IS11

Location: Longerenong.

Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous-Endohypersodic, Epipedal, Grey VERTOSOL

Northcote Factual Key: Ug5.28
Great Soil Group: grey clay
Soil Type: Horsham Clay.

General Landscape Description: Anastomotic plain.
Geology: Quaternary Shepparton Formation: fluvial silt, sand and minor gravel.

A1	0-10 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); light clay; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 8.6; sharp and smooth boundary to:	IS11 Profile
Subsoil
B21	10-25 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); light clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic, parting to coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 8.8.
B22	25-50 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); heavy clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic breaking down to coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.0.
B23	50-85 cm	Dark grey (5Y4/1); heavy clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic, parting to coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.4; sharp and wavy boundary to:
B24	85-115 cm	Grey (5Y5/1); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.6.
B25	115-140	Grey (5Y5/1); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.6; gradual boundary to:
B31	140-180	Pale olive (5Y6/3); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); pH 9.7.

Horizon	Sample Depth cm	pH H2O	EC dS/m	Sodium Chloride %	Exchangeable Calcium cmol-/kg	Exchangeable Magnesium cmol-/kg	Exchangeable Potassium cmol-/kg	Exchangeable Sodium cmol-/kg	Total Nitrogen %	Organic Carbon %	Bulk Density	Exchangeable Acidity cmol-/kg	Field Capacity -30okPa	Permanent Wilting Point -1500okPa	Coarse Sand %	Fine Sand %	Silt %	Clay %
A1	0–10	8.6	0.21	0.01	22.7	11.7	2.1	1.2	0.1	0.87	1.03	2.1	39.9	23.5	3	12	10	73
B21	10–25	8.8	0.19	0.01	21.8	12.2	1.7	2.2	0.07	0.56	1.37	1.8	40.2	23.9	3	10	8	78
B22	25–50	9	0.18	0.03	18.9	14	1.8	4.8	0.06	0.46	1.31	2.5		27.1	2	11	8	78
B23	50–85	9.4	0.36	0.03	12.7	14.5	1.9	8.1	0.04	0.35	1.39			27.9	3	14	8	73
B24	85–115	9.6	0.62	0.05	7	14.5	1.9	12	0.03	0.26	1.47			28.7	2	11	9	73
B25	115–140	9.6	0.78	0.08	5.1	14.1	1.9	14.3	0.02	0.23				27.3	2	12	11	73
B31	140–180	9.7	0.84	0.07										26.5	2	11	13	72
B32	180–215	9.6	0.97	0.12										27.9	1	12	13	71

• Cracking clay profile, very high clay percentage
• Alkaline throughout soil
• Friable self mulching surface
• Very high calcium percentage in surface and upper and mid subsoil (to 90cm)
• Yellow hue profile(5Y) and lighter coloured deep subsoil, poorer internal drainage
• Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth, particularly below 50cm
• Very strong consistence when dry, implications for compaction and implement use
• Landform element, plain: poor site drainage