Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Site IS6
Location: Murtoa
Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous-Endohypersodic, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL
General Landscape Description: Crest of a gently undulating plain.
Geology: Quaternary Woorinen Formation: aeolian dune sand, calcareous clay.
Soil Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil
| A1 | 0-10 cm | Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); medium clay; subplastic; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; weak coarse friable granular structure; weak consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 8.6; sharp boundary to: | |
| Subsoil | |||
| B21 | 10-35 cm | Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 8.9: | |
| B22 | 35-60 cm | Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0: | |
| B222 | 60-100 cm | Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; pH 9.0: | |
| B223 | 100-115 cm | Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.1: | |
| B224 | 115-135 | Dark grey (N4/0) with light yellowish grey mottles; heavy clay; subplastic; moderate subangular blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; very few (<2%) soft carbonate segregations; pH 9.1; sharp boundary to: | |
| B31 | 135-180 | Light olive (5Y6/2) mottles; medium heavy clay; plastic; strong coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; 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 | 0–10 | 8.6 | NA | 0.2 | 0.01 | 30.5 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 0.9 | NA | 2.2 | NA | 23.0 | 12 | 17 | 7 | 58 |
B21 | 10–35 | 8.8 | NA | 0.21 | 0.02 | 30.5 | 7.4 | 2 | 1.8 | NA | 2.4 | NA | 26.6 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 64 |
B22 | 35–60 | 8.9 | NA | 0.3 | 0.03 | 26.2 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 4.2 | NA | NA | NA | 29.3 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 66 |
B222 | 60–100 | 9.0 | NA | 0.53 | 0.08 | 22.6 | 10.6 | 1.9 | 7.4 | NA | 2.8 | NA | 32.1 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 66 |
B223 | 100–115 | 9.1 | NA | 0.79 | 0.13 | 17.9 | 12.6 | 1.9 | 10.7 | NA | NA | NA | 31.6 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 66 |
B224 | 115–135 | 9.0 | NA | 1 | 0.17 | 16 | 13.4 | 1.9 | 12.9 | NA | NA | NA | 31.9 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 68 |
B31 | 135–180 | 9.0 | NA | 1.2 | 0.22 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 38.4 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 68 |
B32 | 180–225 | 8.8 | NA | 1.35 | 0.25 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 30.8 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 68 |
Management Considerations:
- Cracking clay (vertic) soil.
- Highly alkaline soils, very slight decrease at depth.
- Friable self-mulching surface.
- Surface and subsurface soil are darker than subsoil, more organic matter and very high calcium percentage.
- Lighter coloured subsoil with poorer internal drainage does not appear till 135 cm.
- High calcium levels to 100 cm should provide greater stability and structure.
- Subsoil is strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth (below 115 cm).
- Landform element, crest: moderate site drainage.
