Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Archived content — This page contains material from the Victorian Resources Online (VRO) website. It is no longer maintained and is provided for reference only. This content is hosted by CeRDI and is not endorsed by Agriculture Victoria.

Sitemap

ALRA69

WLRA - soil pit ALRA69 - landscape
Plains near Barton

    Site Code
ALRA69


WLRA - soil pit ALRA69 - profile
Vertic (& Ferric), Mottled-Hypernatric, Brown Sodosol

    Location

Morass Road, Barton

    Landform

Gently undulating plain

    Geology

Quaternary Newer Volcanics: extrusive tholeitic to alkaline basalt, scoria and ash

    Element

Plain

    Slope

1%

    Aspect

West
Horizon
Depth (cm)
Description

A1

0–15

Dark brown (7.5YR3/2); clay loam; strong very fine subangular blocky structure; rough fabric; weak consistence when moderately moist; pH 5.5; gradual and smooth boundary to:

A21

15–30

Greyish brown(10YR5/2); sporadically bleached light grey (10YR7/2 moist); clay loam; massive (structureless); firm consistence when dry; pH 6.0; abrupt and wavy boundary to:

A22

30–40

Greyish brown (10YR5/2); sporadically bleached light grey (10YR7/2 moist); common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR5/6) mottles; clay loam; weak medium size subangular blocky structure; rough fabric; strong consistence when dry; many fine and medium ferromanganiferous nodules; pH 6.5; clear and wavy boundary to:

B21

40–70

Light olive brown (2.5Y5/6) with common fine faint greyish brown (2.5Y5/2) and fine strong brown (7.5YR5/6) mottles; medium heavy clay; moderate coarse polyhedral structure; few medium manganiferous concretions; smooth fabric; few distinct slickensides; very firm consistence when moderately moist; pH 7.0; gradual and wavy boundary to:

B22

70–110+

Light olive brown (2.5Y5/4); medium heavy clay; moderate medium and coarse prismatic structure; smooth fabric; few distinct slickensides; very firm consistance when moderately moist; pH 7.0.
Management considerations
  • Site exhibits a number of gilgais of mostly normal type with some possible linear type gilgai occurring, indication of vertic subsoil
  • Abundance of roots in the acidic topsoil
  • Strongly dispersive intermittent A22 horizon
  • Wavy boundary between A and B horizon due to gilgai nature of the soil profile
  • Strong texture contrast soil with variable depth to subsoil (variable plant water availability)
  • Prominent cracking in the B22 horizon
  • Strongly sodic neutral subsoil which is dispersive, also with an elevated magnesium level compared to A horizon (>12 cmolc/kg). Higher concentrations of soluble salts in vertic subsoil
Site
ALRA69
Sample depth cm
pH
EC
dS/m
NaCl
%
Organic Carbon
%
Ex Ca
cmol-/kg
Ex Mg
cmol-/kg
Ex K
cmol-/kg
Ex Na
cmol-/kg
Ex Al
cmol-/kg
Ex acidity
cmol-/kg
FC
-30okPa
PWP
-1500okPa
KS
%
FS
%
Z
%
C
%
Horizon
H2O
CaCl2
A1
0-15
5.5
4.9
0.1
NA
3.0
3.4
1.7
0.27
0.51
<10
NA
27.7
7.2
9.4
48.7
21.0
12.5
A21
15-30
6.0
5.4
0.08
NA
NA
1.7
0.68
0.05
0.37
<10
NA
23.9
2.7
9.7
58.1
23.5
6.0
A22
30-40
7.3
6.6
0.13
NA
NA
1.8
2.8
0.1
1.2
<10
NA
19.7
7.3
17.1
47.2
17.5
14.0
B21
40-70
7.4
6.9
0.55
NA
NA
3.6
12
0.2
5.6
NA
NA
46.6
24.3
7.9
19.0
9.5
60.5
B22
70-110+
7.1
6.7
1.0
NA
NA
2.9
15
0.2
7.5
NA
NA
48.2
23.6
3.9
16.2
15.0
59.0

Note: NA=not assessed