important notice csiro - publications · spanos* thorpe* txmara* toolakea tully* tyson* utchee*...

IMPORTANT NOTICE © Copyright Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (‘CSIRO’) Australia. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of CSIRO Division of Land and Water. The data, results and analyses contained in this publication are based on a number of technical, circumstantial or otherwise specified assumptions and parameters. The user must make its own assessment of the suitability for its use of the information or material contained in or generated from the publication. To the extend permitted by law, CSIRO excludes all liability to any person or organisation for expenses, losses, liability and costs arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in whole or in part) and any information or material contained in it. The publication must not be used as a means of endorsement without the prior written consent of CSIRO.

NOTE This report and accompanying maps are scanned and some detail may be illegible or lost. Before acting on this information, readers are strongly advised to ensure that numerals, percentages and details are correct. This digital document is provided as information by the Department of Natural Resources and Water under agreement with CSIRO Division of Land and Water and remains their property. All enquiries regarding the content of this document should be referred to CSIRO Division of Land and Water. The Department of Natural Resources and Water nor its officers or staff accepts any responsibility for any loss or damage that may result in any inaccuracy or omission in the information contained herein.

ISSN 0725-8526

CS I ROAUSTRALIA

SOILS OF THE MOSSMANCAPE TRIBULATION AREA,

NORTH QUEENSLAND

G.G. Murtha

DIVISION OF SOILS Divisional Report No 102

DIVISION OF SOILSDivisional Report No. 102

SOILS OF THE MOSSMANCAPE TRIBULATION AREA,

NORTH QUEENSLAND

G.G. Murtha

C S I R OAUSTRALIA 1707

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry

Murtha, G.G. (Grahame George).

Soils of the Mossman Cape Tribulation area, north Queensland.

Bibliography.ISBN 0 643 04966 5.

1. Soils - Queensland - Mossman Region. I. CSIRO Division ofSoils. II. Title. (Series: Division of Soils divisional report; no.102).

631.4'99436

ContentsPage

INDEX overleaf

ABSTRACT 1

INTRODUCTION 1

General 1

The Environment 3

Soil Series 4

Soil Mapping Units 4

SOILS FORMED ON BEACH RIDGES 6

SOILS OF BASALTIC ORIGIN 16

SOILS OF METAMORPfflC ROCK ORIGIN 20

SOILS OF GRANITIC ORIGIN 35

WELL DRAINED SOILS FORMED ON ALLUVIUM 38

POORLY DRAINED SOILS FORMED ON ALLUVIUM 59

ORGANIC SOILS AND SOILS OF THE TIDAL ZONE 69

ANALYTICAL METHODS AND ABBREVIATIONS 70

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 72

REFERENCES 72

INDEX TO SOIL SERIES AND MAP UNIT DESCRIPTIONS

Name

BICTON*BOOBAH*BROSNAN*BUCHANBULGURU*CARSONCLIFTONCOOM*DAGMARDAINTREEDAYMANDEVIL DEVILEULUMAGALMARA*GARIOCHGOOLBOO*HEWITT*HOLLOWAYHULL*INNISFAIL*JAPOON*JULATTENKAYGAROO*KIMBERLEYLERRALIVERPOOL*MIALLOMISSION*MOLLOYMOSSMANNEWELLPERAPIN GIN*PONZORUMULASILKWOOD*SOMERSETSPANOS*THORPE*TXMARA*TOOLAKEATULLY*TYSON*UTCHEE*VIRGILWEATHERBYWONGALING*

Soil Series

Page223012237066326225105868272145436662

84239509

18414629282644641817525639541436647

4036354824

7

Map Unit

Page33

15

69

3468

16

3461

6915

20

59

34

596820206060

60

3769

59

6033

Sample No.

T296T303T329

T304T312T306

T327T305

T311T310

T300

T308

T322

T321T299T324T309

GGM 362-366GGM 382-386

T323T298

T302T328

T325

T307T297

*First described in Murtha 1986

SOILS OF THE MOSSMAN CAPE TRIBULATION AREA,NORTH QUEENSLAND

G.G. Murtha*

Abstract

Mossman is located at about 16°27'S latitude and 145°22'E longitude. It is situated in the centerof the survey area which embraces the northern extremity of the humid lowland cane country of northQueensland. Mean annual rainfall ranges from about 1100 mm to over 3000 mm and has a pronouncedsummer dominance.

A soil survey at 1:50,000 scale has been conducted over an area of about 105,000 ha of which some60% is rugged rainforest clad mountains. Forty-seven soil series have been recognized and characterisedin terms of their field morphology and major chemical and physical properties. The mapping units areassociations of series.

The soils of the area are formed on granite, low grade metamorphics (mainly medium grainedmetasediments but with some interbedded basic volcanics), and on mixed alluvium derived from theseparent materials. Topography ranges from precipitous mountains to the flat depositional coastal plain. Thelatter is generally very narrow but includes alluvial fan, riverine and marine alluvium and beach ridgelandforms.

The upland soils exhibit many properties characteristic of soils of the humid tropics such as thicksola and/or very deeply weathered saprolite, freely draining and friable nature, acid reaction, and low basestatus. The lowland soils are much more diverse, but profile wetness which is usually site dependent, isthe major factor influencing soil morphology.

INTRODUCTION

General

Mossman is situated (Fig. 1) some 60 km by road north of Cairns and is the mostnortherly sugar cane growing area in Queensland. This survey covers the coastal countryfrom Oak Beach to Cape Tribulation and the Julatten uplands south to Mt Molloy. Itincludes all land presently assigned to the Mossman sugar mill apart from a small areaon the alluvium of Rifle Creek downstream of Mt Molloy. The soil survey covers an areaof about 105,000 ha of which about 60,000 ha is rainforest clad mountains.

This report provides a morphological description of the soil series recognised anda description of the mapping units depicted on the accompanying map. Availablechemical and physical data are presented without any discussion of those results. A moredetailed physical and chemical characterisation, together with discussion on soildistribution, classification, and land use aspects will be presented in a later report.

Where possible the soils have been correlated with the soils of the Tully-Innisfailarea (Murtha 1986) and the soils of the north Mulgrave area (Thompson and Cannon1981). Some soil series are common to the three survey areas.The range of propertiesdescribed for each series in this report are those encountered only in the Mossman surveyarea. They may not necessarily coincide with the ranges for the same series named inprevious surveys. Twenty new soil series and variants have been identified in theMossman area (see index to soil series etc.).

* Division of Soils, CSIRO, PMB Aitkenvale, Townsville, Qld. 4814

CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No.102

Figure 1. Locality plan

2

CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No. 102 3

The field work was carried out on a free survey basis with the aid of 1:30,000monochrome air photography which was flown in 1972. Boundaries were field locatedon the survey line and extrapolated by air photo interpretation.

The soils have been classified in terms of the Factual Key (Northcote 1979), greatsoil groups (Stace etal. 1968) and to the sub-group level in Soil Taxonomy (Soil SurveyStaff 1975) where possible.

All cultivated soils have an Ap horizon which may be as thick as 40 cm, this isidentified by an /p following the principal profile form (PPF). In many soils it is highlylikely that deep cultivation has modified the original profile form to the extent thatsubsurface horizons such as A2, A3, and B1 are no longer recognizable. Where possiblethe PPF from undisturbed sites has been recorded.

For a number of soils there is no appropriate great soil group and for others theclassification is doubtful. The latter are identified by a question mark. The classificationto subgroup level in Soil Taxonomy must be regarded as provisional as it is based onminimal data. Where there is no analytical data available and considerable doubt existsthe soil has not been classified. Argillic horizons have been identified on the basis of clayincrease only. In the absence of reliable data on the moisture characteristics of these soils,a udic regime is inferred for all soils with fine sandy loam or finer field texture on thelowlands and for all upland soils under a rainforest vegetation. A ustic regime is inferredfor the coarse uniform sands i.e. most of the soils formed on beach ridges and for soilsunder non- rainforest vegetation on the uplands. An aquic regime is inferred for theswamp soils. An iso temperature regime has been inferred for all soils with the followingexceptions, sandy soils on the beach ridges and soils under non-rainforest vegetation onthe Jullaten uplands.

The classification given applies to the representative profile site and theaccompanying laboratory data. It may not necessarily apply to the range of soils thatcomprise an individual series.

The Environment

The climate is characterised by very humid summers and mild, relatively drywinters. Rainfall ranges from about 1100 to 1700 mm on the Julatten uplands and fromabout 1800 to 3000+ mm on the coastal country. Rainfall isohytes are shown on Figure 1but these are fairly crude as there are few recording stations and in some areas there arevery sharp rainfall gradiants. Although the rainfall has a strong summer dominancesignificant falls can occur through the winter period. A feature of the rainfall is the veryhigh intensities that can be experienced, the extremes of which are usually associated withtropicallowpressure systems. Occasional light frosts may be experienced on the Julattenuplands. Monthly temperature and rainfall data for selected stations are presented inTable 1.

The geology of the survey area has been mapped at 1:250,000 scale (Amos and deKeyser 1964). Low grade metasediments of the Hodgkinson Formation form thedominant parent material of the upland soils. The high mountain ranges consist entirelyof the coarse grained Mareeba granite. Most stream alluvium consists of mixtures ofthese two parent materials. The Hodgkinson Formation contains some interbedded basicvolcanics. Where these outcrop the soils are indistinguishable from those formed onbasalt in the Tully-Innisfail area and have been mapped accordingly. Limited areas ofbeach ridge and/or dune sands occur along the coastline.

The vegetation of the area has been described by Tracey (1982). It is an area ofextreme diversity both in terms of structure and floristics. The diversity is in part a

4 CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No.102

reflection of soil fertility but largely is a reflection of soil water statu s. This is very evidentin the lowland country where wetness is the major factor influencing soil profiledevelopment. Large areas of the lowland country has been cleared and on some soillandscapes none of the original vegetation remains.

Table 1. Rainfall (mm) and temperature (°C) data for selected stations

PortDouglas

MossmanWhyanbeelJulatten

MaxMinRainRainRainRain

Jan

31.323.2392492562376

Feb

31.122.8411509607385

Mar

30.522.1422497611336

Apr

29.520.7193227309119

May

27.519.7

6891

12559

Jun

25.617.3

50608050

Jul

24.717.0

25345130

Aug

26.217.8

24334928

Sep

27.818.4

32436724

Oct

29.120.4

44617828

Nov

31.022.2

9912614872

Dec

31.322.8202234274136

Year

28.820.41962241030111643

Soil Series

The basis for the establishment of soil series is the definition in the Soil SurveyManual (Soil Survey Staff 1951). In brief, a series is a group of soils having horizons withessentially similar properties, arrangement in the profile and developed from similarparent materials. Factors such as significance in land use and ease of recognition anddistinction from similar soils were also important criteria in the establishment of series.

Forty-seven soil series have been recognized in the Mossman area. Twenty-threeof these are common to the Tully-Innisfail area (Murtha 1986) while three were firstrecognized in the Mulgrave area (Thompson and Cannon 1981) and one on theTownsville coastal plain (Murtha 1975). The twenty series first recognised in theMossman area may not necessarily be unique to this area andit should be noted that manysoil series differ only in morphological characteristics of relatively minor significanceand may have similar agronomic or management constraints e.g. Mossman, Innisfail andTully series.

A number of dark surface variants have been recognised. These soils have thickvery dark grey to black A horizons which persist even after prolonged cultivation.Although it is generally assumed that dark surface horizons are a product of organicenrichment, in many cases these soils do not have significantly higher organic carbonlevels. There is an observed relationship between the presence of the dark surface horizonand Casuarina species in the native vegetation communities. Decomposition productsfrom the litter of this speices may contain a strong darkening agent.

Each soil series is defined in terms of a typical profile and the observed range forthe more common characteristics. The 1:100,000 map reference is given for the typicalprofile. Unless specified otherwise all Munsell colours are for moist soils. All texturesrefer to field manipulation of the soil and have not been fitted to a texture triangle on thebasis of particle size analyses. In many soils there is an apparent discrepancy betweenfield texture and the particle size analysis. Field textures are often much heavier than theclay figures would indicate. This may be explained in part by the relatively high siltvalues for many of the soils but in many cases there is no obvious explanation. The soilsare grouped on the same basis as in. the Tully-Innisfail area and this grouping serves asa broad scale map (Fig. 2) which to some extent indicates classes of soils with similaragronomic constraints.

Soil Mapping Units

The soil mapping units are associations of soil series and have been named afterthe dominant series. Unit purity varies considerably between unique mapping area


Figure 2. Generalised soil map.

(UMA) but also from area to area in the same UMA. Some of this variability is due tothe difficulty of delineating soil boundaries through cropped land where culturalpractices can mask all surface and air photo pattern evidence of soil change. Morecommonly though, many soil series form part of a continuum in which soil changes arevery subtle, hence it is difficult to place meaningful soil boundaries. In addition, in theMossman area the mountain ranges are very close to the coast, depositional systems arevery short, and piedmont and coastal plain development is very narrow. As a

CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No. 102

consequence the geomorphic units associated with these landscapes are compressed intoa very small area resulting in frequent soil changes over short distances.

In an attempt to improve the accuracy of field interpretation of the mapping, asystem of single and multiple symbols has been adopted. For instance in Coomassociation there are areas which are almost pure Coom series; these are labelled Co.Other areas may have Tully or Timara series as co-dominants. These are labelled Co-Tuand Co-Ti respectively. In addition, all these symbols, i.e. Co, Co-Tu, Co-Ti, may appearin the one unique map area. The symbol placement is not arbitary, it is intended to depictareas in which the soil pattern may be reasonably pure or alternatively to be representativeof the complexity of the pattern and indicative of the co-dominance which is occurring.Solid and broken boundary lines are also used to give some indication of the confidenceof boundary placement. The shorter the broken line the lower the confidence level.

The association descriptions have been grouped on the same basis as the soil series.

SOILS FORMED ON BEACH RIDGES

Three distinct beach ridge systems and one dune system are clearly evident and indicateseveral stages of coastline development. Sands of the Hull Association form the youngestsystem and occur as an almost continuous barrier along the coastline.

The Brosnan Association occupies an older series of ridges and generally occursimmediately behind the Hull sands. These ridges were probably once much moreextensive as it is evident that some areas have been destroyed by stream migration andto a lesser extent by shoreline erosion. The Daintree Association sands occur only on thechenier plain of the Daintree River. Morphologically they appear to be spit-formingridges, however they contain a much higher percentage of fine sand than do the Hullsands, and, as it is hard to see any major change in the source of the sand it is probablyindicitative of some aeolian sorting.

Two very small areas of the giant podzol of Kaygaroo series have been identifiedbut their limited extent and location makes it difficult to determine their relationship toother ridge systems.

A series of discontinuous low ridges to the north of and running parallel with theDaintree River have been mapped as a separate Miscellaneous soil unit. Only one site

Table 2. Soils formed on beach ridges.

SERIES LANDFORM MAJOR DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

TOOLAKEA

HULL

WONGALING

KAYGAROO

DAINTREE

BROSNAN

SPANOS

Frontal beach ridges

Beach ridges,immediately behindfrontal ridgesBeach ridges,usually immediatelybehind the HullridgesBeach ridge withthick dune capping

Older ? dune sands

Beach ridges

Beach ridges

Little profile development beyond organicaccumulation in the A horizon.Very weakly developed podzol; A2weakly developed or absent; nomottling or cementation in B horizon.Well developed podzol; bleached A2;bright red and yellow B horizons;some cemented patches in B horizon.

Well developed podzol with thick tovery thick, very strongly bleached A2horizon.Well developed podzol with dark Al,pale A2 horizon and dark brown or blackB horizon.Red, uniform or gradational texturedsoils, massive B horizons.Yellow uniform textured sands.


was accessible and at the time of examination that had a water table at 5 cm depth soadequate description was not possible. This is obviously an older ridge system formedalong the coastline when the mouth of the Daintree River was at or upstream of the ferrycrossing.

