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In this section you will find detailed information, including national overviews and state and regional level assessments, from the 2000-2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit theme assessments.
Appendix 3 - Calcarosols
CALCAROSOLS 
The dominating feature of these soils is the presence of variable amounts of calcium carbonate, usually throughout the profile, or directly below a weakly developed A horizon. A further important feature is the absence of a clear or abrupt textural B horizon.
Supracalcic Calcarosols
Soils with a calcareous horizon consisting of 20% to 50% of hard calcrete fragments, carbonate nodules or concretions, or carbonate coated gravel. An example of a Endohypersodic, Regolithic, Supracalcic Calcarosol is given below.
Environment
Distribution: These Calcarosols occur widely in the Mallee region of South Australia, southern New South Wales, southern Western Australia and north-western Victoria.
Climate: Mean annual rainfall is approximately 300 mm to 350 mm and is winter-dominant.
Parent materials or substrate: Cainozoic sediments with variable calcareous aeolian accession.
Landform: Gently undulating plains, low rises and associated remnant calcrete rises.
Native vegetation: Sparse to mid-dense mallee shrubland or woodland on flats and rises.
Land use
Mostly cropping (wheat and barley) and grazing of volunteer annual pastures.
Common variants
The Supracalcic soils may vary in their substrate materials, amounts of soft carbonate, and the degree of B horizon sodicity.
Nomenclature
Also known as Solonised Brown Soils and Mallee Soils.
Soil qualities
Water availability: Low in the rootzone (50 mm).
Drainage: Well drained. Soil never stays saturated for more than a few days.
Aeration: Well aerated in the upper profile.
Physical root limitations: May be restricted by calcrete fragments.
Erosion hazard: Low to moderate when the soil surface is exposed. Sandier types are more susceptible to wind erosion.
Nutrient availability: Low nutrient status/availability in carbonate horizons.
Phosphorus fertiliser is essential.
Toxicities: High subsoil boron and sodium will affect root growth.
Workability: Soft/firm surface. Good workability.
Acknowledgment
Photo, soil description and laboratory data from Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia. Site MM009.
Typical profile
Southern Murray Mallee, South Australia. |
Soil description of a typical profileA1 0 - 0.14 m Dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) sandy loam; single grain structure; abrupt boundary to: B21t 0.14 - 0.30 m Dark reddish brown (2.5YR 3/4) sandy clay loam; weak columnar structure; clear boundary to: B21k 0.30 - 0.48 m Red (2.5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam; 20 - 50% hard carbonate fragments or nodules; massive structure; gradual boundary to: B22k 0.48 - 0.68 m Red (2.5YR 4/8) sandy clay loam; 20 - 50% hard carbonate fragments or nodules; massive structure; gradual boundary to: B23k 0.68 - 1.08 m Yellowish red (5YR 5/8) light clay; 20 - 50% soft carbonate; massive structure; diffuse boundary to: C11 1.08 - 1.62 m Strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) sandy clay loam; 2 - 10% soft carbonate; massive structure; diffuse boundary to: C12 1.62 - 2.00 m Reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) sandy clay loam; massive structure. |
Laboratory data for the typical profile
Calcic Calcarosols
Calcic Calcarosols have a calcareous horizon consisting of less than 20% of hard calcrete fragments, carbonate nodules or concretions or carbonate coated gravel. An example of a Epihypersodic, Petrocalcic, Calcic Calcarosol (directly overlying a calcrete pan) is given below.
Environment
Distribution: Calcic Calcarosols overlying calcrete are common across the Nullabor Plain, southern New South Wales, the Mallee region of South Australia and north-western Victoria.
Climate: Mean annual rainfall for the major occurrences ranges from 200 mm to 350 mm and is winter dominant.
Parent materials or substrate: Calcrete overlying sediments.
Landform: Level plains (Nullabor) and undulating dissected plains with stony calcrete flats and rises elsewhere.
Native vegetation: Sparse to mid-dense mallee vegetation on the flats and rises. Low open shrubland on the Nullabor Plain.
Land use
Predominantly wheat and barley cropping (where rainfall is adequate) in rotation with annual volunteer pastures.
Common variants
The depth to hard calcrete is variable and it may occur as a continuous pan. Many of the Calcic Calcarosols are Regolithic rather than Petrocalcic, similar to the previous soil.
Nomenclature
Also known as Grey-Brown and Red Calcareous Soils, Solonised Brown Soils and Mallee Soils.
Soil qualities
Water availability: Very low (30 mm) in the root zone. Crops are frequently stressed in spring.
Drainage: Well drained. Soil never remains saturated for more than a few days.
Aeration: Well aerated in the upper profile.
Physical root limitations: Restricted by stone and boulder calcrete.
Erosion hazard: Low.
Nutrient availability: Low phosphorus (fertiliser essential) and nitrogen (depends on pasture legume). Copper and zinc are marginal.
Toxicities: Possibly boron.
Workability: Firm surface. Good workability. Stoniness may affect farm equipment.
Acknowledgment
Photo, soil description and laboratory data from Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia. Site MM011.
Typical profile
Southern Murray Mallee, South Australia. |
Soil description of a typical profileAp 0 - 0.09 m Dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) sandy loam; single grain structure; abrupt boundary to: Bk 0.09 - 0.18 m Brown (7.5YR 4/2) sandy clay loam; weak subangular blocky structure; abrupt boundary to: 2Bkm 0.18 - 0.81 m Brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam; massive calcrete fragments (> 90%); massive structure; clear boundary to: C 0.81 - 1.70 m Light brown (7.5YR 7/4) sandy clay loam; massive structure. |
Laboratory data for the typical profile
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