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Kalkee group

In the present survey, the dark grey and grey self-mulching VERTOSOLS (referred to as Kalkee Group) include the following soil series:

1) Kalkee Series 1
2) Kalkee Series 2
3) Kalkee Series 3

1) Kalkee Series 1

The soil series is characterised by having a dominantly dark, to very dark grey horizon immediately below the self-mulching surface layer. Subsoil colours usually become gradually lighter with depth.

This series consists of the following soil type:

Kalkee Clay - type 1 (Kc-1)

Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

• 10-15 cm thick.
• Dark grey to very dark greyish brown.
• Light to medium clay.
• Friable to very friable.
• Trace to slight amounts of hard CaCO3.

Subsoil

• Very dark grey with dark grey or greyish brown ‘in-fills’, gradually becoming mottled brown and grey colours at about 40-50 cm. At depth, the degree of mottling increases and some yellow and/or red colours may occur.
• Medium to heavy clay.
• Friable.
• Trace to slight amounts of soft and/or hard CaCO3; may increase up to light amounts with depth.
• Pockets of fine crystals of gypsum may occur in the deep 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	8.5	0.058	0.013	18.8	29.6
B	8.9	0.090	0.025	23.0	39.6
C	9.2	0.295	0.098	27.8	50.0

Occurrence:

Kalkee Clay-type 1 occurs mainly in shallow depressions and level areas of the gently undulating gilgai plains. It also occurs in some parts of the flood plains.

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2) Kalkee Series 2

The soil series is characterised by having a dominantly grey to yellowish grey horizon immediately below the self-mulching surface layer. Subsoil colours may become lighter and/or moderately mottled with depth.

The following three soil types are included in this series (Kalkee Clay-type 2, Type L and Type M)

Kalkee Clay - type 2 (Kc-2)

Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

• 10-15 cm thick.
• Yellowish, or brownish, grey to grey-brown.
• Light to medium clay.
• Friable to very friable.
• Trace to slight amounts of hard CaCO3.

Subsoil

• Grey to greyish brown, sometimes slightly mottled with yellow, or yellowish grey colours. At about 40-70 cm, the degree of mottling may gradually increase and the main colours become lighter and/or browner with depth.
• Streaks of surface soil material ‘in-fills’ usually occur and may continue to depths greater than 100 cm.
• Medium to heavy clay.
• Friable.
• Trace to slight amounts of soft and/or hard CaCO3; may increase up to light amounts with depth.
• Fine crystals of gypsum may occur in isolated pockets in the deep 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	8.3	0.050	0.008	21.5	34.9
B	9.0	0.101	0.030	25.9	43.2
C	9.3	0.234	0.087	28.9	52.2

Occurrence:

Kalkee Clay-type 2 occurs commonly on the gently undulating gilgai plains.


Type L

Profile Morphology:

In general, the main profile features of this soil type are similar to those of Kalkee Clay-type 2. However, Type L is distinguishable by the following characteristics:

• The soil consistence is generally very hard to extremely hard (dry) and non-friable (moist) throughout the profile and particularly so for the surface horizons.
• The soil profile is often carbonate free to a depth of about 50 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	7.4	0.057	0.019	17.8	29.6
B	8.3	0.149	0.085	22.4	36.7
C	8.7	0.479	0.282	24.6	44.2

Occurrence:

Type L occurs mainly in the flood plains and low-lying areas.


Type M

Profile Morphology:

In general, the main profile features of this soil type are similar to those of Kalkee Clay-type 2. However, the essential differences concern the surface soil properties of Type M as listed below:

• Shallow (3-10 cm).
• Compacted or hardsetting (therefore, it is less self-mulching and non or weakly pedal).
• Sandy clay.
• Hard to very hard (dry) and moderately friable to non-friable (moist).
• CaCO3 may be absent.

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	8.1	0.054	0.016	19.8	29.7
B	9.1	0.111	0.046	29.5	47.6
C	9.1	0.363	0.155	29.1	53.4

Occurrence:

Type M occurs mainly in depressions and flood plains.


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3) Kalkee Series 3

The soil series is characterised by having a dominantly grey to yellowish grey horizon immediately below the self-mulching surface layer. Subsoils change gradually to brown and/or red ‘or reddish’ colours and usually become mottled, before total depth of 150 cm.

This series consists of the following soil type:

Kalkee Clay - type 3 (Kc-3)

Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

• 15-20 cm thick.
• Brown to grey-brown.
• Medium to heavy clay.
• Friable to very friable.
• Trace to slight amounts of hard CaCo3.

Subsoil

• Grey to brown, dark grey-brown, or yellow-grey, sometimes slightly mottled. At about 70-100 cm, the degree of mottling usually gradually increases and the main colours change into brown, pale ‘or yellowish’ brown and/or reddish yellow.
• Streaks of surface soil material ‘in-fills’ usually occur and may continue to depths greater than 100 cm.
• Medium to heavy clay.
• Friable.
• Trace to slight amounts of soft and/or hard CaCO3; may increase up to light amounts with depth.
• Fine crystals of gypsum may occur in isolated pockets in the deep 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	8.4	0.043	*	21.1	32.6
B	8.8	0.065	0.010	25.1	41.5
C	9.1	0.213	0.058	26.4	47.0

* Sodium chloride contents were not measured and are expected to be very low (based on TSS < 0.05%).

Occurrence:

Kalkee Clay - type 3 occurs commonly on the gently undulating gilgai plains.