Seven soil series have been identified on the beach ridges. Only one new series(Daintree) was identified in the Mossman area but several new variants have beendescribed. Their major distinguishing features are summarised in Table 2.

TOOLAKEA SERIESLittle profile development beyond organic accumulation in the A horizonREPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.1 P.P.F.2 S.T.3

CLASSIFICATION Siliceous Sand, Ucl.21, QuartzipsammentLANDFORM PATTERN Frontal beach ridgeREFERENCE SITE Rumula 1:100 000 371722Horizon Depth (cm)Ap 0-30 Dark grey (10YR3/1) loamy sand; single grain; loose dry; clear change toB-C 30-150+ Light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) sand; single grain, loose dry.RANGE OF CHARACTERISTICS

Some profiles contain broken shell and/or coral fragments and pumice mayoccur on the surface or in bands through the profile.

WONGALING SERIESWell developed podzol; bleached A2; yellow, brown or red mottled B horizons; some cemented patchesin B horizon.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.Podzol Uc2.21Beach ridgeRumula 1:100 000 363724

CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITE

Dark grey (10YR5/1) (10YR6/ld) sand; single grain; dry loose; gradualchange toLightgrey(10YR7/l)(10YR8/2d)sand; single grain; dry loose; clear, veryirregular change toDark brown (7.5YR3/2) with dark reddish brown (5YR3/3) patches; sand;single grain; slightly coherent although some of the darker patches areweakly cemented; diffuse change toYellowish brown (10YR5/4); sand; single grain; dry loose.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThe variability in horizonation of these soils can only be appreciated incross-section. Isolatedauger holes will give a thoroughly confusingpicture.The lower boundary of the A2can vary from 50 cm to 100 cm depth. Thisboundary is irregular with a broad amplitude, there are no clearly definedpipes or tongues of A2 intruding into the B horizon as is common in someof the more strongly developed podzols (see Kaygaroo series). Only onesmall area of Wongaling series was found in the Mossman area. It occursinland of the Hull series ridges.

1 Great Soil Group, Stace et al. (1968), 2(Soil Survey Staff 1975).

Principal Profile Form, Northcote (1979),3 Soil Taxonomy

Horizon uepin ton)Al 0-12

A2 12-50/80

B 50/80-9

C 90-120+

CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No.102

HULL SERIESVery weakly developed podzol; A2 weakly developed or absent; no mottling or cementation in B horizon.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F. S.T.CLASSIFICATION (Rudimentary) Podzol Uc5.ll/p HaplorthodLANDFORM PATTERN Beach ridgeREFERENCE SITE Mossman 1:100 000 305937Horizon Depth (cm)Ap 0-30 Very dark grey (10YR3/1); sand; single grain; moist loose; clear change toB21hs 30-50 Dark brown (7.5YR3/2); sand; single grain; moist loose; clear change toB22s 50-60 Dark brown (7.5YR3/2); sand; single grain; moist loose; 2-10% 20-60 mm

rounded gravel; diffuse change toB3 60-90 Brown (7.5YR4/4); sand; single grain; < 2% 20-60 mm rounded gravel;

diffuse change toB3 90-150 Brown (7.5YR5/4); sand; single grain; moist loose; clear change to2Alb 150-160 Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2); sand; single grain; moist loose; clear

change to2B-C 160-190 Brownish yellow (10YR6/6); sand (gravelly); single grain; moist loose.RANGE OF CHARACTERISTICS

These soils have pale Al l horizons presumably due to organic depletion.They are commonly 8-10 cm but may be as thick as 20 cm. Texture of theAl 1 and A12 ranges from sand to sandy loam.A2 horizons are present in most profiles but they are weakly developed andare often not apparent from moist colours.The degree of development of the podzol B horizon varies with age of thebeach ridge. In all soils the organic and/or iron accumulation appears as astaining of the sand grains. The B horizon become darker, is deeper in theprofile and is thicker on the older ridges. B horizon colours range from verydark brown (10YR2/3) to dark yellowish brown (10YR4/6) and dark brown(7.5YR4/4).Principal profile forms encountered include Uc4.23, Uc5.11/p, Uc4.24, and

Uc4.22. Hull series grades to Toolakea series on the seaward ridges. On the inland side it may grade toWongaling series but more often is adjacent to older ridges of Spanos or Brosnan series or wave cut benchesof riverine alluvium.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T311HULL SERIESDepth cmHorizonPHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %

0-10Ap5.4

.0171.04.0610

.0061.35.008

Map ReferenceSampled from (

10-30Ap5.7

.011

22

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soil

CaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'(1)

CEC<2)

Particle Size %

GrCSFSSiC

1.99.47.05.04.302.9

2.28

<190

623

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations (2)

MOSSMAN 1cleared grassland site.

30-50B21hs

5.7.014

.04

18

1.00<.01

.05

.05

.301.4

1.63

<193

512

Comp. Exch.

50-60B22s5.8

.011.03

15

: 100 000 305937

60-90B35.6

.017

.0081.66.003

1692

612

120-150B35.6

.005

1095

411

160-1902B-C

5.7.008

2594

411


KAYGAROO SERIESWell developed podzol with thick to very thick, very strongly bleached A2 horizon.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITE

HorizonAll

A12

A21

A22

A22/B2hs

B3 or B2s

Depth

0-20

20-45

45-90

90-150

P.P.F.Podzol Uc2.2Beach ridge with dune cappingMossman 1:100 000 291847(Most of the site has been destroyed by sand extraction, the descriptionbelow is from Tully-Innisfail Survey, Murtha 1986)

400+

Light brownish grey (10YR6/2) with many fine black (10YR2/1) patches;sand; single grain; loose; many fine roots; gradual to diffuse change toBlack (10YR2/1) grading to dark grey (10YR4/1) sand; single grain, dryloose; few fine roots; diffuse change toLight brownish grey (10YR6/2) sand; single grain; dry loose; diffusechange toLight grey (10YR7/1) (10YR8/ld) sand; single grain; dry loose; abruptvery irregular change toThe boundary between A2 and B horizon is very irregular 150-300withtongues or pipes of A2extending to at least 1 m into the B horizon. The pipesof A2are not always vertical, the sides are slightly irregular, and they rangefrom 8 to about 15 cm in diameter. The A2 material is the same as describedabove. The B horizon is patchy very dark brown (10YR2/2) and brown(7.5YR 4/4) sand; single grain; loose when dry; diffuse change toPatchy brown (10YR5/3) and brownish yellow (10YR6/8) 300-400 sand;single grain; loose; diffuse change toYellow (10YR7/6) sand; single grain; loose.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThe All horizon ranges from 10to20cm thick and where ground cover issparse there may be a thin layer (2-3 cm) of lighter coloured rain-washedsand on the surface.The A12 ranges from 10 to 30 cm thick and from black to dark grey, textureis occasionally loamy sand.A2 thickness is extremely variable with an observed range from 50 cm to4 m. Most inspections have been by auger holes and it is very probable thatsome of the deeper A2 horizons have coincided with piping as describedabove.Although Bh and Bs horizons are strongly developed they are only rarelycemented and even then it is very patchy. The thickness of the B horizonranges from 1 to 3 m.Only two small areas have been identified in the Mossman area. One occursat the rear of the Brosnan ridges just north of Saltwater Creek and the otheris on an isolated ridge that has been partially levelled just to the south ofSaltwater Creek.


DAINTREE SERIESWell developed podzol on dune sands.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERN

REFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)

G.S.G.PodzolDunes ?

Mossman

P.P.F.Uc2.2

1:100 000

S.T.Aquic Haplorthod

288982

Al 0-10 Very dark grey (10YR3/1); loamy sand; single grain; moist very weak;diffuse change toDark grey (10YR4/1) with 10-20% 5-15 mm light grey (10YR6/1) mottles;loamy sand (light); single grain; moist very weak;Light grey (10YR7/1) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct grey (10YR5/1)mottles; sand; single grain; moist very weak; clear change toVery dark brown (10YR2/2) with 2-10% > 30 mm distinct dark greyishbrown (10YR4/2) mottles; sand; single grain; moist very weak; diffusetongued change toDark greyish brown (10YR4/2) with 2-10% > 30 mm distinct pale brown(10YR6/3) mottles; sand; single grain; moist very weak;Brownish yellow (10YR6/6) with 10-20% 15-30 mm prominent very palebrown (10YR7/4) mottles; sand; single grain; moist very weak; diffusechange toYellow (10YR7/6) with 10-20% 15-30 mm distinct light grey (10YR7/2)mottles; sand; single grain; moist very weak; diffuse change toLight grey (2.5Y7/2); sand; single grain; moist very weak; diffuse changetoPinkish grey (5YR7/2); clayey sand; single grain; moist very weak;Pinkish grey (5YR7/2) with 10-20% 15-30 mm distinct brownish yellow(10YR6/6) mottles; clayey sand; single grain; moist very weak.

NOTE: Some patches of weakly cemented material from 70-105 cm.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSTexture of Al horizon ranges from fine sand to loamy sand. The paler Al lhorizon common to most of the beach ridge soils is absent.A2 horizons may be absent and the black or dark gTey Al continues to thetop of the Bh horizon which ranges from 30 to 45 cm deep. Profiles with noA2 horizon and thin strongly bleached A2 horizons can occur about 1 mapart with no apparent cause.The top of the Bh may be weakly cemented or alternatively there may besmall patches of cemented material throughout the Bh horizon.These soils are morphologically very similar to Kurrimine series andoccupy very similar landscapes. They have been differentiated largelybecause they are predominantly fine sand while Kurrimine series is a coarsesand.Principal profile forms encountered include Uc2.2, Uc51.1/p, and Uc5.1.

A21

A22

B2h

B2h

B3s

B3

B3

CC

10-20

20-33

33-55

55-70

70-105

105-120

120-150

150-180180-210


ANALYTICAL DATA:Profile T327DAINTREE SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N %AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%FreeFe%

0-10Al5.1

.0112.11

.103

.001.19

.009.14

.1

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000 288982Sampled in virgin Eucalypt forest.10-20A214.7

.008.70.04

3



CEC<2)

Particle Size %

GrCSFSSiC

.28

.44

.05

.082.73.6

4.24

02763

55

<12966

52

20-40A224.8

.008.42.02

5

.05<.01

.04

.031.31.4

2.08

0266662

40-55B2h4.7

.0141.01.06

8.004.52

.007.22

.1

.0<.01

.05

.031.81.91.8

027584

12

55-70B2h4.7

.014.66.04

5

.03<.01

.05

.021.11.2.95

02760

57

70-105B3s4.9

.011.24.02

5

105-120B35.1

.008

0247043

150-1C

5.1.008

<12465

56

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2) Comp. Exch.


BROSNAN SERIESRed sands on beach ridges.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.Red earthCLASSIFICATION

LANDFORM PATTERN

REFERENCE SITE

HorizonApl

Ap2Bl

B2

B22

B31

B32

C?

Depth (cm)0-20

20-4040-55

55-90

90-120

120-150

150-180

180-210

P.P.F. S.T.Um5.52/p Entic Haplumbrept

Beach ridges

Mossman 1:100 000 291795Dark surface variant

Black (5YR2/1); loam, fine sandy; weak 5-10 mm cast; moist moderatelyweak;Black (5YR2/1); loam, fine sandy; massive; moist moderately weak;Dark reddish brown (5YR3/3); sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderatelyweak;Dark reddish brown (5YR3/4) with 20-50% > 30 mm distinct yellowish red(5YR5/8) mottles; sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderately weak; 2-10% ferromanganiferous nodules;Dark reddish brown (5 YR3/4) with 20-50% > 30 mm distinct yellowish red(5YR5/8) mottles; sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderately weak; 10-20% ferromanganiferous nodules;Yellowish red (5YR4/6) with 10-20% 15-30 mm distinct yellow (10YR7/6) mottles; sandy loam; massive moist moderately weak; 10-20%ferromanganiferous nodules;Yellow (2.5Y7/8) with 10-20% 15-30 mm prominent red (2.5YR4/8)mottles; sandy loam; massive; moist moderately weak;Light reddish brown (2.5YR6/4) with 10-20% 5-15 mm red (2.5YR4/8)mottles; coarse sand; massive; moist loose.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSNo virgin profiles have been examined and there are very few uncultivatedsites that have not been considerably disturbed. Most inspections have beenconducted on cultivated land where Al and A2 horizons, if they werepresent, have been completely destroyed. It is therefore impossible todescribe the range of horizon depths which may have occurred.All soils are predominantly medium to coarse sandy loams though bothuniform andgradational textured forms occur. No pattern of occurrence hasbeen established. A horizon textures range from loamy fine sand to sandyloam and in the B horizon from fine sandy loam to sandy clay loam. A darksurface variant with a black or dark reddish brown Ap horizon 30 to 35 cmthick is the dominant form in this area.Occasionally there is evidence of a weak podzol B horizon (iron and organicaccumulations) forming in the deep subsoil (2.5 - 3+ m).Principal profile forms encountered include Um5.52/p, Uc4.2/p, Gn2.1/p,andUm7.1/p.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T329BROSNAN SERIES

Depth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Free Fe%

Map Referencei MossmanSite has been cultivated and

0-20Ap5.1

.0383.18156

.0471.37.019

.7

20-40Ap5.0

.1042.59

34

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'(1)

'ECEC7100 g CCEC<2)

Particle Size %

GrCSFSSiC

.43<01.33.051.52.315

2.38

<128441017

40-55Bl4.6

.035.70

5

.07<.01

.07

.031.31.5

91.63

<123556

16

1:100 000 291795under sugar cane for a number of years.

55-90B214.6

.026.08

4

.5

.05<.01

.07

.021.01.2

81.24

127526

15

90-120B225.0

.017

3.0091.42.017

120-150B315.3

.020

<124554

16

180-210C?5.6

.014

2216668

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cationsC2) Comp. Exch


SPANOS SERIESYellow sands on beach ridges.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION Siliceous sand

P.P.F.Uc4.21/p

ST.Haplumbrept

LANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITE

Horizon

Ap

A2

B21

B22

B31

B32

B33

D

Depth (cm)0-28

28-40

40-60

60-90

90-120

120-150

150-180

180-210

Beach ridgesMossman 1:100 000 294827Dark surface variant

Black (10YR2/1); loamy sand; massive; moist moderately weak; diffusechange toDark greyish brown (10YR4/2); loamy sand (heavy); massive; moistmoderately weak; gradual change toOlive yellow (2.5Y6/6); sandy loam (light); massive; moist moderatelyweak;Brownish yellow (10YR6/5); sandy loam; massive; moist moderatelyweak; diffuse change toPale yellow (2.5Y7/4) with 2-10% 15-30 mm distinct yellowish brown(10YR5/8) mottles; sandy loam; massive; moist moderately weak;Light grey (10YR7/2) with 10-20% 15-30 mm prominent brownish yellow(10YR6/8) mottles; sandy loam; massive; moist modeately weak; diffusechange toLight grey (10YR7/2) with 2-10% 15-30 mm faint brownish yellow(10YR6/6) mottles; sandy loam; massive; moist moderately weak; clearchange toLight grey (10YR7/1) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct yellowish red (5YR4/6) mottles; sandy clay (light); massive; moist moderately weak.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSNo virgin sites have been examined and all descriptions are from cultivatedsoils. The Ap ranges from 25-40 cm thick and while it occasionally gradesto a paler horizon that has been called an A2 it often abruptly overlies thebright yellow B horizon. This could be due to truncation of the A horizonin paddock levelling, a common practice in area.As for the Brosnan series many of these soils in the Mossman area have avery dark surface and are recognized as a variant of Spanos series. Thetexture of the Ap ranges from loamy sand to light sandy clay loam while Bhorizon textures range from sand to light sandy clay loam.The upper part of the B horizon is always whole coloured. The lower partmay or may not be mottled with light grey and/or yellowish red coloursbecoming more prominent with depth. Soils with bright orange coloured Bhorizons are common in some areas. They are essentially an intergradebetween Brosnan and Spanos series and have not been separately identified.Principal profile forms encountered included Uc4.21/p, Uc5.11, Uc4.24/p,and Uc5.23/p.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T328 Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000 294827SPANOS SERIES Site has been cleared and under sugar cane for a number of years.Depth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-15Apl4.9

.0502.08

.1286

.0351.42.014.51.3

15-28Ap24.5

.0442.08

.1333

28-40A24.5

.032.79.0612

40-60B21

4.5.026.14.02

7.0091.52.013.54.1

60-90B224.5

.026

7

90-120B314.4

.023

150-180B324.6

.020


Depth cmHorizon

0-15Apl

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + A l'ECEC1(1)

'ECEC/100 g CCEC<2>

Particle Size %

GrCSFSSiC

.45

.06

.28

.071.92.819

2.39

242349

15(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations<2» Comp. Exch.

