WCSS4

Location: Longerenong

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

Soil Map Unit: Kalkee Clay.
World Reference Base: Sodic, Calcic VERTISOL

General Landscape Description: Very gently undulating plain.
Site Description: Gentle lower slope.
Land Use: Long-term trial site for dryland cropping.
Geology: Quaternary alluvial and aeolian deposits.
Native Vegetation: Sparse stands of remnant Buloke.

Image: WCSS3 & 4 landscape

WWPS4 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-15 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); self-mulching; medium clay; weak to firm consistence dry; pH 8.5; clear change to:	WWPS4 Profile
Subsoil
B21	15-40 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1) with very dark grey (10YR3/1) in some areas; medium heavy clay; moderate medium sub-angular blocky structure; weak to firm consistence moist; compacted; pH 8.9; clear change to:
B22	40-60 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1); heavy clay; moderate to strong medium sub-angular blocky structure; firm to very firm consistence moist and very firm to strong consistence dry; very few (2%) calcareous segregations; some slickensides present; pH 7.5; gradual change to:
B23	60-80 cm	Dark grey (10YR4/1) with light brown (10YR6/4) mottles; heavy clay; moderate to strong very coarse to coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; soft and semi hard calcareous segregations (10-20%) common; pH 9.3; gradual change to:
2B21	80-120 cm	Light brown (7.5YR6/4); medium heavy clay; strong very coarse to coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; strong consistence dry; many soft and semi hard calcareous segregations; pH 9.3; gradual change to:
2B22	120+ cm	Pink (7.5YR7/4); heavy clay; moderate coarse sub-angular blocky, parting to moderate fine lenticular structure; many soft and semi hard calcareous nodules; pH 9.3.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

-	pH	Salinity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Moderately Alkaline	Low	None¹
Subsoil (B21 horizon)	Strongly Alkaline	Low	Slight¹
Deeper Subsoil (at 80-120 cm)	Very Strongly Alkaline	Medium - High	Slight

¹Strong dispersion after remoulding.

Image: WCSS4 graphs

The surface is moderately alkaline. The upper subsoil is strongly alkaline becoming very strongly alkaline with depth.

The salinity rating in the surface and upper subsoil is low. The salinity rating becomes high with depth.

Boron content increases with depth becoming high below 50 cm.

Chemical and Physical Analysis:

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl₂)	EC dS/m	Sodium Chloride %	Organic Carbon %	Total Nitrogen %	Boron mg/kg


A1	0-15	8.5	7.8	0.16		0.8	0.067	2.9
B21	15-40	8.9	8.0	0.22		0.72	0.053	3.1
B22	40-60	-	-	-		-	-	-
B23	60-80	9.3	8.5	0.76	0.075	0.36		20
2B21	80-120	9.3	8.7	1.1	0.135			39
2B22	120+	9.3	8.7	1.2	0.16			36

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof and David Rees (March 2010).

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