Site MP47

Location: Murrayville Landcare Group.

Australian Soil Classification: Endohypersodic, Pedal, Hypercalcic, CALCAROSOL.

Geology: Quaternary (Woorinen Formation) deposits.
General Landscape Description: Flat plain.
Site Description: Grazing paddock.

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A11	0-10 cm	Dark greyish brown (7.5YR3/4); sandy clay loam; weak to firm consistence (dry); slightly calcareous; pH 8.3; clear change to:	Site MP47 Profile
A12	10-20 cm	Darkish greyish brown (7.5YR4/4); sandy clay loam (heavy); firm consistence (moist); moderately calcareous; pH 8.5; clear change to:
Subsoil
B1	20-30 cm	Darkish greyish brown (7.5YR4/4); light clay; strong medium blocky structure; firm to very firm consistence (moist); highly calcareous; pH 9.0; clear change to:
B21k	30-60 cm	Greyish brown (7.5YR5/4), with light greyish brown (10RY7/2) mottles; light medium clay; strong coarse prismatic, parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; strong consistence (dry); many (20%) fine-earth carbonates; highly calcareous; pH 9.8; gradual change to:
B22	60-100 cm	Brown (7.5YR5/6); medium heavy clay; strong coarse prismatic parting to strong coarse to medium blocky structure; strong consistence (dry); few (5%) fine-earth carbonates; highly calcareous; pH 9.8; change to:
B23	100+ cm	Reddish brown (5YR5/6); strong very coarse prismatic, parting to strong fine to medium blocky structure; strong consistence (moist); contains few (2%) fine-earth carbonates; moderately calcareous; pH 9.5.

Key Profile Features:

• Gradual increase in texture with depth down the soil profile.
• Soil profile is calcareous throughout.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

	pH	Salinity Rating	Sodicity	Dispersion
Surface (A1 horizon)	Moderately alkaline	low	Non-sodic	None
Subsoil (B21 horizon)	Extremely alkaline	low-medium	Strongly sodic	Mod-strong
Deeper subsoil (at 1 m)	Very strongly alkaline	Very high	Strongly sodic	strong

The soil profile becomes increasingly alkaline with depth.	The level of soluble salts increases with depth down the profile.
The soil profile becomes increasingly sodic with depth.	The clay content increases gradually with depth down the profile.

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	pH (water)	pH (CaCl2)	EC 1:5	NaCl	Total Nitrogen %	Organic Carbon %	Exchangeable Cations
								Ca	Mg	K	Na
								Meq/100g
A11	0-10	8.3	7.8	0.15	-	0.1	2.9	20	2.5	1.7	0.13
A12	10-20	8.5	7.9	0.14	-	-	-	22	3.1	1.1	0.18
B1	20-30	9	8.2	0.22	-	-	-	27	8.6	1.2	1.4
B21k	30-60	9.8	8.7	0.57	0.03	-	-	7.5	11	1.1	3.6
B22	60-100	9.8	9.1	1.2	0.15	-	-	5.5	9.2	1.4	7.6
B23	100+	9.5	9.1	1.5	0.21	-	-	-	-	-	-

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	Exchangeable Aluminium mg/kg	Field Capacity pF2.5	Wilting Point pF4.2	Coarse Sand (0.2- 2.0 mm)	Fine Sand (0.02-0.2 mm)	Silt (0.002-0.02 mm)	Clay (<0.002 mm)
A11	0-10	-	16	6.7	34	44	5	15
A12	10-20	-	16.5	7.4	32	42	4	19
B1	20-30	-	27.2	13.6	23	31	10	23
B21k	30-60	<5	35.3	18.5	22	23	5	33
B22	60-100	<5	41.7	20.7	21	23	6	43
B23	100+	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Management Considerations:

Whole Profile

• Much of the soil profile is extremely alkaline. This suggests that some nutrients (e.g. manganese, zinc, iron, copper) may be poorly available to plants.

Surface (A) Horizons

• The surface soil has a relatively high nutrient holding capacity compared to many other soils in the area. This is due to the relatively higher clay and organic matter contents.

Subsoil (B) Horizons

• The subsoil is sodic and dispersive. Root and water movement into the subsoil will be restricted as a result. It is important to avoid cultivating this soil whilst in a moist to wet condition as some structural degradation could occur.
• The high level of soluble salts in the deeper subsoil may restrict the growth of deeper- rooted salt sensitive species.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, (31/8/99).

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