15-28Ap2

145289

18

28-40A2

245299

17

40-60B21

.05•c.01

.08

.031.01.2

91.07

45226

814

60-90B22

90-120B31

748336

12

150-180B32

156026

68

MAPPING UNITS: SOILS FORMED ON BEACH RIDGES

Hull Association Hu

Hull association occupies the youngest or frontal beach ridge system. It rangesfrom less than 100 m to about 1.5 km wide and forms an almost continuous zone alongthe coastline. It is broken by rocky headlands and by the estuaries of streams. In theshallow embayment west of Island Point (Port Douglas) mangroves have colonised theflats to the seaward side of the beach ridges.

The ridge-swale topography is clearly evident in some areas but a combination ofdrainage works and soil movement during sugar cane cultivation has virtually levelledmany areas. In addition some areas have been considerably reworked by recent streammigration e.g. the area to the south of the Mowbray River.

Toolakea series occurs on the low stabilized berms just above tidal range, on thefirst, usually the second and possibly the third ridge. It grades to Hull series whichexhibits increasing degree of profile development on subsequent ridges. If the fullsequence is present Wongaling series occurs on the inland extremity of the unit.

Brosnan Association Br

This unit generally occurs inland of the Hull association and is restricted to the areabetween Rocky Point and the Port Douglas road.

The area north of Saltwater Creek fronts the present beach line but it is suspectedthat the Hull series ridges have been removed by a northerly migration of S altwater Creek.At the southern limit of the unit the ridges are very low and have been largely destroyedby migration of Packers and Crees Creeks. At this point these ridges mark the coastlineas it existed before the spit development joined Island Point to the mainland.

Brosnan and Spanos series occur in about equal proportion with Brosnan seriesgenerally occupying the higher better drained areas and Spanos series the lower ridgesbut in some areas Spanos series may be dominant. Small areas of Kaygaroo series havebeen included in the unit in the Saltwater Creek area and it is possible that soils of Newellassociation are included in the area inland of Newell Beach. The surface soil and thetopography of these associations are very similar and separation is difficult.

The dark surface variants are the dominant soils in most occurrences of this unitin the Mossman area. The organic carbon levels of the dark surface variants are

16 CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No. 102

significantly higher than the lighter coloured counterparts but not as high as might beexpected in view of the very strong dark colours.

Daintree Association Dt

This unit is restricted to the sands immediately to the south of the Baileys CreekRoad turnoff. Most of the unit is flat and there is no ridge-swale pattern. The soils aredominantly Daintree series and are very uniform apart from the site variation describedin the series definition.

On the northern and eastern extremities of the unit some ridge- swale topographyis evident and the sands are coarser, indicating a beach ridge rather than aoelian duneorigin. In these areas there are some yellow sands similar to Spanos series and someundescribed strongly bleached sands.

This sand mass marks a period of stability when the mouth of the Daintree Riverwas near to the point of the present ferry crossing.

Miscellaneous Unit 5 M5

This unit is restricted to a series of discontinuous low ridges to the north of andrunning parallel with the Daintree River. They occur downstream of the present ferrycrossing point and probably represent the remnants of frontal beach ridges which formedwhen the mouth of the Daintree River was at or upstream of the present ferry crossing.Apart from at one point they are inaccessible by land being surrounded by densemangroves or permanent brackish swamps. The one site examined had a water table at5 cm so it was impossible to make a complete examination. It was apparent however thatthe soil was a well developed podzol with a bleached A2 horizon and a prominent darkbrown B2h horizon.

SOILS OF BASALTIC ORIGIN

No basalt has been mapped in this area but basic volcanics are interbedded in theHodgkinson Formation and outcrop in a number of areas. In the exposures examined thesoils that have developed are very similar to those formed on basalt in the Tully-Innisfailarea and hence have been included in this group.

Three soil series have been recognized, two have formed in situ while the thirdoccurs on alluvial fans. Their major distinguishing features are summarised in Table 3.

Table 3. Soils of basaltic origin


PIN GIN Strongly undulating - low Very deep, red, gradational texturedhilly soils, very strongly structured B horizons.

KIMBERLEY Alluvial fan Red, gradational or uniform texturedsoils,strongly structured Bhorizons.

PERA Low hills Red or red brown cracking clays.


PIN GIN SERIESRed gradational textured soils formed on basic volcanics.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATION Krasnozem Gn3.11LANDFORM PATTERN Low hillsREFERENCE SITE RUMULA 1:100 000 272705

S.T.Tropeptic Haplorthox

HorizonAl

Bl

B21

B22

B23

B-C

Depth (cm0-15

15-40

40-90

90-150

150-200

200-300+

Dark reddish brown (5YR3/4) clay loam; strong cast 2-5 mm size; friablemoist; many fine tree roots; gradual change toDark red (2.5YR3/6) clay loam increasing to light clay; weak finesubangular blocky; many fine pores; friable moist; many fine tree roots;diffuse change toDark red (2.5YR3/6) medium clay; weak to moderate fine polyhedral;friable moist; few tree roots; diffuse change toDark red (2.5YR3/8) medium clay; strong fine polyhedral; firm moist;diffuse change toReddish brown (2.5YR4/4) medium clay; strong fine polyhedral; firmmoist; diffuse change toPatchy reddish brown, dark red and reddish grey; medium clay; strong finepolyhedral; friable-firm moist; although there is no sign of weathered rockthe grey mottles have a speckled appearance and has the appearance of rockfabric.

RANGE OF CHARACTERISTICS

Only one small area has been mapped and apart from some minor variationin horizon thickness all profiles examined are similar to that describedabove.

ANALYTICAL DATAGGM 382-386PIN GIN SERIES

Depth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppm

0-15Al5.1

.0683.45.372

12

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 272706Sampled in

15-30Bl5.3

.0391.80.225

11

Exchange properties m.e./100 g soil

CaMgKNaH+Al'ECEC'(1)

'ECEC/100 g CCEC'2)

Particle Size %

CSFSSiC

1.791.24.15.09.50

3.775

3.35

49

1474

virgin rain forest.40-60B215.3

.021

19

.13

.19

.05

.05

.20

.62<1

2101771

60-90B25.4

.015

11

90-120B225.4

.012

15

.04

.11

.04

.04

.04

.27<1

288

81(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations (2) Comp. Exch.


PERA SERIESRed or red-brown cracking clay on basic volcanics.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)Al 0-24

Red ClayLow hillsRUMULA 1:100 000

Ug5.37

221576

S.T.Udic Chromustert

Dark brown (7.5YR3/2) light clay; strong medium blocky; hard when dry;moderate coarse gravels; diffuse change to

B2 24-54 Dark red (2.5YR3/6) heavy clay; strong fine blocky; hard when dry; fewfine FeMn nodules; diffuse change to

B3 54-74 Red (2.5YR4/6) medium clay; moderate medium blocky; firm when moist;diffuse change to

C 74-90+ Strong brown (7.5YR5/6) light clay; massive; firm when moist; much softweathered parent material.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSOnly one profile has been described and only one small area south west ofWeatherby has been delineated. Similar soils with reddish brown (5YR4/3) B horizons (Ug5.32) are common on lower slopes.

ANALYTICAL DATAGGM 362-366PERA SERIESDepth cm 0-10Horizon Al

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 221576Sample site is undisturbed Eucalypt open woodland.10-20 20-30 30-60 60-80Al B2 B2 B3

pH 5.5 5.7E.C. mS/cm .039 .030Org. C % 4.14 1.79N% .295 .139AvPppm 11 16Exchange properties m.e./100 g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'(1)

'ECEC/100 g CCEC<2)

Particle Size %CSFSSic

16.37.66

.12

.07

.3024.4

3830.4

5131865

14.57.55

.07

.09

.3022.5

3023.8

2101474

6.0.024

12.17.89

.05

.09

.2020.3

29

5.9.021

15.312.0.04.11.80

28.2134

26.9

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations

2101671

<2) Comp. Exch.

6.8.012

23262921

KIMBERLEY SERIESRed gradational or uniform textured soils formed on alluvial fans derived from basalt.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F. S.T.CLASSIFICATION Krasnozem Gn3.11 Typic EutropeptLANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial fanREFERENCE SITE Mossman 1:100 000 354012

CSIRO Division ol Soils Divisional Report No. 102 19

HorizonAl

Depth (cm)0-10 Dark reddish brown (5YR3/2); clay loam (heavy); strong 5-10 mm cast; 20-

50% 60-200 mm, gravel; dry very firm; many roots; diffuse change toBl l 10-20 Reddish brown (5YR4/3); light clay (heavy); moderate 10-20 mm

subangular blocky; 2-10% 6-20 mm, gravel; dry very firm; common roots;diffuse change to

B12 20-30 Reddish brown (5YR4/4); light clay; moderate 5-10 mm angular blocky;dry very firm; diffuse change to

B2 30-45 Dark red (2.5YR3/6); medium clay; moderate 5-10mm angular blocky; dryvery firm; diffuse change to

B2 45-60 Dark red (2.5YR3/6); medium clay; moderate 5-10 mm angular blocky; dryvery firm; 20-50% 60-200 mm, gravel; diffuse change to

B2 60-80 Darkred(2.5YR3/6);mediumclay;moderate5-10mmangularblocky;dryvery firm; 50-90% 60-200 mm, gravel.

Note: The gravels are basic volcanics from the Hodgkinson formation.RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS

The Al horizons range from 10-15 cm thick but otherwise these soils arevery uniform apart from the amount of coarse fraction. Gravel-free soils arerare but some may have no gravel in the surface or B1 horizons.A yellow variant is common on lower slopes.This has a brown Al horizon and reddish yellow or yellowish red mediumor heavy clay B horizons.On the basis of field morphology these soils look as if they have formedwholly from basalt. Analytical data clearly shows that this is not the case.Clay levels are considerably lower than in the basalt soils and the sandfraction is largely fragmentedmetamorphicrockmaterials. The gravels thatmay occur through the profile are dominantly of basic volcanic origin butgravels of metamorphic rock may also occur.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T308KIMBERLEY SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-10Al5.6

.0862.65

.4822

.0951.12.0554.53.8

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000Sampled from undisturbed rainforest

10-20B l l5.6

.059.92.16

8

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'm'ECEC7100 g CCEC(2)

CEC/100 s C(2)

Base Sat(3>CEC<4)

Particle Size %GrCSFSSiC

6.702.14

.35

.19

.309.728113185

9.0

3213173535

(1) Sum of basic andacidic cations(2) NH.OAcCEC

20-30B125.8

.023.42.08

9

6.04.6

1.08.64.15.07.202.1

638

652.7

1312183436

(3)

NH

30-45B215.9

.017

14.0471.32.017

Bases. OAc CEC

45-60B225.6

.068

14

.66

.57

.14

.05

.301.7

526

712.1

815212835

354012

60-80B235.8

.014

30

x 100 {A) Comp. Exch

20 " CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No.102

MAPPING UNITS: SOILS OF BASALTIC ORIGIN

Pin Gin Association Pg

Only one small area of Pin Gin association has been mapped and that occurs nearthe crest of the Cassowary Range on the Mossman-Mt Molloy road. The dominantsoils are Pin Gin series and are similar in most respects to those formed on the basaltsin the Innisfail area. Small areas may occur throughout the Bicton and GalmaraAssociations and in the metamorphic rock mountainous unit Ml.

Pera Association Pe

Again only one small area has been delineated and that occurs on the road to thesouth west of Weatherby homestead. Pera series have formed on basic volcanic rocks andrepresent the dry equivalents of the Pin Gin series. Small areas may occur throughout theWeatherby association.

Kimberley Association Kl

This unit is restricted to the coalescing fans on the lower slopes of the Thornton andAlexandra ranges. Kimberley series is the dominant soil. The soils on the upper slopesare very gravelly but the amount progressively decreases downslope. The chiefassociated soil is Mission series and this occurs where the sediments of the HodgkinsonFormation are the primary parent material of the fan deposits.

Small areas of Boobah series occur on lower slopes where this unit abuts the Coomassociation. Small areas of Innisfail and Tully series occur on minor stream alluvium thatmay be included in the unit.

SOILS OF METAMORPHIC ROCK ORIGIN

Amos and de Keyser (1964) describe the Hodgkinson Formation as a thicksequence of generally fine grained sediments and where they have been intruded by theMareeba granites they are weakly metamorphosed and are called the Barron RiverMetamorphics.

In the area covered by this survey it is difficult to recognise in the field any apparentdifference between outcrops of the Hodgkinson Formation and those of the Barron RiverMetamorphics in the Innisfail area. These units have thus been considered as one for thepurpose of this survey and have been loosely referred to as metamorphics in the text andin some of the soil descriptions.

Eleven soil series have been identified on the metamorphic uplands. Galmara,Bicton, Weatherby, Molloy and Euluma series are formed in situ although it is obviousthat there has been some downslope movement of surface materials on the steeper slopes.Galmara and Bicton are the dominant soils in the wetter areas while Weatherby andMolloy dominate the drier areas.

Mission, Buchan, Dagmar, Clifton and Miallo series are formed on the alluvial fansforming the short piedmont slopes on the coastal lowlands. The major distinguishingfeatures of each soil are summarised in Table 4.

Six soil associations have been mapped. Three occur on the alluvial fans of thepiedmont slopes and three on the low hilly to mountainous uplands.


Table 4. Soils of metamorphic rock origin.

SERIES

GALMARA

BICTON

WEATHERBY

MOLLOYEULUMA

MISSIONBUCHANBOOBAH

CLIFTONDAGMAR

MIALLO

LANDFORM

Low-high hilly

Low hilly-hilly

Undulating-low hilly

Low hilly

Undulating-low hillyAlluvial fansAlluvial fanFoot slopes and alluvial fans

Alluvial fanAlluvial fan

Alluvial fan

MAJOR DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Red, uniform or gradational textured soilsformed in situ.Yellow, gradational textured soils formed insitu.Acid duplex soils, mottled brown or yellowbrown B horizons.Acid duplex soils, red B horizons.Nodular, yellow, gradational textured soils.Red, massive, gradational textured soils.Yellow, massive, gradational textured soil.

Mottled, yellow or red gradational texturedsoils.Strongly bleached gradational textured soils.Uniform or gradational textured, bright red oryellow mottled B horizons.Soils formed on seepage areas, mottled greysubsoils.

HorizonA

Bl

B21

B22

Depth (cm)

0-20

20-60

60-95

95-120+

GALMARA SERIESRed, uniform or gradational textured soils formed on Hodgkinson Formation metasediments.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATION Red Podzolic Soil Gn3.14LANDFORM PATTERN Low hills - hillsREFERENCE SITE Rumula 1:100 000 212661

Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2) clay loam; moderate cast 5-10 mm;firm dry; diffuse change toStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) clay loam; massive; earthy fabric; hard dry;diffuse change toYellowish red (5YR5/6) light clay; massive to weak subangular blocky;hard dry; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR4/6) medium clay; weak to moderate subangular blocky 5-10mm; 2-10% quartz 6-20 mm; hard dry.

