GW03

Location: Nyora

Australian Soil Classification: Humose, Humic/Sesquic, Semiaquic PODOSOL

Northcote Factual Key: Uc2.36
Map Unit: Nyora

General Landscape Description: Low hills.
Site Description: Upper slope of a rise slope.
Geology: Neogene sediments (aeolian and riverine).
Land Use: Quarry.

Image: GW03 landscape
GW03 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0 – 35 cm	Black (10YR2/1); loamy sand; soft surface condition; apedal; earthy fabric; firm consistence dry; pH 4.2; clear and wavy change to	GW03 Profile. 3 metres depth.
A2	35 – 115 cm	Very pale grey (2.5Y7/1); sand; apedal; granular fabric; weak consistence dry; pH 4.4; clear wavy change to
Subsoil
Bh	115 – 165 cm	Black (10YR2/1); loamy sand; apedal; earthy fabric; firm consistence moderately moist; pH 3.8; clear and wavy change to:
Bs/Bhs	165 – 220 cm	Brown (10YR5/3) with many distinct dark brown (10YR3/3) mottles; cemented sand/coffee rock; massive; granular fabric; very strong consistence dry; ferruginised sandstone pan; pH 5.1; clear change to:
C1	220 – 300 cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/4); sand; apedal; granular fabric; firm consistence moderately moist; few ferruginised sandstone; pH 4.5; clear change to:.
C2	220 – 300 cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/4); sand; apedal; granular fabric; firm consistence moderately moist; few ferruginised sandstone; pH 4.5; clear change to:

GW03 Profile. 2 metres depth.
Shallower profiles occur in different topographic positions.
This profile is about 40m from the described profile.

Key Profile Features:

Very deep bleached susbsurface horizon.
Accumulation of organic matter (Bh) and organic matter/iron oxides (Bhs), commonly referred to as “coffee rock”, in deeper subsoil horizons.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

	pH	Salinity Rating	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Extremely Acid	Low	Non-Sodic	-
Subsoil (Bh horizon)	Extremely Acid	Very Low	Non-Sodic	-
Deeper Subsoil (Bs/Bsh horizon)	Strongly Acid	Low	Non-Sodic	-

Image: GW03 graphs

The soil profile is extremely acid.

The level of soluble salts is low to very low throughout the profile.

Aluminium levels are high at 1 metre depth.

Clay levels are low throughout the profile.

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl²)	EC dS/m	Total Nitrogen g/100g	Organic Carbon g/100g	Exchangeable Cations
							Ca	Mg	K	Na
							Meq/100g
A1	0-35	4.2	3.5	0.08	0.22	5	3.6	1.1	<0.05	0.14
A2	35-115	4.4	4.2	<0.05	<0.05		<0.05	<0.05	<0.05	<0.05
Bh	115-165	3.8	3.2	0.006		0.98	0.11	0.32	<0.05	0.08
Bs/Bsh	165-220	5.1	4.9	0.06			0.2	0.11	<0.05	0.08
C1	220-300	4.5	4.3	<0.05			<0.05	0.08	<0.05	0.06
C2	300-320+

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	Exchangeable Aluminium mg/kg	Exchangeable Acidity meq/100g	Field Capacitiy pF 2.5	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	0-15	23	22	13.9	6.7	20.5	67.8	3	2
A2	15-30	<10	<1.0	2.9	0.6	27	68.8	3.5	0.5
B21	30-80	190	12	4.6	2.2	20	75.3	0	2.5
B22	80-120	30	9.3	7.6	4.8	27.4	59.8	0	9.0
		76	2.2	3.5	2.2	19.4	75.3	0	4.0

Profile Described By: David Rees (March 2011).

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