IS2

Location: Kewell.

Soil Type: Minor Type B

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

Northcote Factual Key: Ug 5.2
Great Soil Group: grey clay

General Description: Playa plain within a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-10 cm	Dark grey (7.5YR4/0); heavy clay; plastic; cracking, self-mulching surface condition; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0; gradual change to:
Subsoil
B21	10-30 cm	Dark grey (7.5YR4/0); heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.5; gradual change to:
B22k	30-60 cm	Grey (N5/0); heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a slight (2-10%) amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.8; gradual change to:
B31	60-90 cm	Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2); heavy clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of hard carbonate; pH 9.9; gradual change to:
B32	90-120 cm	Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2); heavy clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of hard carbonate; pH 9.8.

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 %	Exchangeable Acidity cmol-/kg	Organic Carbon %	Permanent Wilting Point -1500okPa	Coarse Sand %	Fine Sand %	Silt %	Clay %
A1	0–10	9.0	0.26	0.01	25.9	7.6	1.9	3.6	0.1	5.6	0.94	24.2	18	11	8	54
B21	10–30	9.5	0.48	0.03	23.3	16.3	1.6	10.1	0.05	0.4	0.5	35.1	18	11	7	58
B22	30–60	9.8	1.03	0.09	8.6	19.2	1.9	21.4	0.04		0.37	51.8	16	10	6	57
B31	60–90	9.9	1.27	0.1	3.7	16.5	2.0	23.6	0.02		0.21	37.3	13	8	4	61
B32	90–120	9.8	1.34	0.12	3.5	14.8	1.9	23.4	0.02		0.14	30.7	14	8	5	62

• Cracking clay profile, possible texture contrast.
• Sodic surface, possible surface sealing/impeded infiltration despite some self mulching characteristic.
• High fine sand content of surface (possible windblown inclusions).
• High calcium levels in upper subsoil, high magnesium levels in lower subsoil.
• Sodic subsoil below 60 cm, increasing with depth.
• Poor site drainage.