RANGE OF CHARACTERISTICSThe Al horizon ranges from 10-25 cm thick and from sandy clay loam tolight clay texture. Many Al horizons are redder than the described profilebut they usually occur on steeper slopes. This is probably a result of activeerosion.All soils have a transitional horizon between the Al and the B2 horizon. Insome soils this horizon just makes an A2 on Northcote's (1979) criteria butmore often they are only slightly paler and more redder than the Al and arenot as well structured as the B2 horizon. This horizon has been variouslylabelled A3 or Bl.The depth to the B2 horizon ranges from 30 to 60 cm and the thickness from30 to 80 cm. Texture ranges from light clay to medium clay and many soilshave a prominent fine sand or silt fraction. There may occasionally be someweak fine mottling in the lower B2 or B3 horizons. Some very stronglyweathered substrate gravels occur throughout the profile in almost all soils.Solum depth averages about 1.5 m and ranges from .8 to 2.0 m. The solumoverlies a deeply weathered saprolite which is commonly in excess of 5 mthick.Principal profile forms encountered include Gn3.11, Gn3.14, Gn3.71,Gn3.5/p,andUf6.4/p.


BICTON SERIESYellow gradational textured soils formed on Hodgkinson Formation metasediments.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION Xanthozem

P.P.F.Gn3.74

S.T.Aquic Dystropept

LANDFORM PATTERN Low hills - hillsREFERENCE SITE RUMULA 1:100 000 271697Horizon

Al

Bl

B21

B22

B23

B3

C

Depth (em)0-10

10-22

22-48

48-65

65-90

90-120

120-150

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/3) clay loam; strong 5-10 mm cast; friablemoist; 2-10%, 20-60 mm quartz gTavel; abundant fine roots; gradual changetoYellowish brown (10YR5/4) heavy clay loam; moderate 5-10 mmsubangular blocky; friable moist; 2-10%, 20-60 mm quartz gravel; commonfine roots; diffuse change toStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with faint fine few yellowish red (5YR4/5)mottles; light clay; strong 5-10 mm subangular blocky; firm moist; 2-10%20-60 mm quartz gravel; few fine roots; diffuse change toBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with distinct fine common yellowish brown(10YR5/8) mottles; medium clay; strong 5-10 mm subangular blocky; firmmoist; 2-10% 20-60 mm quartz gravel; diffuse change toYellow (10YR7/6) with distinct fine common white (10YR8/2) andyellowish red (5YR4/8) mottles; medium clay; strong 5-10 mm subangularblocky; firm moist; diffuse change toWhite (10YR8/2) with distinct fine common yellow (10YR7/6) mottles;light clay; strong 10-20 mm angular blocky; friable moist; diffuse change toBrownish yellow (10YR6/8) with distinct fine many white (10YR8/2) andyellowish red (5YR4.8) mottles; light clay; strong 10-20 mm angularblocky; hard moist; much strongly weathered parent material, beddingclearly evident.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS

A118B130

B2

150

Al horizons range from 8-18 cm in thickness and from fine sandy loam toclay loam in texture. The colour ranges from dark greyish brown (10YR4/2) to light olive brown (2.5YR5/4). The yellower colours are more commonon steeper sites, probably because of increased erosion.The subsurface horizon has been called Bl in the above description butmeets the requirements of an A2 in the Factual Key. In some profiles thesubsurface is much lighter in colour and is definitely an A2 horizon but isonly very rarely bleached. Thickness ranges from 12 to 30 cm and texturesrange from fine sandy or silty loam to light clay.B horizons are always mottled although the mottle is often faint and veryfine. Yellowish red and light grey are the common mottle colours. Textureranges from light to medium clay and solum depth ranges from 60 to about150 cm.Principal profile forms encountered include Gn3.71, Gn3.74, Gn3.81 andGn3.84.

ANALYTICALProfile T296BICTON SERIESDepth cmHorizonPHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

DATA

0-10Al4.5

.0683.73.3619

.024.83

.0563.102.5

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000Sampled in Acacia dominant closed forest.

10-22Bl4.6

.0321.47.1622

22-48B214.6

.029.79.1110

3.102.6

48-65B224.2

.029

17.0111.40.017

65-90B234.4

.032

6

271697

90-120B34.5

.026

7

120-150C4.2

.029

16


Depth cmHorizon

0-10Al

10-22Bl

Exchange properties m.e./100 g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'(1)

'ECEC7100 g CCEC(2>CEC/100 s C(2)

Base Sat(3r

CEC<4)

Particle Size %

GrCSFSSiCMineralogy ofthe clay fraction

.231.0.19.16

6.88.425113214

4.8

4518202834

Depth cm65-90

1918212734ChV%10-20

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations <3)

(2) NH.OAcCEC

22-48 48-65B21 B22

<.O2.03.06.085.45.616

3.5

1313213036

1% Ka%1-5 40-50

Bases x 100N H . O A c C E C

65-90 90-120 120-150B23 B3 C

<.O2.16.04.09

10.811.1

261023

37.4

<118

4843Go/Ha%30-40

m Comp. Exch.

BUCHAN SERIESYellow massive earths formed on alluvial fans.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILEG.S.G.Yellow earthCLASSIFICATION


P.P.F.Gn2.6/p

Alluvial fanMossman 1:100 000 259861

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); sandy loam; massive; moist friable; lightamounts of substrate gravel to 10 cm size; clear changeYellow (2.5Y7/6) with yellowish red (5YR5/8) faint fine few mottles; clayloam sandy; massive; light amounts weathered substrate gravel; diffusechangeYellow (2.5Y7/6) with red (2.5Y4/8) faint medium few mottles; clay loam;massive; friable moist; moderate amounts weathered substrate gravel;diffuse changeYellow (2.5Y7/6); light sandy clay loam; massive; friable moist; muchweathered substrate (metamorphic rock) gravel.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSSurface textures range from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. B horizons arecommonly whole coloured and grade to yellowish red B3-BC horizons from70-90 cm. These soils occur downslope of the Mission series and the twosoils grade from one to the other over a distance of 10-20 m. All profilesexamined have been cultivated so the original nature of the A horizons isunknown.Principal profile forms encountered include Gn2.6/p and Gn2.2/p.

HorizonAp

B21

B22

B-C

Depth (cm)0-35

35-50

50-80

80-100+


WEATHERBY SERIESAcid duplex soils formed on Hodgkinson Formation metasediments.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILEG.S.G.

CLASSIFICATION SolothLANDFORM PATTERN

P.P.F.Dy3.41


S.T.Udic Kanhaplustalf

REFERENCE SITEHorizon

Al

A2

B21

B22

BC

BC

Depth (cm)0-15

15-28

28-45

45-65

65-90

90-120

RUMULA 1:100 000 213621

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); clay loam (light); moderate 10-20 mmsubangularblocky;; 2-10% angular gravel; moist moderately weak; 2-10%manganiferous nodules; common 1-2 mm roots; gradual change toGreyish brown (10YR5/2), (10YR7/4d); clay loam (gravelly); moderate 10-20 mm subangular blocky; 50-90% angular gravel; moist moderately weak;few <1 mm roots; clear change toStrong brown (7.5YR5/8) with 10-20% <5 mm faint yellowish red (5YR4/8) mottles; light medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% angular gravel; 2-10% manganiferous nodules;diffuse change toStrong brown (7.5YR5/6) with 10-20% <5 mm distinct red (2.5YR4/8)mottles; heavy clay; moderate 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moist veryfirm; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR4/8) with 20-50% 5-15 mm distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR6/6)mottles; medium clay (gravelly); moist very firm; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR4/8) with 20-50% 5-15 mm distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR6/6)mottles; medium heavy clay; much weathered parent material; moist veryfirm.


60

80

Texture of the A horizon ranges from fine sandy loam to loam andoccasionally clay loam. Thickness ranges from 14 to 20 cm. The A2horizons may be strongly bleached and a sporadic bleach may often occurfrom the soil surface. Quartz gravels may occur throughout the A horizon,often with moderate to high concentrations in the A2 horizon.Depth to the main B horizon ranges from 30 to 50 cm. It is always mottled;bright yellow colours dominate with fine yellowish red and light greymottles. The structure of the upper part of the B horizon ranges from weakto very strong and while the primary structure is always subangularblockymany soils have a prismatic secondary structure which may only be evidentin dry exposures. Weathered parent material may be apparent from 50 cmand solum depth rarely exceeds 100 cm.Principal profile forms encountered include Dy3.41 and Dy3.21.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T297WEATHERBY SERIESDepth cmHorizonPHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N %AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-15Al4.8

.0471.58.1220

.014.75

.0163.12.6

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 213621Sampled from undisturbed Eucalypt woodland.15-28A25.1

.017.88.0718

28-45B215.2

.098.35.0411

4.03.4

45-65B225.6

.029

9.014.78

.009

65-90BC5.6

.029

4

90-120BC5.3

.038

3


Depth cm 0-15 15-28Horizon Al A2Exchange properties m.e./100 g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'(1)

'ECEC/100 g CCEC(2)

CEC/100 a Cp)

Base Sat(3r

CEC(4)


.21

.57

.07

.151.92.9154

2025

2.75

1410472420

6112442222

(I) Sum of basic and acidic cations<2) NH4OAcCEC

28-45B21

.061.19.04.311.22.8103

1153

2.38

2411402228

(3)

45-65B22

.022.2.07.221.03.5

849

624.17

137

292044

65-90BC

90-120BC

Bases x 100 m Comp. Exch.NH4OAcCEC

DAGMAR SERIESRed and yellow mottled soils on alluvial fans.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION Red-Yellow Podzolic SoilLANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial fan

P.P.F.Uf6.3/p

REFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)Ap

B21

B22

B3

0-25

25-50

50-85

85-110+

Mossman 1:100 000 253010

Dark brown (7.5YR4/4); light clay; weak subangularblocky; friable moist;light quartz gravel; gradual changeYellowish red (5YR5/8); light medium clay; moderate fine subangularblocky; firm moist; light quartz and substrate gravel; diffuse changeReddish yellow (5YR6/8) with dark red (2.5YR3/6) faint fine commonmottles; medium clay; moderate fine angular blocky; firm moist; lightquartz and substrate gravel; diffuse changeBrownish yellow (10YR6/8) with yellowish red (5YR5/8) faint fine fewmotdes; medium clay; strong fine angular blocky; moderate quartz andsubstrate gravel.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSAll sites that have been examined have been ploughed, hence the nature ofthe texture profile is uncertain. Uniform profiles have been described butthis may be due to loss of the A horizon by erosion and/or mixing of the Aand B horizons during cultivation. The dominant B horizon colour rangesfrom yellowish red, to reddish yellow or brownish yellow.Quartz and metamorphic rock gravels can occur throughout the profile. Insome soils they are strongly layered with high concentrations in the top ofthe B horizon.Principal profile forms encountered include Uf6.3/p, Uf6.4/p, and Gn3.7/p.


MOLLOY SERIESRed duplex soil formed on Hodgkinson Formation metasediments.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

CLASSIFICATION SolothP.P.F.Dr3.21

S.T.Aquic Oxic Paleustalf

LANDFORM PATTERN Low hilly

REFERENCE SITEHorizonAl

A2

Bl

B21

B22

B31

B32

Depth (cm)0-10

10-20

20-30

30-45

45-60

60-100

100-125

RUMULA 1:000 000 278646

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); clay loam (light); weak 5-10 mmsubangular blocky; moist moderately weak; 2-10% 6-20 mm, angulargravel; <2% ferromanganiferous nodules; gradual change toYellowish brown (10YR5/4), (10YR6/3d); clay loam (heavy); massive;moist moderately weak; 10-20% 20-60 mm, angular gravel; clear change toStrong brown (7.5YR5/6); light medium clay; weak 5-10 mm subangularblocky; moist very firm; 2-10% 20-60 mm, angular gravel; gradual changetoRed (2.5YR4/8) with 10-20% < 5 mm distinct light grey (5YR7/1) mottles;medium clay (heavy); strong 5-10 mm subangular blocky; moist very firm;diffuse change toRed (2.5YR5/8) with 10-20% < 5 mm distinct light grey (5YR7/1) mottles;heavy clay; strong 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moist very firm; diffusechange toRed (2.5YR5/6) with 10-20% < 5 mm distinct light grey (5YR7/1) mottles;heavy clay; strong 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moist very firm; diffusechange toReddish yellow (7.5YR6/6) with 20-50% 5-15 mm distinct white (5YR8/1)mottles; medium heavy clay; moderate 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistvery firm.


37

60

A horizon textures range from fine sandy loam to clay loam. A2 horizonsare always prominent but only occasionally are sporadically bleached.Solum depth ranges from 60 to 110 cm.Principal profile forms encountered include Dr3.21 and Dr3.31.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T299MOLLOY SERIESDepth cmHorizonPHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-10Al5.1

.0292.23

.197

.011.64

.0233.72.8

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100000 278646Sampled from undisturbed Eucalypt woodland10-20

A25.1

.0291.33.10

6

20-30Bl5.2

.014

7

30-45B215.2

.014.42.05

7

6.04.1

45-60B224.9

.020

5.0051.48.006

60-100B314.9

.020

3

100-125B324.6

.020

4

CS1R0 Division ol Soils Divisional Report No. 102 27

Depth cmHorizon

0-10Al

10-20A2

Exchange properties m.e./100 g soil


'ECEC'/lOOgCCEC(2)

CEC/100 K C<2)

Base Sat™CECt4)

Particle Size %

GrCSFSSiC

.06

.48

.09

.104.85.51919664

3.6

610332829

3913302532

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2) NH4OAcCEC

20-30Bl

.02

.85

.06

.095.06.0169

2411

5.0

4211252638

(3)

NH

30-45B21

<.O2.95.05.10

11.412.5

251224

910.1

14

152050

Bases x.OAcCEC

45-60 60-100 100-125B22 B31 B32

.04

.92

.05

.1715.416.6

331529

815.7

<119

3951

100 (4) Comp.Exch.

EULUMA SERIESNodular yellow earths formed on Hodgkinson Formation metasediments.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILEG.S.G. P.P.F.

CLASSIFICATION Yellow earth Gn2.34

LANDFORM PATTERN

REFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)Al 0-8

A2 8-20

20-80


RUMULA 1:100 000 287617

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); sandy loam; massive; hard dry; light Qzgravel and FeMn nodules to 2 cm size; clear change toBrown (1OYR5/3) (10YR7/2d); light sandy clay loam; massive; hard dry;moderate to high quartz gravel and FeMn nodules to 3 cm size; diffusechange toYellowish brown (10YR5/4); sandy clay loam; massive; high amountsFeMn nodules.


The A2 horizon may or may not be bleached. The Al is often gravel andnodule free but there are always high concentrations in the B horizon and inall profiles examined they have been impenetrable by hand auger beyond 80cm depth so the nature of underlying material is unknown although it issuspected that the nodular horizon may be underlain by mottled clays. Thelatter may be a D horizon or it is possibly a B horizon and the materialsdescribed above are A1-A2-A3/B1 horizons of a duplex texture profile.

28 CSIRO Division ot Soils Divisional Report No. 102

MISSION SERIESRed massive earths formed on alluvial fans.


