Reference soil Australia 17: Luvisol

AU017

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 AU017: Luvisols

Classification

WRB 1998

Chromi-Profondic- Luvisol (Haplic)

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1988

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1974

Chromic Luvisol

Local classification:	HAS: Red Earth; FK: Gn2.14

Other classification

USDA-SCS (1975)

Palexeralf xeric fine mixed thermic

Profile description

Ah 0-12 cm	reddish brown (5YR 4/4, dry) dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4, moist)sandy clay loam slightly gravelly,weak very fine subangular blocky,hard very friable slightly sticky slightly plastic,many very fine pores and few medium pores,common very fine roots,non calcareous 10% HCl,gradual smooth boundary to,
Bt 12-40 cm	red (2.5YR 5/6, dry) red (2.5YR 4/6, moist)clay slightly gravelly,massive,hard very friable sticky plastic,common medium distinct clear mottles (5YR 3/4) and common coarse distinct mottles (5YR 4/4),common fine pores and few pores,few very fine roots,non calcareous 10% HCl,gradual boundary to,
2Bt1 40-62 cm	red (2.5YR 5/6, dry) red (2.5YR 4/6, moist)clay slightly gravelly,massive,hard very friable sticky plastic,common fine pores,few very fine roots,very few small hard manganiferous concretions,non calcareous 10% HCl,gradual boundary to,
2Bt2 62-76 cm	red (2.5YR 5/6, dry) red (2.5YR 4/6, moist)clay slightly gravelly,massive,hard very friable sticky plastic,common medium prominent clear mottles (2.5Y 6/4) and common medium distinct mottles (10R 4/4),few fine pores,few very fine roots,very few small hard manganiferous concretions,non calcareous 10% HCl,

Depth1	180cm
Kind 1 (parent material) ; Parker (eds), 1984	granite
Mode of accumulation or deposition of parent material	residual material
Soil Depth	180cm
Texture of parent material (second entry)	clayey
General characterization of the status of weathering of solid rock	partially or moderately

Land use or vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the site	cultivated pasture
Remarks on Land Use / Vegetation	VEGETATION: native vegetation: tall woodland of Eucalyptus albens. LAND USE: Sheep grazing on improved pasture with cropping every five years.
Major vegetation type; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	extremely xeromorphic woodland

Altitude	472m
Physiographic Unit	top of a spur
Physiographic position of the site	crest
Regional landform; McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F. et all, 1984; Australian soil and land survey Field Handbook, Inkata Press, Melbourne.	plateau
Slope	2%
Slope Aspect	south-west
Topography; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	rolling

Drainage class ; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	well
Dry From - To	0-90cm
Flooding frequency (FAO, 1986)	never
Kind of ground water table (USDA, 1979)	no groundwater table observed
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 17: Luvisol

Characteristics

Reference soil AU017: Luvisols

Classification