Soils of the cotter catchment area, A.C.T. : Distribution, chemical and physical properties

摘要: Studies on soil distribution and classification, together with their chemical physical properties, were carried out in the Cotter Valley, a major water supply area for Canberra. Vegetative cover is mostly native eucalypt forest at high altitude plantations of P. radiata lower elevation; geology diverse. Based geologic diversity, five associations recognized, significant differences profile morphology, properties. Yellow earths occur Silurian volcanic parent material; these soils are shallow sandy, calcium main exchangeable cation. They moderately permeable but have low retention. Gentler slopes same material covered by red yellow podzolic soils, often dense A2 horizons. Exchangeable A horizons subsoils magnesium exceeds calcium. In deeper more than 30% cations aluminium. While podzolics reasonably permeable, not, likely to suffer surface waterlogging erosion prone. Profile storage good. Krasnozems dominant metamorphosed sediments. clay loam light texture largely base unsaturated, aluminium These reasonable retention, although krasnozems tend be overdrained. The adamellite coarse textured bulk density. Calcium cation throughout profile. 0.6 m depth, low. found granodiorite not as those material, content higher, profiles deeper. About aluminium, potassium rather high. storage. All acid, being most all CEC thus metal cations. Their salt low, sodium hydrogen very effects management practices soilrelated catchment quality aspects discussed.