CLASSIFICATION Red Earth Gn2.1/p

LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial fan

S.T.Typic Haplorthox

REFERENCE SITEHoizonAp

Ap

B21

B22

B23

B31

B32

Depth (cm)0-10

10-30

30-60

60-90

90-120

120-150

150-210

Rumula 1:100000 301743

Reddish brown (5YR4/4); clay loam (heavy); massive; moist moderatelyweak;Reddish brown (5YR4/4); light clay (heavy); massive; moist moderatelyweak; clear change toYellowish red (5YR5/6); light medium clay (heavy); massive; moistmoderately weak; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR5.6); medium clay; massive; moist moderately weak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, subangular gravel; clear change toRed (2.5YR4/6); medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, subangular gravel; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR5/8); medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, subangular gravel; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR4/6) with 2-10% 5-15 mm distinct brownish yellow (10YR6/6)mottles; medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, subangular gravel;


Surface texture may be as light as loamy fine sand but is more commonlyfine sandy loam with a very gradual increase to fine sandy clay in the mainB horizon.Soil structural development is evident at depth (2+ m) in most soils althoughthey generally still retain the very porous character.Strongly weathered substrate gravels (metamorphic rock) may occur at anydepth below 30 cm. In exposed sections it is obvious that the gravels haveno orientation and are often strongly stratified.Principal profile forms encountered incude Gn2.1/p, Gn2.11, and Gn2.14.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T321MISSION SERIES

Depth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmFree Fe%

0-10Ap5.1

.053.65.0857

2.1

Map Reference RUMULA 1:Sampled in cultivated paddock.

10-30Ap5.1

.050

54



'ECEC/100 g CCEC<2>CEC/100 2 C(2)

Base Sat™CEC™

.89

.20

.27

.041.02.4

93

11402.5

30-60B214.6

.050.15.05

62.0

.14<.01

.10

.031.82.1

827

151.8

60-90B224.6

.032

7

100 000 301743

90-120 120-150B23 B314.8 5.1

.026 .023

5

.67<.01

.10

.021.11.9

639

272.1

150-180B325.0

.023


Depth cmHorizonParticle Size %GrCSFSSi

c

0-10Ap

<13

422628

10-30Ap

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2> NH OAcCEC

30-60 60-90B21 B22

03

452427

<3> Bases xNH OAc CEC

90-120B23

64

432034

100 (4)

120-150B31

Comp. Exch.

150-180B32

33

402235

MIALLO SERIESSoils formed on seepage areas on the alluvial fans.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION ?Gleyed Podzolic Soil


P.P.F.Gn3.9/p


Ap

B21

B22

B23

0-30

30-50

50-80

80-95+

Mossman 1:100 000 257865

Greyish brown (10YR5/2); silty clay loam; moderate fine subangularblocky; friable moist; clear changeLight yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4); silty light clay; moderate fine subangularblocky; friable moist; few soft FeMn concretions; diffuse changeLight grey (2.5Y7/2). with brownish yellow (10YR6/6) and red (2.5YR4/8)distinct fine mottles; silty clay; moderate fine blocky; friable moist; diffusechangeWhite (10YR8/1) with red (2.5YR4/8) distinct medium mottles; mediumclay; moderate fine blocky; firm moist; red mottles are slightly hardened;free water from 90 cm.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThese soils are wet for long periods and few have been described in detail.The Ap usually has prominent root-line gleying throughout and may oftenhave a sporadic bleach. The surface of these soils has a high degree ofdilatancy i.e. they go into a liquid form when a small amount of force isapplied and hence have a very low bearing strength when wet.


BOOB AH SERIESMottled, yellow or red gradational or duplex textured soils on alluvial fans.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATION Yellow Podzolic Soil Dy3.31LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial fan

S.T.Typic Albaquult


Mossman 1:100 000 250813

Al

A2

B21

B22

B23

B3

0-10

10-20

20-34

34-47

47-70

70-90

Dark grey (10YR4/1); clay loam; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, gravel; common 2-5 mm roots; clearchange toGrey (10YR5/1) with 20-50% <5 mm distinct light brownish grey (10YR6/2) mottles; clay loam; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky, moistmoderatelyweak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, gravel; common 2-5 mm roots; abrupt change toYellow (2.5Y7/6) with 2-10% <5 mm distinct light brownish grey (10YR6/2) mottles; medium clay (light); weak 20-50 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% manganiferous concretions; few 1-2 mm roots;diffuse change toLight grey (10YR7/2) with 10-20% <5 mm distinct brownish yellow(10YR6/8) mottles; medium clay; moderate 10-20 mm subangular blocky;moist moderately weak; 10-20% 20-60 mm, gravel; 2-10% manganiferousconcretions;Light grey (10YR7/2) with 20-50% <5 mm distinct brownish yellow(10YR6/8) primary and red (2.5YR4/8) secondary mottles; medium clay;moderate 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, gravel; 2-10% manganiferous concretions; diffuse change toLight grey (10YR7/1) with 20-50% 5-15 mm distinct dark red (2.5YR3/6)mottles; medium clay; moderate 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; 2-10% 20-60 mm, gravel.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThe Al horizon ranges from 15-20 cm thick and from sandy loam to clayloam texture. A2 horizons are well developed and are sporadically orconspicuously bleached in most soils. Total A horizon thickness rangesfrom 25 to 70 cm.The B horizons are almost always strongly mottled but the dominant colourranges from brownish yellow (most common) or yellow to olive yellow andoccasionally reddish yellow. Texture ranges from fine sandy clay to lightor medium clay. The main B horizon always has a weak to moderate gradeof structure but transitional horizons (A3 or B1) are usually massive. Lowto moderate amounts of quartz and/or metamorphic rock gravels arecommon throughout the profile and in the upper part at least are oftenimpregnated with iron. In sections lhat have been observed the gravels canvary in type and concentration over very short distances and are oftenlayered.Principal profile forms encountered include Dy3.31, Dy3.4/p and Uf6.4/p.The Uf form is probably a result of cultivation and erosion.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T303BOOBAH SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %

0-10Al4.5

.0471.68

.1117

.009.75

.016

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000Sampled from undisturbed Eucalypt forest.

10-20A24.7

.020.89.0819

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH +Al•ECEC'(1>'ECEC'/lOOgCCEC(2)

CEC/100 E C(2)

Base Sat(3T

CEC(4)


.06

.29

.08

.112.32.8185

3110

2.8

49

373816

810373420

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations2) NH.OAcCEC

20-34B214.9

.011.30

16

<.O2.06.05.052.32.5103

127

2.0

89

323524

(3)

NH.

34^7B224.7

.056

40

Bases xOAc CEC

47-70B235.2

.008

10.008.72

.013

<.O2.24.05.082.12.5

739

132.7

106

263334

: 100 «

250813

70-90B35.1

.001

25

Comp. Exch


CLIFTON SERIESStrongly bleached gradational textured soils on alluvial fans.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATION ?Yellow Podzolic Soil Gn2.94LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial fanREFERENCE SITE Rumula 1:100 000 360721

S.T.Aerie Kandiaquult

HorizonAl

A2

Bl

B21

B22

D

Depth (cm)0-05

5-10

10-30

30-60

60-90

90-120

D 120-210

Very dark grey (10YR3/1), 10YR7/2d); loam, fine sandy; weak 5-10 mmsubangular blocky; moist moderately weak; clear change toLight brownish grey (10YR6/2), (10YR8/2d); sandy clay loam (heavy);massive; moist moderately weak; gradual change toLight brownish grey (2.5Y6/3), (5Y7/3d) with 10-20% 5-15 mm faint oliveyellow (2.5Y6/8) mottles; clay loam, fine sandy; massive; moist moderatelyweak; gradual change toPale olive (5Y6/4) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct olive yellow (2.5Y6/8)mottles; light clay; massive; dry moderately weak; gradual change toOlive yellow (2.5Y6/6) with 20-50% 5-15 mm prominent light grey (5Y7/2) mottles; light medium clay; massive; dry very firm; clear change toGrey (5Y6/1) with 20-50% 5-15 mm distinct yellowish brown (10YR5/6)mottles; heavy clay; strong 20-50 mm angular blocky; dry very strong; 2-10% ferromanganiferous concretions; diffuse change toGrey (10YR6/1) with 20-50% 5-15 mm distinct yellowish brown (10YR5/6) motdes; heavy clay; strong 20-50 mm angular blocky; dry very strong;2-10% ferromanganiferous concretions;

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThe texture of the A horizon ranges from fine sandy loam to silty clay loam.In cultivated soils the AP may be heavier textured due to mixing of some Bhorizon material. The A2 horizons are usually very strongly bleached butthere are occasional soils with an A2 horizon that is not bleached.The main B horizon textures range from silty clay to light, medium or heavyclay although the latter are uncommon. The heavier textures are usuallyaccompanied by weak or moderate subangular blocky structure.The soil described above occurs on the lower end of the fan. The D horizonclays are common in this situation and they appear to be buried marine clays.On the upper slopes these soils grade to Buchan yellow earths and overliestratified gravels or deep subsoil materials common to the Buchan andMission series.Principal profile forms encountered include Gn2.94, Gn2.6/p, Gn2.8/p,Gn3.0/p, Gn3.74 and Gn3.84.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T312CLIFTON SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%

0-5Al5.4

.0442.09

.1515

.006.91

.0201.5

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 360721Sample from undisturbed Melaleuca open forst.

5-10A25.6

.026

10

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH+Al'ECEC'0 )

'ECEC7100 g CCEC<2)

CEC/100 e C(2)

Base Sat(3r

CEC<4)

1.741.31.13.21.604.0316

46573.9

10-30Bl5.7

.023.027.04

3

.37

.96

.03

.21

.161.7

92

11772.2

30-60B215.9

.020

5.0031.50.009

.222.18

.04

.18<.O22.16

113

1371

2.7

60-90B225.6

.074

3

.56.5.05.45.057.6

7.1

90-120D

5.5.389

3

1.55.5.032.1.079.226

719

7.1

120-150D5.8

.654

3

1.074.49

.031.55.027.2

6.3

150-180D6.3

.800

1.163.3.06.07.043.6126

2059

7.2


Depth cm 0-5 5-10 10-30 30-60 60-90 90-120 120-150 150-180Horizon Al A2 Bl B21 B22 D D DParticle Size %Gr 0 1 3 2 1CS 4 5 7 2 5FS 54 49 42 22 28Si 29 28 28 39 38C 13 18 23 36 30(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations <3) Bases x 100 (4) Comp. Exch.(2) N H 4 O A c C E C NH^OAcCEC

MAPPING UNITS: SOILS OF METAMORPHIC ROCK ORIGIN

Mountainous Unit M1

Topography ranges from high hilly to mountainous and the greater part of the unitis covered by dense rainforest and is very inaccessible. Apart from some of the low hillyoutliers the boundary between the mountainous lands and the piedmont slopes has beendelineated steroscopically at about the upper limit of cultivation. In most areas this ismarked by a sharp change in slope. The lower slope ranges from 5 to 10% while the upperslope is generally greater than 20%.

The red soils of Galmara series are dominant and while they have been describedas having formed in situ at least the upper part of all profiles on the steeper slopes showevidence (stone lines) of layering. It is obvious that down-slope movement is animportant part of profile formation in this landscape.

The yellow soils of Bicton series are the most common associate. Pin Gin and/orKimberley series will occur on any areas of basic volcanics that have been included andin areas such as the Alexandra Range they may be dominant. Undescribed shallowgravelly loams are common on very steep slopes and on ridge crests.

Bicton association Bi

This unit occupies the better watered low hilly to hilly lands of the Julatten uplands.The boundary between the Bicton and Weatherby soils is very diffuse but probablycoincides with the rain forest - Eucalypt forest boundary. As much of the country hasbeen cleared this change is often difficult to accurately determine.

The yellow gradational textured soils of Bicton series occupy about 90% of theunit. Red gradational textured soils of Galmara series make up the balance of the unit.

Minor surface colour and textural differences and variation in solum depth can beattributed to changes in parent material which can occur over very short distances. Thesediments of the Hodgkinson Formation are often thinly bedded, and strongly folded. Asa result where the rocks are steeply dipping there can be abrupt and frequent changes insoil parent material lithology.

Weatherby association We

Weatherby association also occurs on low hilly to hilly Julatten uplands butoccupies the drier country to the south and west of the Bicton association. The soil patternis also complicated by the often near vertical dip of the metasediments.

Acid yellow duplex soils of Weatherby series are dominant and occupy about 80%of the unit. Red duplex soils of Molloy series occur in close association. Their


distribution is probably controlled by parent material rather than by other factors such asdrainage or age of the surface. The nodular yellow earths of Euluma series occur indiscrete areas and may have formed on a more siliceous facies of the parent sedimentsbut are also possibly remnants of an older land surface.

Throughout the unit there is little difference in solum depth between soils low orhigh in the landscape although very shallow gravelly soils occupy the narrow crests ofthe higher ridges.

Mission association Ms

This unit occupies the upper (5-10%) slope of the alluvial fans. The dominant soil,Mission series, is present to a greater or lesser degree on almost all slopes but in someareas the occurrence is too narrow to be delineated at the map scale.

The main associated soils are Galmara and Bicton series. These are the structuredsoils formed on the metamorphic rocks. The boundary between hard rock and fandeposits is often very difficult to define but as the soils have many attributes in commonand have similar land use limitations, the distinction is not particularly important.

Yellow massive earths of Buchan series occur downslope of the red Mission seriesand small areas of Boobah or Clifton series, which occur on the lower slopes, may beincluded.

Clifton association Cl

This unit is extremely variable. It occurs on the alluvial fans surrounding theuplands of the Hodgkinson Formation sediments. In the southern part of the Mossmanmill area it is restricted to the lower slopes of the fans. Here Clifton series occupies about80% of the unit. Small areas of Mission and/or Buchan series may be included on theupper slopes. The lower slopes are very gentle (less than 1 %) and in places overlie marinesediments. Small areas of the duplex soils of Holloway series may be included where thisunit abuts the coastal landforms.

In the northern part of the area the fan slopes are generally very short, in places les sthan 150 m long. Mission series is dominant on the steeper upper slopes. This gradesthrough a narrow zone of Buchan series to Dagmar series which occupies the upper halfor two thirds of the midslope. This then grades to Clifton or Boobah series and a rangeof similar gleyed soils. If the adjacent riverine alluvium is poorly drained, i.e. with Coomor Timara series, the footslope soils will also be poorly drained and it is often difficultto distinguish between the two. Where the adjacent soils are freely draining e.g. on thebeach ridges, Buchan or Dagmar series may extend to the footslopes.

Small areas of Miallo series occur in seepage areas. These are usually in mid orlower slope sites and may be wet for most of the year.

In many areas there has been severe erosion of the fan and foothill slopes sincecultivation. On the upper slopes the B horizons are exposed in many places and thefootslopes and adjacent alluvium may be overlain by up to 50 cm of recent deposits.

In the area north of the Daintree River some soils very similar to Tully series areincluded. These appear to be on fan materials but are possibly remnants of a high terrace.

Galmara Association Ga

The only areas mapped in this unit occupy small areas of lower relief HodgkinsonFormation meta sediments to the north of the Alexandra Range. Galmara series is theonly soil that has been identified as occurring in these areas but small areas of Bicton andKimberley series may occur.


SOILS OF GRANITIC ORIGIN

An area of Mareeba granite occurs on the central western boundary of the surveyarea and another around Thornton Peak to the north of the Daintree River. Both areas arevirtually inaccessible rain forest-clad mountains and have no potential for arableagriculture and only limited potential for forestry. Two soil series have been definitelyidentified and a third is also likely to occur. The major distinguishing features of eachsoil are summarised in Table 5.

Table 5. Soils of granitic origin.


UTCHEE High hilly -mountainousTYSON Upper slopes of alluvial fansTHORPE Mid slopes of alluvial fans

Red, structured, gradational textured soils.Red, massive, gradational textured soils.Yellow, massive, gradational or uniform texturedsoils.

UTCHEE SERIESRed gradational textured soils formed on granite.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION ?Rcd Podzolic Soil

P.P.F.Gn3.14

LANDFORMREFERENCE SITE

Horizon

Al

Bl

B2

B3

Depth (cm)0-15

15-80

90-180

180-250+

High hilly - mountainousRumula 1:100 000 196662These soils have been examined but not described in detail. The followingdescription is taken from the Tully-Innisfail report (Murtha 1986).

