Victorian Resources Online (archived)

MP50

Location: Murrayville Landcare Group.	Australian Soil Classification: Calcareous, Arenic, Orthic TENOSOL
General Landscape Description: East-west dunefield near the Big Desert.	Geology: Quaternary (Woorinen Formation) deposits.

MP50 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-12 cm	Greyish brown (7.5YR5/4); sand; non-calcareous; pH 7.6:	MP50 Profile
A2	12-40 cm	Brown (7.5YR5/6); sand; non-calcareous; pH 8.9:
Subsoil
B21	40-65 cm	Lightish brown (7.5YR6/6); sand; moderately calcareous; pH 9.2:
B22	65-100 cm	Lightish brown (7.5YR6/6); sand; contains a few (5%) soft calcareous segregations; very highly calcareous; pH 9.2:
B23k	100+ cm	Sand; contains hard calcareous material formed into scattered boulders (60 cm size).

Key Profile Features:

Sandy throughout profile.
Large carbonate segregations in deeper profile.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

	pH	Salinity Rating	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Slightly alkaline	Very low	-	-
Subsoil (B21 horizon)	Very strongly alkaline	Very low	-	-
Deeper subsoil (at 65-100cm)	Very strongly alkaline	Very low	-	-

The soil profile becomes increasingly alkaline with depth.

The level of soluble salts is low throughout the profile.

The coarse sand content is high throughout the profile.

The clay content remains low throughout the soil profile.

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl₂)	EC 1:5	Total Nitrogen %	Organic Carbon %	Exchangeable Cations
							Ca	Mg	K	Na
							meq/100g
A1	0-12	7.6	7	0.06	<0.05	0.32	1.8	0.61	0.4	<0.05
A2	12-40	8.9	8.3	0.07			2.8	0.49	0.27	<0.05
B21	40-65	9.2	8.6	0.09			4.9	0.5	0.18	0.14
B22	65-100	9.2	8.6	0.09			15	1.8	0.25	0.08

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	Field Capacity pF2.5	Wilting Point pF4.2	Coarse Sand (0.2-2.0 mm)	Fine Sand (0.02-0.2 mm)	Silt (0.002-0.02 mm)	Clay (<0.002 mm)


A1	0-12	4	2	46	50	1	4
A2	12-40	6	2	32	62	1	6
B21	40-65	5	2	35	59	1	6
B22	65-100	7	2	33	60	0	7

Management Considerations

Whole Profile

In general, management strategies for all soils should aim to: increase organic matter levels in the surface soil, minimise the degradation of soil aggregates and porosity, promote the development of stable biopores, break up any hardpans, and improve the calcium status of the ion exchange complex. Particularly when sodium plays a significant part i.e. the soil is sodic. Less frequent tillage, using less aggressive implements, and working the soil at optimum moisture conditions can all assist in maintaining soil aggregation and porosity, as well as reducing the breakdown of organic matter.
Plant available water capacity (PAWC) will be low due to the sandy textured profile. The low wilting point value (2%) in the surface horizons indicates that plants will be able to utilise light rains better than for some of the heavier textured surface soils in the area. However, due to the low water storage capacity, plants will soon suffer moisture stress unless further rainfalls occur.
The sandy soil profile will have a low nutrient holding capacity and will be well drained throughout.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof (August 1999).

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