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Site IS2

Location: Kewell.

Soil Type: Minor Type B

Australian Soil Classification: Episodic-Epicalcareous, Epipedal, Grey VERTOSOL

Northcote Factual Key: Ug 5.2
Great Soil Group: grey clay

General Description: Playa plain within a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay


Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A1	0-10 cm	Dark grey (7.5YR4/0) heavy clay; plastic; cracking, self-mulching surface condition; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0; gradual change to:
Subsoil
B21	10-30 cm	Dark grey (7.5YR4/0) heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.5; gradual change to:
B22k	30-60 cm	Grey (N5/0) heavy clay; plastic; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a slight (2-10%) amount of soft carbonate; pH 9.8; gradual change to:
B31	60-90 cm	Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2) heavy clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of hard carbonate; pH 9.9; gradual change to:
B32	90-120 cm	Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2) heavy clay; plastic; weak subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry, slightly sticky consistence wet; contains a trace (<2%) amount of hard carbonate; pH 9.8.

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	0–10	9.0	NA	0.26	0.01	25.9	7.6	1.9	3.6	NA	5.6	NA	24.2	18	11	8	54
B21	10–30	9.5	NA	0.48	0.03	23.3	16.3	1.6	10.1	NA	0.4	NA	35.1	18	11	7	58
B22	30–60	9.8	NA	1.03	0.09	8.6	19.2	1.9	21.4	NA	NA	NA	51.8	16	10	6	57
B31	60–90	9.9	NA	1.27	0.1	3.7	16.5	2.0	23.6	NA	NA	NA	37.3	13	8	4	61
B32	90–120	9.8	NA	1.34	0.12	3.5	14.8	1.9	23.4	NA	NA	NA	30.7	14	8	5	62

Note: NA=not assessed.

Management Considerations:

• Cracking clay profile, possible texture contrast.
• Sodic surface, possible surface sealing/impeded infiltration despite some self mulching characteristic.
• High fine sand content of surface (possible windblown inclusions).
• High calcium levels in upper subsoil, high magnesium levels in lower subsoil.
• Sodic subsoil below 60 cm, increasing with depth.
• Landform element, playa plain: poor site drainage.

Profile Described By: John Martin, Nabil Badawy, Ron Cawood, Geoff Pope, John Galea, John Turner (1970).

Reference: "Major Agricultural Soils of the Wimmera Irrigation Area". John Martin, Mark Imhof, Lourey Ruth, Rob Nink, Karen DePlater, Paul Rampant, Sonia Thompson, S. Alexander. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria. 1996.