Dark reddish brown (5YR3/4); fine sandy clay loam; weak cast 5 mm size;friable moist; gradual change toRed (2.5YR5/8); fine sandy clay loam increasing to light sandy clay;massive; very porous; firm moist; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR4/6); sandy clay; moderate medium blocky; firm moist; someweathered granite from 160 cm; diffuse change toRed (2.5YR5/8) with brown (7.5YR5/6) faint medium few mottles; sandyclay decreasing to sandy clay loam; weak coarse blocky; low increasing tohigh amounts of weathered granite.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSAlthough Utchee series has been defined as having formed in situ there isno doubt that there is some downslope movement of at least the upper partof the profile.Texture of the A1 horizon ranges from sandy loam to fine sandy clay loam.A2 horizons where present are generally weakly developed.The texture of the main B horizon ranges from sandy clay loam to sandyclay. Structure is often difficult to determine due to the coarse quartz grainspresent. All soils are very porous and many appear to be massive althoughwhen the soil is moist clay skins are clearly evident surrounding the quartzgrains.Solum depth ranges from 1 to about 5 m and there may be up to 5 m ofsaprolite.


TYSON SERIESRed gradational textured soils formed on alluvial fans from granite.


CLASSIFICATION Red Earth Gn2.14

LANDFORM Alluvial fanThese soils have not been examined in the Mossman area but it is highlylikely that they would be present. The following description is taken fromthe Tully-Innisfail report (Murtha, 1986).

Dark reddish brown (5YR3/2); sandy loam; weak coarse crumb grading toweak fine blocky; friable moist; high amounts of fine grass roots, gradualchange toDark reddish brown (5YR3/4); sandy loam; massive; moist friable; lowamounts of grass roots; gradual change toDarkred (2.5YR3/6); light sandy clay loam; massive; moist friable; somepatches of dark reddish brown A2 material; gradual change toDark red (2.5YR3/6); sandy clay loam; massive; moist friable; veryporous; diffuse change toDark red (2.5YR3/8); sandy clay loam; massive; moist friable; veryporous; this continues with no change to 450 cm.


By air photo interpretation it is apparent that there are many small alluvialfans around the steeper granite country. These were inaccessible at the timeof the survey so no ground observations were made.

HorizonAl

A2

Bl

B2

Depth (cm)0-20

20-30

30-45

45-120

120-210+

30

THORPE SERIESYellow massive gradational or uniform textured soils formed on alluvial fans from granite.


CLASSIFICATION Yellow EarthP.P.F.Gn2.24


REFERENCE SITE

HorizonAl

Bl

B2

B3

Depth (cm)

0-20

20-30

30-45

45-120+

Mossman 1:100000 208865This soil has been examined but not described in detail in the Mossman area.The following description is taken from die Tully-Innisfail report (Murtha,1986).

Very dark grey (10YR3/1); sandy loam; moderate cast 5-10mm size; friablemoist; much fine granitic grit and some granite gravel to 2 cm size; some Bhorizon material in worm casts in lower part; gradual change toYellowish brown (10YR5/5); coarse light sandy clay loam; massive; moistfriable; much fine granite grit; very porous; some A horizon material inworm casts; diffuse change toBrownish yellow (10YR6/6); coarse sandy clay loam; massive; friablemoist; very porous; much fine granite grit; diffuse change toVery pale brown (10YR8/3) with pale brown (10YR7/4) faint medium finemottles; coarse sand; single grain; friable moist; free water at 120 cm.


These soils were examined in only one area and insufficient profiles weredescribed to establish a range of properties.


MAPPING UNITS: SOILS OF GRANITIC ORIGIN

Mountainous Unit M2

This unit includes all of the granitic mountains. It is very rugged with little accessand the soils have been examined at only two sites. The red gradational textured soils ofUtchee series are dominant but similar undescribed yellow soils may be locallyprominent. The latter have been described as the Severin series on the Atherton Tableland(Laffan, 1988). The red massive earths of Tyson series probably occur on the lowercolluvial slopes or on small alluvial fans included in the unit.

Thorpe Association

Only one small area has been mapped in the upper reaches of Whyanbeel Creek.There are a number of areas of similar soils upstream of this occurrence but they are toosmall to delineate at map scale and have been included with Liverpool association. In thisarea the soils are formed on local alluvium rather than on fan slopes. Granite bouldersare common on the surface and throughout the profile.

Miscellaneous Unit M4

This unit occupies what appears to be a very large landslip in the upper catchmentof Cooper Creek. The surface of the unit is concave in shape with slopes of 3-5% nearthe base of the slip rising to about 20% at its upper extremities. It is strongly dissectedwith numerous steep sided gullies entrenched to a depth of 10-15 m. Large granite torsare common over the mid and upper slopes of the unit.

At the time of field mapping, access to this unit was very restricted so only a smallsection was examined. Soils similar to Galmara and Mission series with a predominanceof metamoprhic rock gravels in the solum occur on the lower slopes while massive redearths of Tyson series and occasional structured red soils of Utchee series occur on themid and upper slopes. The latter are largely of granitic origin but some metamorphicgravels occur throughout the profile.


WELL DRAINED SOILS FORMED ON ALLUVIUM

The distinction between the well drained and poorly drained alluvium is ofnecessity very arbitary. In many areas the soils form a continuum and some series maybe included in either grouping. For convenience they have been included in the groupingcontaining the soils with which they are most commonly associated.

Fifteen soil series have been included in this group. Two series, Gariock andRumula, have formed on alluvium from the Hodgkinson Formation. All other soils areof mixed granitic and metamorphic rock origin with varying contribution from each. Inaddition some areas of the Hodgkinson Formation contains large bodies of basicvolcanics and these contribute some local enrichment to the alluvium.

Japoon, Liverpool, and Lerra series occur on lower terraces or recent stream levees.Tully, Innisf ail, and Mossman series are the major soils of the larger flood plains. Virgiland Ponzo series occupy small high terrace remnants while Somerset, Silkwood,Goolboo, and Dayman series are generally restricted to prior channel infills and to leveesassociated with prior stream systems. The field relationship of these soils is shown onFig. 3 and the major distinguishing features are summarised in Table 6.

Table 6. Well drained soils formed on alluvium.

SERIES

TULLY

INNISFAJL

MOSSMAN

JAPOONLIVERPOOL

LERRA

SILKWOOD

VIRGIL

PONZO

SOMERSET

GOOLBOORUMULA

GARIOCHJULATTEN

DAYMAN

LANDFORM

Stream levees floodplain and terraces

Stream levees andflood plain

Alluvial plain

Low channel benchLow flood plains and levees

Alluvial plain (low terrace)

Low rises, channel infill orprior stream levees.Alluvial plain (terrace)

Alluvial plain (high terrace)

Alluvial plain (high terrace)

Channel infillAlluvial plain

Alluvial plainAlluvial plain (levee)

Alluvial plain (channel infill)

MAJOR DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Bright yellow, uniform or gradationaltextured profile, silty clay loam to silly clayrangeBrown or reddish brown colours, uniform orgradational textured profile, silty clay loam tomedium clay rangeSimilar to Tully series with a deep dark Al -Ap horizon.Gravelly sands on recent alluvium.Yellowish brown, uniform textured fine sandy

Strongly stratified soils; sand, sandy clayloam or silty clay loam textures.Gradational textured soils with black Ahorizon and red, massive B horizon.Uniform or gradational textured soils withwhole coloured or mottled red B horizons;usually massive.Uniform fine textured soils with shallowhighly sodic D horizons.Gradational or uniform textured soils, brownor olive brown B horizons.Coarse uniform sands.Gradational or duplex textured soils; yellowand brown structured B horizons.Alkaline duplex soils.Gradational textured soils with structuredbrown or yellow brown B horizons.Soils with black loamy surface and massivebrown sandy clay loam Bhorizons.


JAPOON SERIESGravelly sands on recent alluvium.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION Alluvial Soil

LANDFORM PATTERN Low terrace

P.P.F.Uc5.ll/p


B-C

0-25

25-50

Rumula 1:100,000 258747

Brown (10YR5/3); sandy loam; massive, moist friable; occasional roundedcobbles to 200 mm size; gradual change toYellowish brown (10YR5/4); coarse sand; single grain; loose moist and dry;many rounded cobbles to 200 mm size; impenetrable gravel at 50 cm.


A1

30

These are very juvenile soils with little profile development beyondaccumulation of organic matter in the A1 horizon. The texture of the A1 canrange from loamy sand to loam and all soils are strongly stratified. Coarserounded gravels to 30 cm size may occur on the surface and throughout theprofile.

SILKWOOD SERIESRed gradational textured soils on channel infill.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.Red earthCLASSIFICATION

LANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)Ap 0-30

Bl 30-40

B2 40-80

B3 80-120


P.P.F.Gn2.1/p

Alluvial plain (prior stream levees)

Mossman 1:100 000 262813

Black (10YR2/1); sandy clay loam (light); massive; moist friable; clearchange toBrown (7.5YR4/4); sandy clay loam; massive; moist friable; diffuse changetoYellowish red (5YR5/6); sandy clay (light) massive; moist friable; diffusechange toRed (2.5YR4/8); sandy clay loam (light);massive; moist friable.

These soils are characterised by a very thick dark Al horizon over brown oryellowish red transitional A3 - Bl horizons and bright red B2 horizons.The Al is black or very dark greyish brown, sandy loam, loam or sandy clayloam texture and thickness ranges from 25-55 cm.The A3 or B1 horizons are dark brown, brown, or yellowish red and textureranges from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Some of these may be calledan A2 horizon by the Factual Key definition.B2 horizons are whole coloured, red or yellowish red and sandy clay loamto light sandy clay texture. They are always massive and very porous. Depthto the B2 ranges from 40 to 80 cm with a thickness of 40 to 60 cm. They gradeto mottled gritty clay loam or sandy loam stratified alluvial sediments.Principal profile forms encountered include Gn2.1/p, Dr2.5/p, Gn2.2/p.


TULLY SERIESUniform or gradational texture profile, bright yellowish whole coloured upper B horizon.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F. S.T.No provision. Uf6.34/p Oxic DystropeptAlluvial plainMossman 1:100 000 268998

CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)

Apl 0-10

Ap2

B21

B22

Dl

D2

10-20

Brown (10YR5/3); light clay; weak 5-10mm subangular blocky; moist veryfirm; 2-10% 6-20 mm, gravel; 2-10% ferruginous nodules; diffuse changetoBrown (10YR5/3); light clay; moderate 5-10 mm subangular blocky; moistvery firm; 2-10% ferruginous nodules; clear change to

20-60 Yellowish brown (10YR5/5); light clay; weak 10-20mm sub-angularblocky; moist moderately weak; diffuse change to

60-120 Brown (7.5YR5/4); medium clay; moderate 5-10 mm subangular blocky;moist very firm; gradual change to

120-180 Brown (1QYR5/3); heavy clay; strong 10-20 mm angular blocky; moistveryfirm; gradual change to

180-200 Yellowish brown (10YR5/6) with 10-20% <5 mm faintpale brown (10YR6/3) mottles; heavy clay; weak 10-20 mm angular blocky; moist very firm.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSTully series is characterised by pale coloured Al horizons and brightyellowish coloured friable silly clay loam to light medium clay B horizons.In ploughed fields the soil surface has a distinct yellowish colour and isusually about 10YR7/3 or 10YR7/4 when dry.The profile described above is from a well drained site hence the absence ofmottling in the upper part of the B horizon. Red, brown and light greymottling is common in the lower B2 horizon and becomes progressivelyshallower with poorer drainage. Profiles with fine brown or yellowish redmottling in the upper part of the B horizon are included in Tully serieswhereas the soils with grey mottles in the upper B are grouped with Coomseries. Surface textures range from clay loam or silty clay loam to light clay.B horizon textures range from silty clay loam to medium clay and the textureprofile may be uniform or gradational.At depth the Tully series usually grades to uncqnsolidated stratified sandysediments but in places has been found to overlie strongly gleyed mediumor heavy clays and occasionally even peats or other highly carbonaceousmaterials.Two variants have been recognized. In the Bamboo Creek area most soilshave moderate amounts of fine red mottles in the upper B horizon and themottles harden on drying. They also have 5-10% FeMn nodules in the upperB horizon. This soil is a nodular variant.In the Craiglie area the small area mapped as Tully series has a very palesurface although this may not be apparent in the cultivated soil (palesurfaced variant).Principal profile fans encountered include Uf6.34/p, Um6.34/p, Uf6.4/p,Gn3.71,andUm6.4/p.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T325TULLY SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N %AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Free Fe%

0-10Apl4.9

.0681.43

.1327

.0371.80.022

1.4

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000Sampled from cultivated sugarcane field.

10-20Ap24.7

.041

10

20-30B214.8

.032.47.06

5

1.6

30-60B215.0

.020

4

268998

60-90B225.2

.020

5.0292.0

.0121.9

90-120B225.0

.026

120-150Dl4.8

.017

CSiRO Division of Soils Divisional Report No. 102 41

Depth cmHorizon

0-10 10-20Apl Ap2


'ECEC'/lOOgCCEC(2)

CEC/100 e C(2)

Base Sat(Jr

CECH)

Particle Size %GrCSFSSiCMineralogy ofthe clay fraction

.24

.29

.46

.072.23.3145

2222

2.8

04

482623

Depth cm ChV%60-90 5-10

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2) NH^OAcCEC

20-30B21

.04

.12

.05

.062.12.4104

178

2.5

01

522323

1%20-30

(3)

30-60B21

01

532620

Ka% G%40-50 1-5

Bases xNH4 OAc CEC

60-90 90-120 120-150B22 B22 Dl

.14

.13

.07

.082.63.0124

1610

2.6

01

393525

Go/Ha%5-10

100 <4) Comp.Exch.

LERRA SERIESSandy soils on low terraces.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

CLASSIFICATION Alluvial SoilP.P.F.

No provision

LANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)

0-1515-30

30-4545-60

60-100+

Alluvial plain (low terrace)

Rumula 1:100 000 221627

Brown (10YR5/3); loamy sand; massive; friable moist; clear change toGreyish brown (10YR5/2); fine sandy clay loam; weakfineblocky; friablemoist; gradual change toBrown (10YR5/3); loamy sand; massive; friable moist; gradual change toBrown (10YR5/3); silty clay loam; weakfineblocky; friable moist; diffusechange toYellowish brown (10YR5/4); silty clay loam; moderate fine blocky;friamoisl.


No horizonation

StronglyStratified

These soils occur on the low terrace of streamsoriginating in granite uplandsand are subject to frequent flooding.Textures range from coarse sand to silty clay loam and all soils generallyshow marked stratification although textures may be coarse sandthroughout.


INNISFAIL SERIESUniform or gradational texture profile; brown or reddish brown B horizon.


CLASSIFICATION No provision Uf6.34/pLANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial plain

S.T.Oxic Dystropept

REFERENCE SITE Mossman 1:100 000 248878HorizonAp

Ap

B21

B22

B3

Depth (cm)0-10

10-30

30-60

60-90

90-160

Dl

D2

D3

160-190

190-200

200-210

Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); light medium clay; weak 10-20 mmsubangular blocky; moist moderately weak;Brown (10YR5/3); medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak;Strong brown (7.5YR5/6); medium heavy clay; strong 10-20 mmsubangular blocky; moist moderately weak; diffuse change toBrownish yellow (10YR6/6); medium heavy clay; moderate 10-20 mmsubangular blocky; moist moderately weak; diffuse change toLight yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with 10-20% 5-125 mm distinct strongbrown (7.5YR5/6) mottles; medium heavy clay (gravelly); moderate 10-20mm subangular blocky; moist very firm; diffuse change toLight yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct strongbrown (7.5YR5/6) mottles; fine sandy loam; weak 5-10 mm subangularblocky; moist moderately weak; clear change toLight brownish grey (2.5Y6/2); coarse sand; weak 10-20 mm subangularblocky; moist loose; sharp change toLight brownish grey (2.5Y6/3); coarse sand; single grain; moist loose.

