MM5056

Site code
      MM5056
Location
      Stonehaven (Hamilton Highway), Inverleigh district, south-west Victoria
Landform
      Undulating basalt rises
Geology
      Quaternary Newer Volcanics: extrusive tholeiitic to alkaline basalts, minor scoria and ash
Element
      Flat

Profile morphology
Horizon

Depth (cm)

Description

A1
0–20
Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); medium clay; strong fine blocky structure; wea consistence (moderately moist); gradual boundary to:
B21
20+
Very dark grey (10YR3/1); medium clay; strong coarse blocky structure; firm consistence (moderately moist).

ASC: Haplic, Epipedal, Black Vertosol

Analytical data Source: Government of Victoria, State Chemistry Laboratory.

Site MM5056
Sample
depth
pH
EC
NaCl
Ex Ca
Ex Mg
Ex K
Ex Na
Ex Al
Ex acidity
Horizon
cm
H2O
CaCl2
dS/m
%
cmolc/kg
cmolc/kg
cmolc/kg
cmolc/kg
mg/kg
cmolc/kg
A1
0–20
6.4
N/R
0.09
N/R
6.8
6.8
0.9
0.5
0
7.4
B21
20+
7.5
N/R
0.09
N/R
10.2
10.2
1.2
1.7
N/R
6.4

Site MM5056
Sample
depth
FC
(-10kPa)
PWP
(-1500kPa)
KS
FS
Z
C
Org C
Bulk density
Horizon
cm
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
t m-3
A1
0–20
24.7
15.3
20
35
14
26
2.2
1.34
B21
20+
36.4
25
8
31
11
46
N/R
1.49

Management considerations
Strong texture contrast between the surface soil and the subsoil is a very important soil feature. This can have a major effect by reducing and/or redirecting the internal drainage and restricting root growth beyond the upper horizons. Options include reduced tillage, improving organic matter content and altering the subsoil through artificial drainage (ripping, mole drainage) and/or chemical amelioration (gypsum) to improve structure.

Cracking soils vary in their workability depending on their moisture status (highly permeable when dry and impermeable when saturated). These soils are also prone to structure decline particularly when worked wet. They are also generally alkaline with depth and can place stress on roots with their high shrink-swell capabilities. The main priority on these soils is to avoid working when wet (on or below plastic limit).
CC BY 3.0 AU

This page contains material sourced from the Victorian Resources Online (VRO) website, originally published by the State Government of Victoria. The content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence . The material has been adapted and re-formatted; no endorsement by the Victorian Government is implied.