Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Glenorchy Series
Soils included in this series have distinct texture contrasts between hard setting surface soil horizons and moderately to strongly pedal clayey subsoils. Conspicuously bleached A2 horizons are present. The uppermost subsoil layer, that is at least 15 cm thick, is mottled and dominantly yellow to yellow-grey. The soil reaction trend is acid.
In the present survey, this series consists of one soil type and one phase:
Glenorchy Sandy Clay Loam (GL scl)
Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil - A1 horizon
- About 10 cm thick (range 7-15 cm).
- Dark brown to dark reddish brown.
- Sandy clay loam (gritty).
Surface Soil - A2 horizon
- About 10 cm thick (range 7-15 cm).
- Yellowish brown to reddish brown (moist), conspicuously bleached near white (dry).
- Sandy loam to sandy clay loam.
Subsoil
- Mottled brown, yellowish red and/or yellow-grey.
- Medium to heavy clay.
Soil Inclusions
- Slight to light amounts of quartz fragments occur throughout the profile.
- Fragments of weathered sandstone and/or shale material may occur at about 100 cm.
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 | 5.6 | 0.019 | * | 6.0 | 16.6 |
B | 5.6 | 0.024 | * | 14.5 | 24.9 |
C | 5.4 | 0.067 | 0.034 | 14.3 | 25.9 |
* Sodium Chloride contents were not measured and are expected to be very low (based on TSS <0.05%).
Occurrence:
Glenorchy Sandy Clay Loam usually occurs on the upper slopes of the hilly terrain.
Phases:
Shallow surface:
- The overall depth to bedrock is about 70 cm.
- Occurs mainly on the mid and upper slopes of the hilly terrain.