Note: Sand lenses 1-2 cm thick are common between 160-190 cm.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSInnisfail series soils are similar in mostproperties to Tully series but they aremuch browner in colour. The dry ploughed surface colour is also brown andslighdy darker; about (10YR6/3) or (10YR6/4).Surface texture ranges from sandy or silty clay loam to light medium claymost commonly light clay. B horizon textures range from light clay tomedium heavy clay. Occasional profiles may be gradational textured.Bright yellowish red and/or light grey motding often occurs at depth and theyellowish red mottle may occasionally occur in the upper part of the Bhorizon.Innisfail series occur on well drained alluvium of mixed origin. It grades toLiverpool series on younger alluvium and to Coom series as drainagebecomes poorer.Principal profile forms encountered include UF6.34/p, Uf6.4/p and Gn3.91.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T310INNISFAIL SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Free Fe%

0-10Ap5.0.041.78.0967

.0652.40.023

1.3

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000 248878Sampled from cultivated sugarcane field.

r -30«p4.8.068.84.09150

30-60B215.0.029.25.0419

60-90B225.0.020.18

11.0232.32.027

1.8

90-120B35.1.020

9

120-160B35.0.023

10

160-190Dl4.9.020


Depth cmHorizon

0-10 10-30Ap Ap


'ECEC/100 g CCEO2'CEC/lOOe C(2'Base Sat0 'CEC(4)


.98

.80

.34

.051.53.7106

16373.5

04

263238

(1' Sum of basic and acidic cationsC2) NH, OAc CEC

30-60B21

1.33.15.08.05

1.992.6

64

1040

2.6

01

223542

(3)

60-90B22

90-120B3

.70<.01

.06

.052.33.1

94

11203.0

06

302836

120-160B3

160-190Dl

Bases

1632302118

xlOO (4)

NH, OAc CECComp. Exch.

GOOLBOO SERIESCoarse sands of channel infill.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITE

HorizonAp

B

Depth (cm)0-35

35-75

75-120+

G.S.G. P.P.F.Siliceous sand Uc5.ll/pAlluvial plain (channel infill)Mossman 1:100 000 273814This soil has been examined but not described in the Mossman area. Thefollowing description is taken from the Tully-Innisfail report (Murtha,1986).

Yellowish brown (10YR5/6); gritty loamy sand; single grain; loose moist;diffuse change toYellowish brown (10YR5/4); coarse sand; single grain; loose moist; muchfine quartz gravel; diffuse change toBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with pale brown (10YR6/3) faint finecommon mottles; coarse sand; single grain; loose moist.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSNo virgin sites have been examined. These soils occur on low rises from 5-20 m across and in cultivated sites they have been modified by deliberatelevelling or by gradual levelling during cultivation. In many areas the Aphorizon is part of the original B horizon.


MOSSMAN SERIESUniform or gradational textured soils with dark A horizons and bright yellowish whole coloured upper Bhorizons.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

P.P.F. S.T.Uf6.34/p Oxic DystropeptCLASSIFICATION

LANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)Ap 0-30

G.S.G.No provisionAlluvial plainMossman 1:100 000 257787

B21

B21

B22

Dl

D2

30-60

60-90

90-150

150-180

180-210

Dark greyish brown (2.5Y4/2); medium heavy clay; moderate 5-10 mmsubangular blocky; clear change toOlive yellow (2.5Y6/6); medium heavy clay; moderate 5-10 mm subangularblocky; 2-10% 2-6 mm ferromangamferous nodules;Light olive brown (2.5Y5/6); medium heavy clay; moderate 5-10 mmsubangular blocky; 2-10% 2-6 mm ferromanganiferous nodules; diffusechange toBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with 2-10% <5 mm distinct red (2.5YR4/8)mottles; medium heavy clay; moderate 5-10 mm subangular blocky; 2-10%gravel; 2-10% 2-6 mm ferromanganiferous nodules; gradual change toOlive yellow (2.5Y6/6) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct yellowish red(5YR5/8) mottles; sandy medium clay; 10-20% gravel; weak 5-10 mmsubangular blocky; 10-20% 2-6 mm ferromanganiferous nodules; diffusechange toOlive yellow (2.5Y6/6) with 20-50% 5-15 mm distinct yellowish red(5YR5/8) mottles; sandy medium clay; weak 5-10 mm subangular blocky;20-50% gravel; 10-20% 2-6 mm ferromanganiferous nodules.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSSurface textures range from clay loam to medium clay but are commonlyclay loam or silty clay loam. Some profiles are gradational textured. Finered mottles may occur from the top of the B horizon.These soils are morphologically similar to Tully and Innisfail series. Thechief difference is the deep dark Al or Ap horizon.Principal profile forms encountered include Uf6.34/p, Gn3.7/p, and Uf6.4/P-

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T324MOSSMAN SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Free Fe%

0-10Ap5.8

.0351.05.0968

.0501.52.0172.0

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000 257787Sampled from cultivated sugarcane field.10-30

Ap5.8

.026

72


'ECEC/100 g CCEC<2)

CEC/100e C<2)

Base Sat0''C E C ( 4 )

3.09.20.34.07.3

4.3156

22674.8

30-60B215.5

.041.44.0512

.0192.86.0112.2

1.39.03.11.061.12.7

8

2.4

60-90B215.6

.032

4

90-120 120-150 150-180 180-210B22 Dl Dl D25.4 5.2 5.4 5.3

.029 .026 .014 .011

1.44.09.09.05

.62.3

74

12422.4


Depth cmHorizonParticle Size %GrCSFSSiCMineralogy ofthe clay fraction

0-10 10-30Ap Ap

011283427

Depth cm30-60

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations<2) NH4 OAc CEC

30-60B21

07

263433

ChV%5-10

(3)

60-90B21

010273132

1%20-30

90-120 120-150B22 Dl

114282632

Ka% G%50-65 1-5

Bases x 100 <4>NH, OAc CEC

150-180 180-210Dl D2

320321930

Go/Ha%5-10

Comp. Exch.

GARIOCH SERIESAlkaline duplex soils on alluvium.


CLASSIFICATION ?Solodic SoilP.P.F.Dy3.43

LANDFORM PATTERN


Al

A2

B2

B2

Depth (cm)0- 9

9-18

18-60

60-120+

Alluvial plain

RUMULA 1:100 000 232560

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); fine sandy loam; massive; hard dry;gradual change toLight brownish grey (10YR6/2) (10YR8/2 dry); fine sandy clay loam;massive; hard dry; clear change toBrown (7.5YR5/6) with light brownish grey (10YR6.2) distinct fine manymottles; medium clay; moderate medium subangular blocky; hard moist;diffuse change toBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with light grey (10YR6/1) distinct finecommon mottles; heavy clay; moderate medium subangular blocky; hardmoist.


Surface textures range from fine sandy loam to clay loam. In some soils9 i _ _ _ _ ^ - «• there may be a sporadic bleach almost from the surface.

The grey mottle colour may be dominant in the B2 horizon.Some soils havea concentration of fine FeMn nodules in the lower A2 horizon and upper B2horizon.Few profiles were examined and this description and range may not be trulyrepresentative. The southern boundary of this survey is close to the pointwhere the soils formed on the uplands and on the alluvium change from acidto alkaline reaction trends. A much larger population needs to be examinedbefore a representative modal profile and range could be selected andestablished.

46 CSIRO Division ol Soils Divisional Report No.102

LIVERPOOL SERIESUniform fine sandy loams or loams on low alluvial flood plains and levees.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.No ProvisionCLASSIFICATION


P.P.F.Urn

HorizonAll

AI2

B2

B3

C

Depth (cm)0-20

20-30

30-60

60-180

180-210

S.T.Oxic Dystropept

Alluvial plain (levee)Mossman 1:100000 270011

Dark brown (10YR3/3); sandy clay loam fine sandy (light); strong 5-10 mmcast; moist moderately weak; clear change toDark yellowish brown (10YR3/4); sandy clay loam fine sandy (light); weak5-10 mm cast; moist moderately weak; diffuse change toLight olive brown (2.5Y5/4); sandy clay loam (light); massive; moist loose;diffuse change toYellowish brown (10YR5/6); fine sandy loam; massive; moist loose;diffuse change toLight yellowish brown (10YR6/4) with 10-20% 5-15mmdistinctlight olivegrey (5Y6/2) mottles; sandy clay loam (light); massive; moist loose.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThe characteristic features of these soils are their very friable nature andbrown colour.Surface and subsoil textures range from sandy loam to silty clay loam andstratified sandy sediments can occur as shallow as 50 cm depth. A series oflow benches are common on the lower floodplains on which these soilsoccur. The lighter textured soils generally occur on the lower of these andthe soils become progressively finer on the higher benches.Although this series embraces a wide range of principal profile forms it isremarkably uniform in its general character. The differences inclassification can be attributed largely to very subtle textural differences.Many profiles have a reverse texture trend, i.e. finer in the Al or Ap horizonand becoming progressively coarser with depth, e.g. grading from finesandy loam to sandy loam to loamy sand to sand. There is no provision forsuch soils in the Factual Key. Other soils that are loam or fine sandy clayloam throughout have weak or moderate, fine blocky structure in the Ahorizon and massive, weakly coherent B horizons. These soils likewisehave no provision in the Factual Key.Principal profile forms encountered include Um with no furthersubdivision, similar Uc soils, Uc5.11, Gn2.4/p, andGn4.5.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T322LIVERPOOL SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N %AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-10A l l4.2

.0952.19

.225

.0291.74.035

1.91.2

Map Reference MOSSMANSampled in rainforest.

10-20A l l4.2

.095

5

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECECl(1)

'ECEC/100 g CCEC(2)

CEC/100 e C w

Base Satc3T

C E C ( 4 )


.18

.37

.10

.232.73.624

74713

3.6

07

582015

07

572016

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations<2) NH. OAc CEC

20-30A124.0

.0801.36.13

3

08

542117

(3)

30-60B24.4

.035.36.05

5.0201.82.0142.01.2

.32<.01

.05

.052.12.5163

1913

2.1

013521916

Bases

1:100 00C

60-90B34.2

.047

7

xlOONH OAcCEC

1 270011

90-120 120-150B3 B34.4 4.6

.041 .026

5

01366128

(4) Comp. Exch.

150-180C4.5

.041

03

721510


VIRGIL SERIESUniform or gradational textured, red, or mottled red soils on high terraces.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATION Red Earth Um

S.T.Oxic Dystropept

LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial plain (terrace)REFERENCE SITE Mossman 1:100000 262026Horizon

Al

Bll

B12

B13

B2

B3

Depth (cm)0-14

14-30

30-40

40-60

60-120

120-210

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); sandy clay loam (light); moderate 5-10 mmcast; moist moderately weak; many 1-2 mm roots; clear change toYellowish brown (10YR5/5); sandy clay loam (light); massive; moistmoderately weak; common 1-2 mm roots; diffuse change toYellowish brown (10YR5/6); sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderatelyweak; few 1-2 mm roots;Strong brown (7.5YR5/6); sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderatelyweak; few 1-2 mm roots; diffuse change toYellowish red (5YR5/8); sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderatelyweak; few 1-2 mm roots; diffuse change toReddish yellow (5YR6/8) with light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) 10-20% 5-15 mm faint mottles; sandy clay loam (light); massive; 2-10% 6-20 mm,gravel; moist moderately weak;

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSSoils on the high terraces of S tewarts Creek and on the upper reaches of theDaintree River are generally heavier textured (light clay to light mediumclay) throughout and have faint mottling in the B2 horizon. The heaviertextures are accompanied by weak to moderate grade of fine subangularblocky structure.These soils are similar to Tully series but are redder in colour, lightertextured, and usually have a more earthy fabric.Principal profile forms encountered include Um (with no further provision),Gn2.2/p, andUf4.43.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T307VIRGIL SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Free Fe%

0-14Al4.8

.0231.37.1114

.009.68

.014.6

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000 262026Sampled from pasture (cleared rainforest;

14-30Bll4.9

.014.73.06

9

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC>(1>'ECEC'/lOOgCCEC'2'CEC/100 g C<2>Base Sat(3)

CEC'4'Particle Size %GrCSFSSiC

.11

.07

.07

.051.51.8143

2310

2.0

034381513

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cationsc2) NH. OAcCEC

3040 40-60B124.9

.014.28

9

<.O2<.01

.06

.031.11.2

817

101.4

030391615

B134.8

.011.15.02

7

(3> BasesNH. OAc

60-90B24.9

.011

9.005.65

.006.8

<.O2<.01

.05

.02

.80.9818

10.9

037371412

)90-120 120-150

B2 B34.8 4.8

.011 .011

834401313

180-210B35.0

.011

2050249

18x 100 m Comp. Exch.

CEC


JULATTEN SERIESWell drained soils on levees of minor streams.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATION No suitable group Gn3.21

ST.Ustic Dystropept

LANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)A l l

A12

A3

B l l

B12

B21

B22

0-10

10-22

22-45

45-60

60-90

90-120

120-180

Alluvial Plain (levee)RUMULA 1:100 000 236632

Very dark grey (10YR3/1); clay loam (heavy); moderate 5-10 mm cast;moist moderately weak; many 1-2 mm roots; diffuse change toVery dark grey (10YR3/1); clay loam (heavy); weak 5-10 mm cast; moistmoderately weak; common 1-2 mm roots; diffuse change toBrown (10YR4/3); clay loam; massive; moist moderately weak; diffusechange toDark yellowish brown (10YR4/4); clay loam; weak 10-20 mm subangularblocky; moist very firm; diffuse change toBrown (7.5YR4/4); light clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moistvery firm; diffuse change toBrown (7.5YR4/4); light medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky;moist very firm; diffuse change toStrong brown (7.5YR5/6); medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangularblocky; moist very firm.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThese are well drained soils occurring on the levees of minor streams. Theonly variation that has been observed to the profile described above is in Bhorizon colour which ranges from brown to yellowish red and minorvariation in thickness of the Al horizon.Principal profile forms encountered are Gn3.21 and Gn3.71.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T300JULATTEN SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%FreeFe%

0-10A l l5.2

.0712.54

.2121

.055.99

.0292.92.3

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 236632Sample site has been cleared but not cultivated.10-22A125.0

.035;

10

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH +Al'ECEC'(1)

'ECEC'/lOO g CCECra

CEC/100 e C(2)

Base Sat(3T

CECm

Depth cmHorizonParticle Size %GrCSFSSiC

2.603.04

.19

.151.37.3251241507.5

0-10All

01

284229

10-22A12

01

323928

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2) NH.OAcCEC

22^5A35.0

.0141.01 .49

.087

.32

.55

.04

.053.114.1158

3012

5.022-45

A3

00

363627

(3)

45-60B l l5.2

.011

.057

3.72.5

45-60B l l

Bases

60-90B125.2

.008

5

.10

.35

.04

.054.04.5206

228

3.860-90

B12

01

413523

90-120B215.4

.008

11.240.97

.006

90-120B21

02

393128

x 100 <4)

NH.OAcCEC

120-150B225.6

.011

7

.04

.75

.04

.103.94.8174

14224.3

120-150B22

02

363428

Comp. Exch.

