Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Series E
The soil series is calcareous throughout. However, carbonates can only be detected in the A horizon by the application of a few drops of N HCl to the soil. The carbonate content does not exceed 10% by the depth of 30 cm and the horizons of maximum carbonate concentration occur below the depth of 38 cm.
Type E
Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil
- About 10 cm thick.
- Reddish brown to dark red.
- Sandy loam to loam.
- Friable to very friable.
- Carbonates are only detectable by the effervescence obtained upon the application of 2-3 drops of N HCl to the soil. However, nodules of hard CaCO3 may occasionally occur on the surface.
Subsoil
- Red to yellowish-red (sometimes mottled).
- Sandy clay loam to sandy light clay. Clayiness increases gradually with depth.
- Medium clay to heavy clay.
- Friable to very friable throughout.
- Occasional or trace amounts of soft and/or hard CaCO3 may occur at about 20 cm, increasing up to light amounts at 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 | 8.0 | 0.033 | 0.006 | 8.2 | 10.8 |
B | 8.7 | 0.030 | 0.007 | 12.5 | 14.2 |
C | 8.9 | 0.040 | 0.006 | 12.4 | 16.3 |
Occurrence:
Type E occurs mainly on crests and upper slopes in the undulating plains and on some lunettes.
