Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Site IS35
Location: Longerenong
Australian Soil Classification: Episodic, Epipedal, Grey VERTOSOL
Great Soil Group: Cracking Clay
General Landscape Description: Anastomotic plain.
Geology: Quaternary Coonambidgal Formation: fluvial to lacustrine clays and sands.
Soil Profile Morphology:
Surface Soil
| A1 | 0-5 cm | Grey (10YR5/1) conspiuously bleached; medium heavy clay; cracking surface condition; massive very coarse blocky, parting to strong medium blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; pH 7.1; sharp boundary to: | |
| Subsoil | |||
| B211 | 5-30 cm | Dark grey brown (10YR4/2); heavy clay; strong coarse prismatic structure; very strong consistence dry; pH 7.7; clear boundary to: | |
| B212 | 30-60 cm | Dark grey brown (2.5Y4/2); light medium clay; subplastic; moderate very coarse blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; pH 7.5; gradual boundary to: | |
| B213 | 60-85 cm | Dark grey brown (2.5Y4/2); medium clay; weak coarse blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; pH 8.0; gradual boundary to: | |
| B22 | 85-120 cm | Grey brown (2.5Y5/2); light clay; weak coarse blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; field pH 8.0; clear boundary to: | |
| B231 | 120-150 cm | Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2); light clay; weak very coarse blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; field pH 8.0; gradual boundary to: | |
| B232 | 150-215 cm | Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2); light clay; weak very coarse blocky structure; very strong consistence dry; field pH 7.5. | |
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 | 0–5 | 7.1 | NA | 0.16 | 0.04 | 5.4 | 10.2 | 0.8 | 1.7 | NA | 5.9 | 29.2 | 16.8 | 2 | 31 | 24 | 42 |
B211 | 5–30 | 7.7 | NA | 0.37 | 0.09 | 8 | 13.3 | 0.6 | 5.9 | NA | 4.8 | 42 | 27.2 | 1 | 16 | 19 | 63 |
B212 | 30–60 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
B213 | 60–85 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
B22 | 85–120 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
B231 | 120–150 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
B232 | 150–215 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Management Considerations:
- Cracking clay profile, high clay percentage.
- Neutral thin surface soil and alkaline below.
- Massive, occasionally moderately structured surface, does not have high level friability/self-mulching, making plant germination more difficult.
- Calcium percentage relatively low and sodium comparatively high in surface and upper subsoil, greater structural resistance to plant growth.
- Lighter coloured deep subsoil, poorer internal drainage.
- Subsoil is likely to be strongly sodic and salinity increases at depth.
- Cracking may allow air and seasonal moisture to penetrate.
- Very strong consistence when dry, implications for compaction and implement use.
- Landform element, plain: poor site drainage.
