Sitemap

LP4

• High clay content throughout profile.
• Cracking surface condition.
• Vertic properties (i.e. significant shrink-swell characteristics).

• The inherent fertility of the surface soil is moderate increasing to high in the subsoil which is beneficial to plant growth.

• When the soil is dry, heavy rains will move down soil cracks. This rapid recharge can be valuable for the survival of plants near wilting. When wet, the soil will swell and further infiltration will be relatively slow.
• Tillage of cracking clay soils should be avoided if the soil is wet (i.e. wetter than the plastic limit). At such a moisture condition, excessive tillage, trafficking or overstocking can result in structural degradation (e.g. compaction, smearing) occurring. Ideally, tillage should take place on clay soils such as these when the soil is drier than the plastic limit, down to at0least the tillage depth.
• The surface (A1) horizon is non-sodic without dispersion after immersion in water. This is probably due to the high exchangeable calcium levels. However, there is strong dispersion after the soil is remoulded and immersed in water. This indicates that some structural degradation may occur if cultivation occurs when the soil is wet.
• The levels of organic carbon measured at the surface (A1) is moderate (this may or may not be representative of the whole paddock) and the inherent fertility is also moderate which is beneficial for plant growth.
• The levels of total nitrogen measured at this pit site is high. However, this is best assessed by taking a bulked sample from across the paddock.

• The densely and coarsely structured subsoil is strongly sodic with a low exchangeable calcium to magnesium ratio (0.6) and complete dispersion after remoulding. This indicates that root and water movement will be significantly restricted in the upper subsoil. The deeper subsoil is strongly sodic with nil dispersion probably due to the extremely high salt levels.
• The extremely high salinity at 40 cm is likely to restrict the growth of salt sensitive plant species (e.g. faba beans, linseed, chickpeas and lupins).
• The high level of exchangeable sodium and magnesium in the deeper subsoil (B22 and B23) may also result in nutrient imbalances and may also have a toxic effect on some plants.
• The subsoil displays vertic properties which indicates that significant shrinking and swelling occurs with wetting and drying cycles. This may disturb the roots of some plant species and has engineering implications (e.g. disturbance to building foundations and fence lines).

• Gyn considers drainage to be via preferred pathways i.e. old root channels where it seems to be in a stairway like pattern. Gypsum works well on the upper subsoil (B21) horizon where water drainage is limited however drainage improves in the layer (B22) below.
• The soil requires two inches of rainfall for water holding capacity.
• The deeper subsoil (B23) layer seems to be from an earlier soil formation.

This page contains material sourced from the Victorian Resources Online (VRO) website, originally published by the State Government of Victoria.

The content is provided under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence (CC BY 4.0 AU).

This material is presented in an archived form and is no longer maintained or updated. It is provided for general information only and should not be relied upon as current advice.

This site is hosted by the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI), Federation University Australia. It is not endorsed by Agriculture Victoria.

Agriculture Victoria does not accept liability for any loss, damage or consequences arising from the use of, or reliance on, this material.