Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Beulah Series
These soils are commonly referred to as Mallee Soils. They occur mainly on the undulating plains, located to the north west of the survey. The soil group has gradational texture profiles that are calcareous throughout, structureless and deep to very deep (1-5 m).
The Mallee Soils are highly calcareous throughout. Carbonates are clearly visible in the surface soils and/or exceed 10% by 30 cm depth and the horizons of maximum carbonate concentration begin by this depth.
Beulah Loam is a local example of these Mallee Soils:
Beulah Loam (BEL)
Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil
- 10-15 cm thick.
- Dark brown to dark reddish brown.
- Loam or loam-fine sandy; clayiness increases gradually with depth.
- Friable to very friable.
- Slight amounts of hard calcium carbonate.
- Mottled red to red-brown, gradually becoming yellower with depth.
- Clay loam to silty clay loam or very fine sandy clay loam, gradually becoming more clayey with depth (to sandy clay or medium clay).
- Friable throughout.
- Slight to light amounts of soft and/or hard calcium carbonate, increasing to light or moderate amounts at about 25 cm. Concentrations of calcium carbonate may decrease to trace or slight amounts in the deeper subsoils.
Analytical Data for Selected Depths Down the Profile:
Depth | pH | Total Soluble Salts | Sodium Chloride | Moisture Retention @ 15-Bar | Moisture Retention @ 1/3-Bar |
| . | . | % | % | % | % |
A | 8.7 | 0.073 | 0.009 | 12.7 | 25.3 |
B | 9.4 | 0.073 | 0.001 | 18.3 | 31.3 |
C | 9.8 | 0.244 | 0.055 | 22.7 | 35.9 |
Occurrence:
Beulah loam occurs in scattered locations on the gently undulating ‘Northern Wimmera Southern Mallee’ plains.
