Reference soil Australia 15: Luvisol

AU015

Luvisols occur mainly in temperate regions, particularly in areas with a Mediterranean-type of climate.

Characteristics

Soils having an argic horizon (a subsurface horizon with a distinct higher clay content than the overlying horizon) with a cation exchange capacity equal to or more than 24 cmolc per kg clay throughout.

Distribution of Luvisols (rough estimation supplied by soilgrids)

Reference soil AU015: Luvisols

Classification

WRB 1998
Luvisol
FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1988		FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1974
Humi-Gleyic Alisol		Gleyic Acrisol

Local classification:

HAS: Brown Earth; FK: Gn3.71

Other classification

USDA-SCS (1975)

Haplohumult xeric fine-loamy vermiculitic thermic

Profile description

Ah1 0-8 cm	dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2, dry) very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2, moist)clay loam,strong coarse subangular blocky and strong fine granular,hard friable slightly sticky slightly plastic,few medium distinct clear mottles (10YR 5/3) and common medium distinct mottles (10YR 5/3),many fine pores and few pores,many fine few medium and coarse roots,very few fine gravel fresh quartz fragments,few worm channels,non calcareous 10% HCl,
Ah2 8-35 cm	(10YR 5/3.5, dry) (10YR 3.5/3.5, moist)silty clay loam,moderate to strong medium subangular blocky parting to moderate to strong fine granular,hard firm sticky slightly plastic,many mottles (10YR 3/2),many medium pores,many fine roots,very few fine gravel fresh quartz fragments,frequent worm channels,non calcareous 10% HCl,gradual smooth boundary to,
35-45 cm	light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4, dry) dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4, moist)silty clay loam,moderate medium subangular blocky parting to moderate fine crumb,hard firm sticky plastic,many medium distinct sharp mottles (10YR 3/3),many fine pores and few pores,common fine roots,very few fine gravel fresh quartz fragments,frequent worm channels,non calcareous 10% HCl,gradual smooth boundary to,
Bt 45-70 cm	reddish brown (5YR 4/4, moist)silty clay loam,moderate medium angular blocky parting to moderate fine granular,hard firm sticky plastic,common distinct sharp mottles (10YR 3/3) and common distinct mottles (2.5YR 5/8),common fine pores,few fine roots,frequent worm channels,non calcareous 10% HCl,clear boundary to,
2Bt 70-102 cm	yellowish red (5YR 5/6, dry) yellowish red (5YR 5/6, moist)silty clay,strong coarse angular blocky parting to strong fine granular,very hard very firm very sticky plastic,common mottles (2.5YR 3/6),few fine pores,few fine roots,few medium ferruginous concretions,non calcareous 10% HCl,
2Cg 102-150 cm	white (10YR 8/1, moist)silty clay,massive,hard firm sticky slightly plastic,common distinct clear mottles (7.5YR 8/0) and common prominent mottles (2.5YR 5/8),frequent medium ferruginous concretions frequent large concretions,frequent medium and coarse gravel weathered ferruginized shale fragments,non calcareous 10% HCl,
150-180 cm	white (10YR 8/1, moist)clay loam,massive,many prominent clear mottles (10R 3/6),many medium and coarse gravel weathered ferruginized shale fragments,non calcareous 10% HCl,

Kind 1 (parent material) ; Parker (eds), 1984	shale
Remarks on Parent Materials	weakly metamorphosed Paleozoic shale
Soil Depth	180cm
Texture of parent material (second entry)	loamy
Weathering Resistance	moderate
General characterization of the status of weathering of solid rock	partially or moderately

Land use or vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the site	afforestation
Remarks on Land Use / Vegetation	VEGETATION: native vegetation: rainforest of Eucalyptus grandis (flooded gum) and Syncarpia glomulifera (turpentine). LAND USE: Forestry. Cleared land is used for grazing of dairy and beef cattle with some limited cropping to maize. Banana plantations have been established in suitable situations.
Major vegetation type; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	semi-deciduous forest

Altitude	15m
Physiographic Unit	lower slope above a creek terrace
Physiographic position of the site	lower slope
Regional landform; McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F. et all, 1984; Australian soil and land survey Field Handbook, Inkata Press, Melbourne.	hill
Slope Aspect	east
Topography; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	rolling

Drainage class ; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	moderately well
Dry From - To	0-100cm
Flooding frequency (FAO, 1986)	never
Kind of ground water table (USDA, 1979)	no groundwater table observed
Moist From - To	100-180cm
Estimated permeability (class) of least permeable part of the profile	moderate

Evidence of alkali ; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-alkaline
Surface cracking	no cracks observed
Slaking of aggregates by tillage, rainfall or frost (USDA/SCS, 1979)	no surface slaking/crusting observed
Rock outcrop class (FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description)	none
Evidence of salt; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-saline
Surface stoniness class (FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description)	none

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Reference soil Australia 15: Luvisol

Characteristics

Reference soil AU015: Luvisols

Classification