Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Site IS10
Location: Murtoa
Australian Soil Classification: Endocalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL
General Landscape Description: Valley flat of a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay.
IS10 landscape
Soil Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil
| A1 | 0-15 cm | Dark greyish brown (2.5Y4/2); medium clay; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; weak fine subangular blocky structure; weak consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.4; sharp boundary to: | |
| Subsoil | |||
| B21 | 15-45 cm | Dark grey (10YR4/1); light medium clay; subplastic; weak fine subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0: | |
| B22 | 45-90 cm | Dark grey (10YR4/1); medium heavy clay; subplastic; weak fine subangular blocky structure; weak consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.2; gradual boundary to: | |
| B231 | 90-115 cm | Dark grey (10YR4/1); medium heavy clay; plastic; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.2: | |
| B232 | 115-125 cm | Dark grey (10YR4/1); medium heavy clay; plastic; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.1; gradual boundary to: | |
| B31 | 125-150 | Greyish brown (2.5YR5/2) light medium clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; pH 9.2; gradual boundary to: | |
| B32 | 150-185 | Greyish brown (2.5YR5/2) light medium clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; moderately sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0; gradual boundary to: | |
| B33k | 185-210 | Light grey (10YR7/2) with (10YR6/3) mottles; light clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; common (10-20%) soft and hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.2; gradual boundary to: | |
| B34k | 210-220 | Light grey (10YR7/2) with (10YR6/6) mottles; light clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; common (1020%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.0. | |
Soil Profile Characteristics:
Horizon | Sample Depth cm | pH | EC dS/m | Sodium Chloride % | Exchangeable Calcium cmol-/kg | Exchangeable Magnesium cmol-/kg | Exchangeable Potassium cmol-/kg | Exchangeable Sodium cmol-/kg | Exchangeable Aluminium mg/kg | Exchangeable Acidity cmol-/kg | Field Capacity -30okPa | Permanent Wilting Point -1500okPa | Coarse Sand % | Fine Sand % | Silt % | Clay % | |
H2O | CaCl2 | ||||||||||||||||
A1 | 0–15 | 8.4 | NA | 0.19 | 0.01 | 27.4 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 0.3 | NA | NA | NA | 24.4 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 63 |
B21 | 15–45 | 9.0 | NA | 0.18 | 0.02 | 26.7 | 8.1 | 2.0 | 2.6 | NA | NA | NA | 27.6 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 65 |
B22 | 45–90 | 9.2 | NA | 0.48 | 0.06 | 19.8 | 10.6 | 1.9 | 7.0 | NA | NA | NA | 29.3 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 64 |
B231 | 90–115 | 9.2 | NA | 0.91 | 0.14 | 14.3 | 11.4 | 2.0 | 13.1 | NA | NA | NA | 33.5 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 66 |
B232 | 115–125 | 9.1 | NA | 1.11 | 0.17 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 13 | 9 | 63 |
B31 | 125–150 | 9.2 | NA | NA | 0.19 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 11 | 7 | 63 |
B32 | 150–185 | 9.0 | NA | 1.35 | 0.21 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 30.5 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 56 |
B33k | 185–210 | 9.2 | NA | 1.31 | 0.22 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 28.3 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 53 |
B34k | 210–220 | 9.0 | NA | NA | 0.23 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 26.0 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 54 |
Management Considerations:
- Cracking clay profile, high clay percentage but deceases in deep subsoil
- Friable self mulching surface
- Very high calcium percentage in surface and upper and mid subsoil (to 90cm)
- Lighter coloured deep subsoil, poorer internal drainage
- Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth, particularly below 90cm
- Landform element, valley flat: poor site drainage
