Site NE32

Location: Tallangatta Valley Landcare Group.

Australian Soil Classification: Acidic, Eutrophic, Black DERMOSOL
Northcote Factual Key: Um 6.31
Great Soil Group: prairie soil

General Landscape Description: Alluvial flats in upper reaches of Tallangatta Creek.

Site NE32 Landscape

Soil Profile Morphology:

Surface Soil

A11	0-10 cm	Very dark brown (10YR2/2); loam (fine sandy); moderate medium polyhedral, parting to strong fine polyhedral structure; weak consistence dry; pH 5.0; clear change to:	Site NE32 Profile
A12	10-40 cm	Very dark brown (10YR2/2); loam (fine sandy); moderate medium polyhedral, parting to strong fine blocky structure; firm consistence moderately moist; contains a layer of river pebbles at 35-40 cm depth; pH 6.1; clear change to:
Subsoil
B21	40-60 cm	Dark brown (10YR3/3); light clay (fine sandy); weak medium blocky structure; firm consistence moderately moist; pH 5.1; clear change to:
B22	60-90 cm	Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2) with patches of brown (10YR5/3) and dark brown (7.5YR3/4); light sandy clay loam; moderate medium blocky structure; firm consistence moderately moist; contains a layer of river pebbles at 60-65 cm depth; pH 6.2:
2A	90-110 cm	Brown (7.5YR4/4); sandy loam; weak coarse blocky structure; weak consistence moderately moist; contains a layer of river pebbles at 100-105 cm depth.

Soil Profile Characteristics:

Horizon	Horizon Depth (cm)	Exchangeable Aluminium mg/kg	Field Capacity pF 2.5	Wilting Point pF 4.2	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	<10	30	10	14	37	24	21
A12	10-40	<10	27	8	20	39	23	18
B21	40-60	230	27	13	11	29	20	40
B22	60-90				17	39	23	18

Management Considerations:

Whole Profile

Plant available water capacity (PAWC) is considered to be medium (estimated at 135 mm) for this site. This is based on available laboratory data and assumes an effective rooting depth of 120 cm.

Surface (A) Horizons

The surface soil is strongly acid which indicates that aluminium and manganese toxicity may occur. However, the level of exchangeable aluminium measured at this creek cutting is quite low. A pH/aluminium test should be carried out on a bulked sample taken from across the paddock. Other factors need to be considered before lime is recommended e.g. pasture species grown, method of application, local trial responses, soil surface structure and likely cost/benefit.
The pH increases in the subsurface (A12) horizon which is a good result, as aluminium levels will be negligible.
The surface soil has a moderate overall nutrient status (based on the sum of the exchangeable basic cations).

Subsoil (B) Horizons

The upper subsoil is strongly acid and the level of exchangeable aluminium measured is high (230 mg/kg). This is likely to restrict the growth of a number of aluminium sensitive species.

Profile Described By: Mark Imhof, Paul Rampant and Karen de Plater (25/10/95).