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Site WW16

Location: Serviceton

Australian Soil Classification: Endocalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Ug5.2
Great Soil Group: grey clay

Site 16 Landscape
Site WW16 Landscape


General Landscape Description: This soil type occurs on the flat clay plains below the low rises of the gently undulating plains. It is a variation of the soil found on the Southern Cracking Clay Plains land system (WW10 has been used to represent the whole unit on the map). Note the rise with Yellow Gum in background of photograph where the land system changes to Yellow Gum Plains and Rises.

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A10-10 cmDark greyish brown (10YR4/2) light clay, moderate polyhedral structure (peds 20-50 mm); self-mulching surface condition (particularly evident after cultivation); strong consistence when dry; pH 8.6:

Site 16 Profile
Site WW16 Profile
Subsoil

B2110-20 cmGrey (10YR5/1) with slight brownish yellow (10YR6/8) mottles medium clay; moderate prismatic structure (peds 50-100 mm) parting to moderate blocky structure (peds 20-50 mm); smooth faced peds; strong consistence when dry; complete dispersion when worked; pH 8.4:

Note: Within the upper subsoil there is a discontinuous bleached A2 horizon with a fine sandy clay loam texture.

B2220-40 cmMedium clay; lenticular structure with some slickensides; smooth faced peds; pH 8.7:

B2340-60 cmMedium clay; lenticular structure and some slickensides; smooth faced peds; complete dispersion; pH 8.8:

B2460-80 cmMedium clay; smooth faced peds; pH 9.0:

B2580-130 cmMedium heavy clay; strong lenticular structure (peds 10-20 mm parting to 2-5 mm); smooth faced peds; pH 9.3:

B26130-180+ cmHeavy clay; some slickensides; smooth faced peds; few (2-5%) soft and hard calcium carbonate/silica and carbonate nodules.
Soil Profile Characteristics:

Horizon
pH
Salinity
Internal Drainage
Hydro-phobicity
Surface
(A1 horizon)
strongly alkaline
low
non-sodic
nil
imperfectly drained3
nil
Subsoil
(B21 horizon)
strongly alkaline
low
sodic1
moderate2
-
-
Deeper subsoil
(at 1 metre)
very strongly alkaline
medium-high
strongly sodic
strong
-
-
1 Estimate.
2 Complete dispersion after remoulding.
3 Some areas may be better drained.

Key Profile Features:
  • Self-mulching surface when cultivated.
  • Uniform clay throughout profile.
  • Uneven drainage due to gilgai micro-relief.
  • Alkaline pH throughout profile.
  • Strongly sodic subsoil at depth.
  • Soil salinity increases at one metre depth.
  • Lenticular structure and slickensides indicate high shrinking and swelling of the clay subsoil resulting in surface cracking and gilgai micro-relief.

Soil Restrictions and Management Prescriptions:

Feature
Result
Management Prescription
Sodic clay subsoil.
    • Poor water and air movement into the subsoil resulting in waterlogging (impeded internal drainage).
    • Poor root growth into the subsoil reducing the volume of the soil able to be exploited.
    • Gypsum applications if the subsoil is close to the surface and topsoil textures are light.
Dryland cropping.
    • Include deep rooted crops in the rotation, minimum tillage and stubble retention.
Alkaline subsoil.
    • Potential nutrient imbalance.
    • Unsuitable for alkaline intolerant plants.
    • May indicate subsoil sodicity.
    • Grow alkaline tolerant plants.
Soil salinity at depth.
    • Poor or no plant growth for deeper rooted species.
    • Indication of waterlogging (impeded internal drainage) or high water table.
    • Increase plant water use throughout the catchment.

Land Suitability Rating Table:

LAND USE
SUITABILITY CLASS
MAJOR LIMITING COMPONENT
Wheat
2
Climate, soil
Canola
2
Climate, soil
Chickpeas
3
Soil
Lentils
3
Soil
White clover seed
3
Soil
Lucerne for seed production
3
Soil
Viticulture
3
Soil
Apples
3
Soil
Potatoes
3
Soil
Carrots
3
Soil
Onions
3
Soil
Sweet corn
3
Soil
Radiata Pine
3
Climate
Blue Gum
3
Climate

Land Suitability Assessment and Primary Limitations:

WheatClimate2Moderate frost risk, slightly high rainfall.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline pH.
CanolaClimate2Moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil2Slightly alkaline pH.
ChickpeasClimate2*Moderate frost risk, moderate to high rainfall.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3#Impeded internal drainage.
LentilsClimate2Moderate frost risk, slightly high rainfall.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3#Impeded internal drainage.
White clover seedClimate1No major limitation.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline pH.
Lucerne for seed productionClimate1No major limitation.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3#Impeded internal drainage.
ViticultureClimate2Moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3#Impeded internal drainage.
ApplesClimate2Moderate frost risk, slightly high mean maximum January temperature.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline pH.
PotatoesClimate2Slightly high mean maximum January temperature.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline topsoil pH.
CarrotsClimate1No major limitation.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Alkaline topsoil pH.
Onions Climate2Moderate frost risk.
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3Clay topsoil, alkaline topsoil pH.
Sweet cornClimate2Slightly low mean monthly temperature (October - March).
Landscape1No major limitation.
Soil3#Impeded internal drainage.
Radiata PineClimate3Low rainfall.
Landscape2Wind erosion hazard.
Soil2Slightly impeded internal drainage.
Blue GumClimate3Low rainfall.
Landscape2Wind erosion hazard.
Soil2Slightly impeded internal drainage.
* Some areas may have higher rainfall.
# Some areas may be better drained.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Nathalie Baxter (09/01/97).
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