Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

ASSS6

Location: MerricksAustralian Soil Classification: Bleached, Eutrophic, Brown CHROMOSOL


Image: ASSS4-6 landscape
ASSSI 4-6Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-15 cmDark greyish brown (10YR4/2); loam fine sandy; strong medium sub-angular blocky parting to fine sub-angular blocky structure; very firm consistence dry; pH 5.8; clear change to:
Asss6 profile
ASSSI 6Profile
A215-25 cmBrown (7.5YR4/3) with a light brown sporadic bleach (7.5YR6/3d); fine sandy loam; strong medium sub-angular blocky structure; very firm consistence dry; pH 5.8; clear change to:
Subsoil
B2125-70 cmStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with few coarse distinct red (2.5YR5/8) mottles; medium clay; strong medium sub-angular blocky parting to very fine polyhedral structure; firm consistence moist; pH 5.9; gradual change to:
B2270-100 cmYellowish brown (10YR5/4) with few very coarse distinct red (2.5YR5/8) mottles; medium heavy clay; strong medium sub-angular blocky parting to very fine polyhedral structure; firm consistence moist; pH 5.8.

Key Profile Features:

  • Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B21) horizon.
Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Moderately Acid
Low
Non-Sodic
-
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Moderately Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
-
Deeper subsoil
(at 90 cm)
Moderately Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
-

Asss6 pH
The soil profile is moderately acid throughout.
Asss6 salinity
The salinity rating is low throughout the soil profile
Asss6 sodicity
The soil profile is non-sodic throughout
Asss6 clay
The clay content increases significantly at the A/B horizon interface

Horizon
Horizon Depth
pH (water)
pH CaCl2
EC
1:5
Organic Carbon
g/2100g
Exchangeable Cations
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Meq/100g
A1
0-15
5.8
5.2
0.1
3.8
6.2
2
0.13
0.2
A2
15-25
5.8
5.1
<0.05
1.4
1.8
0.91
<0.05
0.12
B21
25-70
5.9
5.5
0.1
4.5
6.1
0.22
0.49
B22
70-100
5.8
5.6
0.12
3.2
8.1
0.15
0.71

Horizon
Horizon Depth
Ext. Iron
g/100g
Ex Al
mg/kg
Ex Ac
meq/100g
Wilting Point
pF4.2
g/100g


Coarse Sand
(0.2-2.0mm)
%

Fine Sand
(0.02-0.2mm)
%

Silt
(0.002-0.02mm)
%

Clay
(<0.002mm)
%
A1
0-15
0.62
10
12
42
23
20
A2
15-25
2.5
6.6
5
57
27
10
B21
25-70
7.6
1.41
13
2
4
7
87
B22
70-100
13
3
9
6
82

Management Considerations

  • Management strategies for all soils should include: increasing organic matter levels in the surface soil, minimising the degradation of soil aggregates and porosity, promoting the development of stable biopores, improving the calcium status of the cation exchange complex (particularly when sodium is a significant part), and breaking up any hardpans. Less frequent tillage, using less aggressive implements and working the soil at its optimum moisture content, can all assist in maintaining soil aggregation and porosity, as well as reducing the breakdown of organic matter. This is important for surface soil horizons such as here – that are high in fine sand and silt.
  • The presence of sporadic bleaching in the subsurface (A2) horizon indicates that periodic waterlogging may occur above the more slowly permeable clay subsoil.
  • Although with a very high clay content, the upper subsoil is non-sodic and well structured (parting to very fine sub-angular blocky peds) – indicating that root and water movement will be less restricted than for more sodic and coarsely structured subsoil horizons elsewhere.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof and David Rees, 10th June 2012
Page top