Victorian Resources Online (archived)
IS33
Location: Longerenong
Australian Soil Classification: Epicalcareous, Self-Mulching, Grey VERTOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Ug5.28
Great Soil Group: grey clay
Soil Type: Kalkee 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 | Very dark grey brown (10YR3/2); clay loam; strongly subplastic; cracking and self-mulching surface condition; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; very weak consistence dry; pH 8.3; sharp boundary to: | |
| Subsoil | |||
| B21 | 5-30 cm | Dark grey brown (2.5Y4/2); light clay; subplastic; strong coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; pH 8.8; clear boundary to: | |
| B22 | 30-60 cm | Dark grey brown (2.5Y4/2); light clay; subplastic; strong coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; pH 9.0; gradual boundary to: | |
| B23 | 60-90 cm | Dark grey brown (2.5Y4/2); medium clay; moderate very coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; pH 9.0; clear boundary to: | |
| B24 | 90-120 cm | Dark grey brown (2.5Y4/2); medium clay; moderate very coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; very few (<2%) medium hard carbonate segregations; pH 9.0; gradual boundary to: | |
| B25k | 120-150 cm | Dark grey brown (2.5Y4/2) with faint dark brown (10YR4/3) mottles; light clay; subplastic; weak very coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; common (10-20%) medium (size 2-6 mm) hard carbonate segregations; field pH 9.0; gradual boundary to: | |
| B31k | 150-185 cm | Light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) with faint grey brown (10YR5/2) mottles; medium clay; weak very coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; common (1020%) medium (size 26 mm) soft carbonate segregations; field pH 9.0; diffuse boundary to: | |
| B32k | 185-215 cm | Brown (10YR5/3) with yellowish brown (10YR5/4) mottles; medium clay; weak very coarse blocky structure; strong consistence dry; slightly sticky consistence wet; common (10-20%) medium (size 2-6 mm) soft carbonate segregations; field pH 9.0. | |
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 % | Organic Carbon % | Field Capacity -30okPa | Permanent Wilting Point -1500okPa | Coarse Sand % | Fine Sand % | Silt % | Clay % |
A1 | 0–5 | 8.3 | 0.18 | 0.03 | 24.7 | 5.6 | 3 | 0.4 | 0.14 | 1.4 | 33.7 | 21.8 | 7 | 25 | 17 | 48 |
B21 | 5–30 | 8.8 | 0.19 | 0.02 | 20.3 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.07 | 0.7 | 6 | 20 | 11 | 59 | ||
B22 | 30–60 | |||||||||||||||
B23 | 60–90 | |||||||||||||||
B24 | 90–120 | |||||||||||||||
B25k | 120–150 | |||||||||||||||
B31k | 150–185 | |||||||||||||||
B32k | 185–215 |
Management Considerations:
- Cracking clay profile, alkaline throughout.
- Friable self mulching surface, subplastic (feels much lighter than lab tests suggest).
- Very high calcium percentage in surface and upper subsoil (aids structure and friability).
- Darker colour to 120 cm and structured, more favourable than material below.
- Lighter coloured deep subsoil, poorer internal drainage.
- Subsoil is likely to be sodic and salinity increase at depth.
- Landform element, plain: poor site drainage unless near drainage line.
Profile Described By: John Martin, Nabil Badawy, Ron Cawood, Geoff Pope, John Galea, John Turner (1970).
