IS6

Location: Murtoa

Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL

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


General Landscape Description: Crest of a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay.

A1	0-10 cm	Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); medium clay; subplastic; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; weak coarse friable granular structure; weak consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.6; sharp boundary to:
Subsoil
B21	10-35 cm	Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 8.9:
B22	35-60 cm	Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0:
B222	60-100 cm	Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0:
B223	100-115 cm	Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.1:
B224	115-135	Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.1; sharp boundary to:
B31	135-180	Light olive (5Y6/2) mottled; medium heavy clay; plastic; strong coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0.

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 %	Exchangeable Acidity cmol-/kg	Total Nitrogen %	Permanent Wilting Point -1500okPa	Coarse Sand %	Fine Sand %	Silt %	Clay %
A1	0–10	8.6	0.2	0.01	30.5	6.8	2.7	0.9	1.09	2.2	0.12	23.0	12	17	7	58
B21	10–35	8.8	0.21	0.02	30.5	7.4	2	1.8	0.62	2.4	0.07	26.6	12	13	8	64
B22	35–60	8.9	0.3	0.03	26.2	7.3	1.9	4.2	0.51		0.07	29.3	10	13	8	66
B222	60–100	9.0	0.53	0.08	22.6	10.6	1.9	7.4	0.48	2.8	0.07	32.1	10	12	8	66
B223	100–115	9.1	0.79	0.13	17.9	12.6	1.9	10.7	0.39		0.06	31.6	10	11	9	66
B224	115–135	9.0	1	0.17	16	13.4	1.9	12.9	0.34		0.52	31.9	7	11	9	68
B31	135–180	9.0	1.2	0.22								38.4	6	11	12	68
B32	180–225	8.8	1.35	0.25								30.8	7	11	13	68

• Cracking clay (vertic) soil.
• Highly alkaline soils, very slight decrease at depth.
• Friable self-mulching surface.
• Surface and subsurface soil are darker than subsoil, more organic matter and very high calcium percentage.
• Lighter coloured subsoil with poorer internal drainage does not appear till 135 cm.
• High calcium levels to 100 cm should provide greater stability and structure.
• Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth (below 115 cm).
• Moderate site drainage.