Victorian Resources Online (archived)

GN29

	Australian Soil Classification: Haplic, Eutrophic, Red CHROMOSOL (medium loamy surface)
Northcote Factual Key: Dr 2.33	Great Soil Group: red-brown earth
Soil Type: SHEPPARTON FINE SANDY LOAM
General Landscape Description: Level plain with prior stream activity.

GN29 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-25 cm	Reddish brown (5YR4/4) fine sandy loam; pH 6.1; abrupt change to:	GN29 Profile
A2	25-30 cm	Yellowish red (5YR4/6) sporadically bleached fine sandy loam; very firm consistence dry; pH 6.9; abrupt change to:
Subsoil
B21	30-60 cm	Red (2.5YR4/8) fine sandy clay; some mixing with surface horizon material; weak to moderate coarse blocky structure; contains a trace (< 2%) amount of manganese stains; pH 7.1; clear change to:
B22	60-85 cm	Red (2.5YR4/8) and dark red (2.5YR3/6) fine sandy clay loam; contains a few (2-5 %) manganese stains associated with root channels; pH 8.4; clear change to:
B31	85-140 cm	Strong brown (7/5YR4/8) light fine sandy loam (micaceous); pH 8.3; clear change to:
B32	140 cm+	Pale brown (10YR6/3) [with yellowish brown (10YR5/4) associated with root channels] sandy loam (micaceous).

Key Profile Features:

Moderate texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and upper subsoil (B21) horizon.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

	pH	Salinity Rating	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface soil (A1 horizon)	Slightly Acid	Very Low	Non-Sodic	None
Upper subsoil (B21 horizon)	Slightly Alkaline	Very Low	Non-Sodic	Slight
Deep subsoil (at 1 m)	Moderately Alkaline	Very Low	Non-Sodic	-

Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizons

The surface soil has a very high fine sand (54%) and silt (19%) content. Organic matter has a very important influence on soil aggregation in such soils and is also important in terms of fertility and water holding capacity.
The relatively low wilting point value (6 %) indicates that plants will be better able to utilise light rains falling on relatively dry soil compared to the more heavier textured surface soils on nearby soil types.

Subsoil (B) Horizons

The nutrient status (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations) of the upper subsoil is low-moderate.
The upper subsoil is non-sodic and has a reasonable calcium:magnesium ratio (ie. 1.6). Slight dispersion occurs but the soil should be relatively well drained.

Notes

Profile described by Mark Imhof and Paul Rampant (4/6/96)

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