Victorian Resources Online (archived)
NECRC3
| Location: North Boorhaman | Australian Soil Classification: Calcic, Mottled-Subnatric, Red SODOSOL |
| General Landscape Description: Level plain. | Site Description: CRC-PBMDS trial site |
| Geology: Quaternary alluvial and aeolian deposits. |
 NECRC3 landscape |  Columnar structure in upper subsoil (B21) horizon |
Soil Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil
A1 | 0-12 cm | Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); light sandy loam; weak-moderate coarse to medium subangular blocky structure; weak to firm consistence (dry); very few (<1%) coarse (10-15 mm) manganese nodules; pH 6.8; abrupt change to: |  NECRC3 profile |
A2e | 12-17 cm | Brown (7.5YR5/4), conspicuously bleached (10YR7/1 dry); light sandy loam; massive; pH 5.6; discontinuous change to: | |
| Subsoil | |||
B21 | 17-60 cm | Yellowish red (5YR5/6) with reddish grey (5YR5/2) mottles; medium clay; strong very coarse columnar, parting to coarse prismatic and blocky structure; very firm consistence (dry); sodic caps on columnar structure; pH 7.2: | |
B22 | 60-90 cm | Reddish yellow (7.5YR6/6) with pinkish grey (7.5YR6/2) mottles; heavy clay; moderate coarse to medium subangular blocky structure; few (~2%) soft to hard medium-sized (5 mm) carbonate nodules and some manganese staining; pH 9.3: | |
B23k | 90-140 cm | Brown (10YR5/3) with reddish yellow (7.5YR6/6) mottles; medium heavy clay; strong coarse to medium polyhedral structure; fine-earth carbonate accumulations (10-15%) common with some coarse (10 mm) nodules; pH 9.4: | |
- Strong texture contrast between surface (A) horizons and subsoil (B21) horizon.
- Columnar structure (with hard capping) in upper subsoil.
- Calcium carbonate at depth.
Soil Profile Characteristics:
pH | Salinity Rating | Sodicity | Dispersion | |
Surface (A1 horizon) | Slightly Acid | Very Low | Non-Sodic | None |
Subsoil (B2 horizon) | Slightly Alkaline | Very Low | Sodic | Strong-Complete |
Deeper subsoil (at 90-140 cm) | Very Strongly Alkaline | Medium-High | Strongly Sodic | Strong- Complete |
Horizon | Horizon Depth (cm) | pH (water) | pH (CaCl2) | EC 1:5 | Exchangeable Cations | |||
Ca | Mg | K | Na | |||||
meq/100g | ||||||||
A1 | 0-12 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 0.12 | 6.5 | 0.99 | 0.97 | 0.08 |
A2 | 12-17 | 5.6 | 4.6 | <0.05 | 1.6 | 0.89 | 0.31 | 0.18 |
B21 | 17-60 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 0.10 | 4.6 | 6.6 | 0.66 | 1.6 |
B22 | 60-90 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 0.27 | 3.6 | 10 | 1.0 | 3.4 |
B23k | 90-140 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 0.50 | 3.1 | 12 | 1.1 | 4.8 |
Horizon | Horizon Depth (cm) | Exchangeable Aluminium (mg/kg) | Exchangeable Acidity (meq/100g) | Field Capacity pF 2.5 | Wilting Point pF 4.2 | 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 | 17.7 | 5.4 | 34 | 38 | 13 | 9 | ||
A2 | 12-17 | 18 | 3.7 | 14.4 | 3.7 | 36 | 41 | 12 | 9 |
B21 | 17-60 | 22.4 | 13.7 | 24 | 27 | 11 | 35 | ||
B22 | 60-90 | 24.2 | 14.1 | 27 | 28 | 10 | 32 | ||
B23k | 90-140 | 28.4 | 15.9 |
Management Considerations:
Subsoil (B) Horizon
- The dense and coarsely structured subsoil is sodic and strongly dispersive. This indicates that root and water movement will be restricted in the subsoil. The columnar structure in the subsoil has a hard capping which will also restrict root movement. Some roots are likely to move between the columns.
- The level of soluble salts become reasonably high in the deeper subsoil – which may restrict the growth of deeper-rooted salt sensitive species.
Notes
Soil profile described by Mark Imhof and Will Gates, (13/10/04).
