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NE5

Soil Profile Morphology:

NE5 Landscape

A11	0-10 cm	Dark brown (7.5YR3/4); light fine sandy clay loam; hardsetting; weakly structured; earthy fabric; weak consistence dry; contains a trace (1%) amount of quartz gravel; pH 6.4; abrupt change to:	NE5 Profile
A12	10-25 cm	Yellowish red (5YR4/6); fine sandy clay loam; massive; earthy fabric; strong consistence dry; contains a trace (1%) amount of quartz gravel; pH 5.3; clear and wavy change to:
Subsoil
B1	25-50 cm	Yellowish red (5YR5/8); clay loam, fine sandy (becoming light clay with depth); weakly structured; earthy fabric; firm consistence dry; contains a few (7%) ferromanganiferous nodules as well as a few (3%) angular quartz fragments (2-5 mm size); pH 6.5; gradual and wavy change to:
B21	50-75 cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/6) with red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; light medium clay; moderate medium blocky structure; strong consistence dry; contains a few (10%) manganese stains in patches as well as a few (3%) quartz fragments (2-5 mm size), pH 7.1; gradual and wavy change to:
B22	75-110 cm	Light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) with red (2.5YR4/8) mottles; light clay; moderate medium polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a common (10-20%) amount of manganese segregations; pH 6.9; gradual change to:
B23	110+ cm	Brownish yellow (10YR6/6); light clay; strong medium polyhedral structure; strong consistence dry; contains a common (10%) amount of manganese segregations; pH 8.5.

Key Profile Features:

• Lack of clear or abrupt textural B horizons.

	The surface soil is slightly acid and the subsurface (A2) horizon is strongly acid. The upper subsoil is mainly slightly acid and the deeper subsoil (below 1 metre depth) is moderately alkaline.		The upper soil profile is non-sodic. The deeper subsoil (below 1 metre depth) becomes sodic.
	The level of soluble salts is very low throughout the profile.		The clay percentage increases gradually with depth.

Management Considerations:

Surface (A) Horizons

• The surface soil has a high fine sand content (ie. 57%). Organic matter is therefore very important for maintaining aggregation and preventing slaking.

• The upper subsoil is non-sodic and does not disperse. It will be relatively well drained. The redder soil colour of the upper B horizon is indicative of reasonable drainage conditions.
• The deeper subsoil becomes sodic and dispersive. Deep drainage and root movement will be restricted as a consequence.
• The presence of manganese segregations in the subsoil may have a toxic effect on deeper rooted manganese sensitive plants.

• Disc ploughed (1971), Ploughed (1973, 74, 78), Disced and cultivated (1994).
• Lucerne grown 1994.

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