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SG6

Location: Korumburra South

Australian Soil Classification: Acidic, Mesotrophic, Grey DERMOSOL.

Great Soil Group: brown podzolic
Northcote Factual Key: Gn 4.51
Soil Map Unit: Strzelecki

General Landscape Description: Upper slope of hillslope (15% slope).
Site Description: Roadside cutting near Korumburra South.
Geology: Cretaceous sediments.
Native Vegetation: Includes Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), Blue Gum (E. globulus), Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and Swamp Paperbark (M. ericifolia).

Photo: Site SG6 Landscape
SG6 Landscape


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil
Photo: Site SG6 Profile
SG6 Profile
A10-35 cmDark brown (10YR4/3); light fine sandy clay loam; firm surface condition; moderate fine polyhedral structure; weak consistence moist; pH 5.7; gradual change to:
Subsoil

B1
35-55 cm
Brown (10YR5/3); light fine sandy clay loam; weak medium blocky, parting to moderate fine blocky structure; weak consistence moist; pH 5.4; clear change to:
B255-85 cmGreyish brown (10YR5/2); fine sandy clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; weak consistence moist; pH 5.6; sharp and wavy change to:
C85+ cmWeathering sediments.

Key Profile Features:
  • Lack of significant texture change throughout the profile.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

pH
Salinity Rating
Sodicity
Surface
(A1 horizon)
Moderately Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
Strongly Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic
Deeper subsoil
(at 75-100 cm)
Moderately Acid
Very Low
Non-Sodic

Image: Site SG6 graphs
The pH ranges between moderate
to strongly acid throughout the
soil profile.
The salinity rating is very low
throughout the profile.
The exchangeable aluminium
level increases with depth.
The clay % increases gradually
with depth.


Horizon
Horizon Depth
(cm)
pH
(water)
pH (CaCl2)
EC
ds/m
Organic Carbon
%
Nitrogen
%
Exchangeable Cations
Exchangeable
Aluminium mg/kg
Exchangeable
Acidity meg/100g
Field Capacity
pF 2.5
Wilting Point
pF 4.2
Coarse Sand
(0.02 -0.2mm)
Fine Sand
(0.02 -0.2mm)
Silt
(0.02 -0.2mm)
Clay
(<0.002mm)
Ca
Mg
K
Na
meg/100g
A1
0-35
5.7
4.5
0.06
2.0
0.17
1.9
1.5
0.1
0.2
90
11.5
27.3
8.1
7.8
40.0
29.0
18.0
B1
35-55
5.4
4.3
0.08
1.0
1.0
0.1
0.2
140
10.0
24.9
7.2
7.8
40.0
31.5
19.0
B21
55-85
5.6
4.1
0.05
0.8
1.5
0.1
0.2
250
10.3
24.3
9.6
7.5
39.6
26.5
25.0

Management Considerations:

Whole Profile
  • Plant Available Water Capacity (PAWC) is considered to be low (estimated at approximately 70 mm). This is based on available laboratory data and assumes an effective rooting depth of 85 cm. Rooting depth will be limited by the sandstone base.

  • The soil profile will be relatively well drained.
Surface (A) Horizons
  • The exchangeable aluminium level is only moderate for the surface horizon. At these levels the growth of only highly aluminium sensitive species (e.g. some medics) is likely to be affected. A pH/aluminium test sampled across the paddock may be appropriate to determine whether lime is needed to raise the pH. Other factors need to be considered before lime is recommended (e.g. pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost/benefit).
Subsoil (B) Horizons
  • In the subsoil the levels of exchangeable aluminium increase. At these levels, the growth of aluminium sensitive species (e.g. phalaris, subclover, white clover, tall fescue) may be affected.
  • The subsoil will be relatively well drained as there is no sharp increase in clay content at the A/B horizon boundary. The subsoil horizons are non-sodic and not coarsely structured, which will enable plant roots to penetrate without significant restrictions. The major restriction to plant and water movement will be the relatively shallow depth to bedrock.
  • On steep slopes, lateral movement of water is likely to occur above the bedrock - which may precipitate soil slumping. In shallow drainage lines, tunnel erosion may occur just above the bedrock. Ultimately these tunnels may collapse to form gullies.

Comments from Landholders:
  • "Pugging" problems can occur in winter.
  • 2.5 cows/hectare is the usual carrying capacity.
  • Potash and super responses occur.
Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Ian Sargeant and Sonia Thompson (June 1995).
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