IS12

Location: Longerenong.

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

Northcote Factual Key: Ug5.29
Great Soil Group: grey clay
Soil Type: Murtoa Clay

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

A1	0-5 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); light clay; subplastic; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 7.2; sharp and wavy boundary to:	IS12 Profile.
Subsoil
B21	5-25 cm	Grey (5Y5/1); light clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; pH 8.9.
B22	25-60 cm	Grey (5Y5/1); heavy clay; subplastic; moderate coarse prismatic structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard and soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.2; sharp and wavy boundary to:
B23	60-110 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 9.3; gradual boundary to:
B31	110-150 cm	Greyish brown (10Y5/2); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.3; gradual boundary to:
B32	150-180	Brown (10Y5/3); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.1; gradual boundary to:
B33	180-215	Greyish brown (10Y5/2); heavy clay; plastic; coarse lenticular structure (slickensides); strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.9.

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	Organic Carbon %	Total Nitrogen %	Exchangeable Acidity cmol-/kg	Field Capacity -30okPa	Permanent Wilting Point -1500okPa	Coarse Sand %	Fine Sand %	Silt %	Clay %
A1	0–5	7.2	0.11	0.02	9.9	8.7	2.5	0.7	1.13	0.11	6.7	34.2	18.4	7	23	8	59
B21	5–25	8.9	0.14	0.02	16.6	14.2	2	3.1	0.32	0.05	3	42.3	25.7	3	7	6	83
B22	25–60	9.2	0.24	0.02	13.4	17.3	2.1	5.6	0.26	0.03			21.9	3	9	6	81
B23	60–110	9.3	0.41	0.05	9.7	17	1.9	8.7	0.22	0.02			26.7	4	11	8	76
B31	110–150	9.3	0.64	0.11	6.6	14.5	1.7	10.4	0.11	0.02			24.2	5	14	9	69
B32	150–180	9.1	0.62	0.12									25.2	4	15	10	70
B33	180–215	8.9	0.67	0.11									24.8	4	15	10	69

• Cracking clay profile, very high clay percentage, decreasing below upper subsoil
• Neutral thin surface soil and alkaline below
• Friable self mulching surface, feels lighter than lab data suggests (subplastic), as does upper subsoil
• Calcium percentage decreasing with depth
• Yellow hue profile(5Y) and lighter coloured deep subsoil, poorer internal drainage
• Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth, particularly below 50cm
• Cracking may allow air and seasonal moisture to penetrate
• Very strong consistence when dry, implications for compaction and implement use
• Landform element, plain: poor site drainage