hard manganiferous segregations (6-8 mm diameter), and very many (90%) fine sandstone fragments.

Key Profile Features
  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizon and the upper subsoil (B21) horizon.
  • Shallow soil profile.

Key Profile Characteristics

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
moderately acid
low
non-sodic
none1
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
moderately acid
very low
non-sodic
slight
1 Moderate dispersion with remoulding.

Graph: pH levels in Site LP83
Graph: Salinity levels in Site LP83
Graph: Sodicity levels in Site LP83

Horizon
Horizon Depth
pH (water)
pH CaCl2
EC 1:5
NaCl
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Meq/100g
A1
0-10
5.7
4.9
0.11
7.7
2.2
0.6
0.1
B1
10-25
6.2
5.3
<0.05
3.5
1.8
0.4
<0.1
B21
25-60
5.9
4.9
0.04
0.6
2.9
0.3
0.1

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
0-10
36.2
10.3
18
37
29
16
B1
10-25
27.5
7.9
11
41
29
18
B21
25-60
26.8
10.4
13
26
25
32

Management Considerations:

Whole Profile
  • Plant available water capacity (PAWC) is likely to be quite low for soils such as these that are shallow and contain large amounts of coarse fragments.
Surface (A) Horizons
  • Exchangeable calcium levels are relatively high in the moderately acid surface horizon – suggesting that lime has been applied and that natural pH levels have been increased.
  • Organic carbon and total nitrogen levels are reasonably high at this site. This is a good result as organic matter enhances the fertility, aggregate stability and water holding capacity of surface soils.
Subsoil (B) Horizon
  • The subsoil has a low inherent fertility (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations).
  • The soil profile will be reasonably well draining and these areas are likely to be significant recharge areas.
Comments from Landholder:
  • Improved pasture with Phalaris and Cocksfoot.
  • Stocked at 11/2 - 2 sheep per acre.
  • Lower in the landscape, this country is susceptible to erosion and salinity.
  • Very deficient in potassium.
  • Molybdenum applied with superphosphate every 7 years.
Notes:
Profile described by Paul Rampant, Sonia Thompson and Ruth Lourey (5/6/95).
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