Reference soil Australia 30: Luvisol

AU030

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 AU030: Luvisols

Classification

WRB 1998

Rhodi-Hypocalcic- Luvisol (Cutanic)

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1988

FAO-UNESCO-ISRIC 1974

Rhodi-Calcic Luvisol

Calcic Luvisol

Local classification:	HAS: Red Brown Earth, Urrbrae loam; FK: Dr2.23

Other classification

USDA-SCS (1975)

Rhodoxeralf xeric fine mixed thermic

Profile description

Ah1 0-10 cm	(dark) brown (7.5YR 4/4, dry) dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3, moist)loam slightly gravelly,weak fine subangular blocky to porous massive,slightly hard very friable non sticky non plastic,few fine distinct clear mottles (7.5YR 5/6),few few very fine fine pores moderately porous (40-60 vol%),few very fine and fine roots,very few fine gravel fragments,non calcareous 10% HCl,clear smooth boundary to,
Ah2 10-18 cm	(7.5YR 5/3, dry) (7.5YR 3/3, moist)loam slightly gravelly,weak fine subangular blocky,slightly hard very friable non sticky slightly plastic,common medium distinct clear mottles (2.5YR 4/6),few few very fine fine pores moderately porous (40-60 vol%),few very fine and fine roots,very few fine gravel fragments,non calcareous 10% HCl,clear smooth boundary to,
E 18-30 cm	yellowish red (5YR 5/6, dry) dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4, moist)loam slightly gravelly,moderate very fine and fine angular blocky,slightly hard friable non sticky slightly plastic,few fine distinct clear mottles (10R 4/8),patchy thin clay on pedfaces cutans,few fine pores moderately porous (40-60 vol%),few very fine roots,few fine and medium gravel fragments,non calcareous 10% HCl,abrupt smooth boundary to,
Bt 30-75 cm	dark reddish brown (2.5YR 3/4, dry) dark red (2.5YR 3/6, moist)clay slightly gravelly,moderate medium prismatic parting to moderate medium angular blocky,hard friable sticky plastic,broken moderately thick clay on pedfaces cutans,few very fine pores moderately porous (40-60 vol%),common very fine few fine and medium roots,very few small spherical hard manganiferous nodules,very few fine and medium gravel fragments,non calcareous 10% HCl,clear boundary to,
BCk 75-90 cm	reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4, dry) red (2.5YR 4/6, moist)clay gravelly,porous massive to weak subangular blocky,slightly hard friable non sticky non plastic,patchy thin clay on pedfaces cutans,few very fine pores moderately porous (40-60 vol%),frequent medium irregular hard calcareous concretions frequent powdery irregular soft calcareous soft segregations,frequent medium and coarse gravel fragments,calcareous 10% HCl,abrupt boundary to,
Ck 90-100 cm	red (2.5YR 4/6, dry) dark red (2.5YR 3/6, moist)clay slightly gravelly,porous massive,slightly hard friable non sticky non plastic,patchy thin clay on rock fragments cutans,few very fine pores moderately porous (40-60 vol%),frequent medium irregular hard calcareous concretions frequent powdery irregular soft calcareous soft segregations,few fine and medium gravel weathered limestone fragments,strongly calcareous 10% HCl,

Kind 1 (parent material) ; Parker (eds), 1984	sedimentary rock
Mode of accumulation or deposition of parent material	fluvial
Remarks on Parent Materials	outwash fan deposits (clays and gravel), bordering uplifted Precambrium sedimentary rocks of Mount Lofty Ranges
Soil Depth	98cm
Texture of parent material (second entry)	clayey

Land improvements ; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	land clearing
Land use or vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the site	high level arable farming
Remarks on Land Use / Vegetation	VEGETATION: original vegetation comprised Eucalyptus odorata (peppermint gum) with Danthonia, Stipa and Themada australis spp. LAND USE: land has been clearde for experimental station.
Major vegetation type; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	semi-deciduous woodland

Altitude	110m
Physiographic Unit	long slope
Physiographic position of the site	slope
Regional landform; McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F. et all, 1984; Australian soil and land survey Field Handbook, Inkata Press, Melbourne.	outwash plain
Slope	5%
Slope Aspect	west
Form of the slope surrounding the site	straight
Topography; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	undulating

Drainage class ; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	well
Flooding frequency (FAO, 1986)	never
Kind of ground water table (USDA, 1979)	no groundwater table observed
Moist From - To	0-98cm
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
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 30: Luvisol

Characteristics

Reference soil AU030: Luvisols

Classification