Victorian Resources Online (archived)
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. | |
Chemical and Physical Analysis:
Horizon | Sample Depth cm | pH H2O | EC dS/m | Sodium Chloride % | Exchangeable Calcium cmol-/kg | Exchangeable Magnesium cmol-/kg | Exchangeable Potassium cmol-/kg | Exchangeable Sodium cmol-/kg | Total Nitrogen % | Exchangeable Acidity cmol-/kg | Organic Carbon % | Permanent Wilting Point -1500okPa | Coarse Sand % | Fine Sand % | Silt % | Clay % |
A1 | 0–10 | 9.0 | 0.26 | 0.01 | 25.9 | 7.6 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 5.6 | 0.94 | 24.2 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 54 |
B21 | 10–30 | 9.5 | 0.48 | 0.03 | 23.3 | 16.3 | 1.6 | 10.1 | 0.05 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 35.1 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 58 |
B22 | 30–60 | 9.8 | 1.03 | 0.09 | 8.6 | 19.2 | 1.9 | 21.4 | 0.04 | 0.37 | 51.8 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 57 | |
B31 | 60–90 | 9.9 | 1.27 | 0.1 | 3.7 | 16.5 | 2.0 | 23.6 | 0.02 | 0.21 | 37.3 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 61 | |
B32 | 90–120 | 9.8 | 1.34 | 0.12 | 3.5 | 14.8 | 1.9 | 23.4 | 0.02 | 0.14 | 30.7 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 62 |
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.
- 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.