150-180B225.5

.008

9

150-180B22


PONZO SERIESHigh terrace soils with sodic D horizons.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION ?Soloth

P.P.F.Uf6.41/p

S.T.?Aquultic Oxic Haplustalf

LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial plain (high terrace)

REFERENCE SITE Rumula 1:100 000 263742HorizonApl

Depth (cm)0-10 Brown (10YR5/3); light medium clay; moderate 2-5 mm cast; clear change

toAp2 10-30 Lightyellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with 10-20% <5 mmdistinctred (2.5YR4/

6) mottles; medium heavy clay; moderate 2-5 mm subangular blocky;diffuse change to

B21 30-60 Light yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with 20-50% 5-15 mm prominent red(2.5Y4/6) mottles; heavy clay; strong 2-5 mm angular blocky; gradualchange to

B22 60-90 Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2) with 10-20% 5-15mmdistinctred(2.5YR4/6) mottles; heavy clay; strong 5-10 mm angular blocky; gradual change to

D 90-120 Light brownish grey (2.5Y6/2) with 10-20% 15-30 mm distinct dark greyishbrown (10YR4/2) primary and red (2.5YR4/6) secondary mottles; heavyclay; strong 5-10 mm angular blocky; 10-20% ferromanganiferousconcretions; gradual change to

D 120-150 Light olive brown (2.5Y5/6) with 20-50% 15-30 mm prominent grey (5Y6/1) mottles; heavy clay; strong 5-10 mm angular blocky; 2-10%manganiferous concretions; gradual change to

D 150-180 Olive yellow (2.5Y6/6) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct olive grey (5Y5/2)mottles; heavy clay; weak 5-10 mm angular blocky; diffuse change to

D 180-210 Olive yellow (2.5Y6/6) with 10-20% <5 mm distinct grey (10YR5/1)mottles; medium heavy clay; massive; 10-20% ferromanganiferousconcretions.

* No virgin soils have been examined but it is strongly suspected that these were duplex soils beforecultivation hence they have been classified as having an argillic horizon although morphological andlaboratory data might suggest otherwise.


40

The only significant variation from the profile described above is the depthto the D horizon. The shallowest recorded is 40 cm and deepest 120 cm. Ingully sections D horizons overlie stratified sediments which arepredominantly clayey but may contain high amounts of coarse granitic grits.These materials may be exposed on the terrace scarps. The surface texturein some ploughed fields may be as heavy as medium clay but that is probablythe result of incorporation of B horizon material in the Ap horizon.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T323PONZO SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. Fe%

0-10Apl5.1

.0891.41.12652.9

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 263742Sampled in cultivated sugarcane field.

10-30Ap24.9

.065

6


'ECEC'/lOOgCCEC<2)

CEC/100s C p )

Base Sat™CECW

Particle Size %GrCSFSSiCMineralogy of ]the clay fraction

4.51.77.88.09.406.7198

23796.9

02

214135

Depth cm30-60

<11

154043

ChV%5-10

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2) NH, OAc CEC

30-60B214.8

.056.25.0511

1.33.20.09.215.16.9148

1722

4.8

01

124048

1%20-30

(3)

60-90B225.0

.056

10

Ka9i

90-120 120-150D D5.6 5.9

.071 .056

.433.30

.10

.843.58.2229

24529.1

01

184437

o Go/Ha%i 40-50 10-20

150-18CD

6.2.044

.074.74

.061.68.306.9206

17

7.3

09

243335

Bases x 100 (4) Comn. ExchNH, OAc CEC


SOMERSET SERIESSoils formed on alluvium of mixed origin.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION No provision

LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial plain

P.P.F.Gn3.04

S.T.Udic Ustochrept

REFERENCE SITE RUMULA 1:100 000 208620Horizon

Al

A3

Bl

B2

B3

CC

Depth (cm)0-10

10-20

20-30

30-90

90-120

120-150150-180

Dark grey (10YR4/1); clay loam (heavy); moderate 5-10 mm subangularblocky; moist moderately weak; 2-10% manganiferous nodules; gradualchange toDark greyish brown (10YR4/2), (10YR7/2d); clay loam (heavy); moderate5-10 mm subangular blocky; moist moderately weak; 2-10%manganiferous nodules; clear change toBrown (10YR5/3); sandy light clay; moderate 10-20 mm subangularblocky; moist moderately weak; 2-10% 2-6 mm angular quartz gravel;diffuse change toLight olive brown (2.5Y5/4); light medium clay; weak 10-20 mmsubangular blocky; moist very frim; 2-10% 2-6 mm angular quartz gravel;diffuse change toGreyish brown (2.5Y5/3); light medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangularblocky; moist very firm; 2-10% 2-6 mm angular quartz gravel; diffusechange toBrown (1OYR5/3); sandy clay; massive; moist moderately weak;Pale brown (10YR6/3); coarse sandy loam; massive; moist moderatelyweak.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThese soils have formed on alluvium of mixed granitic and metamorphicrock origin and the texture profile can vary considerably over short distancesacross the valley deposits. There is probably a need for more than one seriesbut insufficient sites have been examined to warrant further subdivision.Surface textures range from sandy loam to clay loam and in the main Bhorizon from sandy or silty clay loam to light medium clay. In many soilsthe B horizons are massive and earthy but weak to moderate structuraldevelopment may be evident in the heavier textures.All soils are characterised by the presence of coarse granitic grits and manyoverlie stratified granitic sands at shallow depth.Principal Profile forms encountered include Gn3.04, Uf6.3/p, Um6.3/p,Gn3.7/p, Gn3.71, Gn2.2/p, and Gn2.24.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T302SOMERSET SERIES

Depth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-10Al5.5

.0711.68

.1141

.0643.43.035

2.00.7

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 208620Sampled from pasture which may have been cultivated and ferti

10-20A35.7

.029

21


'ECEC'/lOOgCCEC(2)

CEC/100 e Ca)

Base Sat(3T

CEC(4)


3.541.241.01

.04

.406.2198

2572

7.0

519301932

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations<2) NH. OAc CEC

20-30Bl5.7

.020.73.2414

2.20.8

1.54.92.39.03.503.4106

1848

4.3

418301834

(3)

30-60B25.7

.014

14.0323.26.014

1.76.91.21.03.903.8115

1454

4.0

418252036Bases

60-90B25.6

.014

19

xlOONH. OAc CEC

90-120B35.3

.014

21

625232032

(4) Comp. Exch


RUMULA SERIESMottled yellow gradational or duplex texture soils on alluvium derived from metamorphic rocks.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATION ?Soloth

P.P.F.Dy3.41

S.T.Udic Aquic Ustochrept

LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial plainREFERENCE SITE RUMULA 1:100 000 242629HorizonAll

A2

B21

B22

B3

Depth (cm)0-20

20-35

35-60

60-90

90-120

Very dark grey (10YR3/1); clay loam; strong cast; wet moderately weak;many 1-2 mm roots; diffuse change toGreyish brown (10YR5/2), (10YR7/2d); clay loam (heavy); weak cast; wetmoderately weak; gradual change toYellowish brown (10YR5/6) with 10-20% <5 mm distinct light grey(10YR7/1) mottles; medium heavy clay; strong 20-50 mm prismatic; wetmoderately firm; diffuse change toYellowish brown (10YR5/8) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct light grey(10YR7/1) primary and red (2.5YR4/6) secondary mottles; medium clay;weak 5-10 mm subangular blocky; wet moderately firm; diffuse change toBrownish yellow (10YR6/6) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct light grey(10YR7/1) primary and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) secondary mottles; finesandy clay; 2-10% 20-60 mm, angular gravel; wet moderately sticky.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICSThe Al horizon ranges from 10-15 cm thick, from loam to clay loam textureand may have weak medium blocky or cast structure. The colour rangesfrom very dark grey (10YR3/1) to brown (10YR5/3). The A2 horizon isextremely variable, it is commonly conspicuously bleached and there mayoften be a sporadic bleach to the surface. Textures are commonly clay loamor silty clay loam. Total A horizon thickness ranges from 25 to 35 cm. Thetransitional B1 horizon is usually whole coloured, clay loam to light clay intexture and may be massive or have weak fine blocky structure. The B2horizon is always mottled, usually brownish yellow dominant with fine lightgrey and occasionally yellowish red mottling. Structure ranges frommoderate to strong fine blocky and texture is light medium to medium heavyclay.There is often a concentration of quartz gravel in the A2 or B1 horizon andoccasionally fine FeMn nodules occur throughout the profile.Principal profile forms encountered include Dy3.41, Gn3.84 (mostcommon), Gn3.71, Dy3.31, Gn3.74, Gn3.91, and Gn3.04.


ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T298RUMULA SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-10A l l4.8

.0775.20

.4513

.0111.58.0552.61.2

Map Reference RUMULA 1:100 000 242629Sampled from undisturbed Melaleuca open forest.

10-20All4.9

.053

11


'ECEC7100 g CCEC(2)

CEC/100 s C(Z)

Base Sat(3T

CEC(4>Particle Size %GrCSFSSiC

.491.22.22.22

5.207.415194012

4.4

037

4446

048

4444

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations<2) NH. OAcCEC

20-35A25.2

.0231.50.14

7

.02

.68

.07

.222.72

3.7107

1914

2.8

04

164238

(3)

35-60B215.8

.017.20.04

6

1.91.0

08

264026

Bases

60-90B225.9

.020

5.005.55

.004

<.O21.24.04.16.802.3142

12752.2

116382818

xlOONH. OAc CEC

90-120B36.8

.020

9

023402214

m Comp. Exch


DAYMAN SERIESSoils with black loamy surface, brown B horizons and gradational texture profile.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F. S.T.Yellow Earth Gn2.24 ?Tropohumult*Alluvial plain (? channel infill)Mossman 1:100 000 279830

CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizonAl

Depth (cm)0-20 Black (10YR2/1); loam; moderate 5-10 mm cast; moist very weak; many <1

mm roots; diffuse change toA31 20-30 Very dark grey (10YR3/1); loam; massive; moist very weak; common <1

mm roots;A32 30-45 Dark grey (10YR4/1); clay loam (light); massive; moist very weak;

common <1 mm roots; diffuse change toBl 45-60 Brown(10YR5/3);clayloam(light);rnassive;moistveryweak;few<lrnm

roots; diffuse change toB21 60-85 Yellowish brown (10YR5/4); sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderately

weak; diffuse change toB22 85-120 Lightbrownish grey (2.5Y6/2) with 2-10% 5-15 mm distinctreddish yellow

(5YR6/8) mottles; sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderately weak;diffuse change to

B3 120-210 Light grey (10YR7/1) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct red (2.5YR4/6)mottles; sandy clay loam; massive; moist moderately weak.

* Insufficient data available for confident classification.RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS

No range can be given as only 1 profile was fully described.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T3O5DAYMAN SERIESDepth cmHorizonPHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

0-10Al5.0

.0294.99

.3027

.024.59

.036.80.4

Map Reference MOSSMANSampled in cleared10-20

Al5.1

.020

.2211

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH+Al'ECEC'(1)

'ECEC7100 g CCEC<2'CEC/100 e C(2)

Base Sat™CECW


.36

.52

.09

.082.63.7171882

63.3

730321522

(1> Sum of basic and acidic<2) NH. OAcCEC

cations

20-30A315.5

.0112.37.14

7

<.O2.36.05.061.62.1

84

1512

2.2

528321426

(3)

1:100.000 279830uncultivated native pasture.

30-45A325.2

.008

5

Bases

45-60Bl5.1

.014.08.02

6

.96.4

<.O2.33.05.042.12.5

739

132.6

1027271134xlOO

NH. OAc CEC

60-85B215.0

.011

6.008.49

.009

<.O2.18.07.071.41.7

73

13101.8

1730341423

(4)

120-150B35.6

.014

6

1526331032

Comp. Exch.

180-210B34.9

.017

5

1426121349


MAPPING UNITS: WELL-DRAINED SOILS FORMED ON ALLUVIUM

Tully Association Tu

This unit occurs on high level alluvium which is for the most part above presentflood level. The largest areas mapped are on the Daintree River and Whynabeel Creekwith smaller areas on the South Mossman River, Crees and Rifle Creeks. Tully series isdominant throughout but the pattern of associated soils differs in each area.

In the Daintree area Liverpool series is probably the most common associated soil.Downstream of Virgil Island it occurs on the narrow stream levee while upstream itoccupies the low terraces. Coom series is common in the depressions of the old rivermeanders. Small areas of Virgil series occur in the units north of the Daintree River andaround Daintree township. These areas have been mapped as Tully association as thenodular variant of Tully series is the dominant soil and the terrace level does not appearto be compatible with that on which the Virgil series occurs further upstream.

In the Whyambeel Creek area the most common associated soils are the Tully seriesnodular variant and small areas of Innisfail and Mossman series. Liverpool series occurson the small areas of low terrace that may be included.

Along the South Mossman River small areas of the dark surfaced Mossman seriesare associated. The Crees Creek area is chiefly the Tully series pale-surface variant withred earths of Silkwood series occurring on relic stream levees.

The soils along Rifle Creek are not as strongly structured as the modal Tully seriesbut are otherwise very similar. This area is broken by numerous meander channels.Stratified fine sands and clays occur in some of the partially filled channels.

Mossman Association Mn

This unit also occurs on high level alluvium and is confined to the Mossman andSouth Mossman Rivers and to Saltwater creek. The Mossman series, which apart fromthe deeper and darker Al-Ap horizons are very similar to Tully series, are the dominantsoils.

Along the upper reaches of Saltwater Creek some small high terraces withSomerset series have been included. Downstream Somerset series occurs on lowelongate rises that are probably old channel infills. Some Innisfail series also occurs inthe same area.

The area north of the Mossman River is gently undulating and consists of a seriesof benches, relic levees and channel infills. Tully series may be co-dominant on some ofthe lower terraces while Silkwood and Somerset series and coarse sands of Goolbooseries occur on the levees and channel infills.

Liverpool series occurs on small areas of low terrace that may be included.

Liverpool Association Li

This unit is intended to include all soils on the low terraces that are subject tofrequent flooding. These terraces occur along virtually every stream but in places are toosmall to delineate at the map scale.

All soils exhibit minimal profile development and are subject to depositional anderosive processes. The Japoon series soils are the most juvenile and occur on low benchesjust above normal flow levels. The coarse textured Lerra series is common on streamsrising in the granite and occurs on the low terraces where these streams emerge from theranges. Lerra series is particularly common along the Mossman River where it occurs upto two km downstream of the Mossman Gorge aboriginal reserve. It also occurs alongthe South Mossman River and Bushy Creek. The Liverpool series soils are finer textured


and occupy the low terraces downstream of Lerra series and on the low terraces of streamsoriginating in the Hodgkinson Formation.

Somerset Association So

Somerset series has been mapped as the dominant soil on the older alluvium ofBushy Creek. The unit occupies the two higher terrace levels upstream of the MountMoloy-Mossman road crossing near Julatten and the whole of the flood plain downstreamof that point.

Although Somerset series has been mapped as dominant the pattern slowlychanges. Downstream fining of the sediments is obvious but lateral fining is not as clearcut particularly in the upper catchments of the streams on which this unit occurs.Upstream of Julatten, Somerset and Rumula series occur on both terrace levels andalthough there is no pattern evident their occurrence is probably controlled bydepositional history. Downstream of Julatten, Somerset series occupies the whole of theflood plain for some distance but becomes restricted to the levees and meander cutoffsimmediately downstream of Mount Molloy. In this area the finer texture Rumula seriesbecomes dominant on the flood plain.

Virgil Association VI

This is a minor unit occupying a number of small high terrace remnants in theStewart Creek and Daintree River valleys. Many of these terraces are strongly dissected.Small terraces with similar soils also occur in the South Mossman River valley but theyare too small to delineate at the map scale. The chief associated soil is the nodular variantof Tully series.

Some of the low level alluvium of the Mowbray River has been included in this unit.The soils are similar morphologically but are obviously much younger.

Rumula Association Ru

This unit is confined to alluvium derived wholly from the Hodgkinson Formationmetasediments. It includes local alluvium as well as the deposits of some of the majorstreams.

Rumula series is dominant on the local alluvium and on the upper parts of allcatchments. Julatten series occurs on the narrow levees along the lower reaches of DevilDevil, Boggy and Rifle Creeks. The alkaline duplex soils of Garioch series have onlybeen described on some of the broader alluvium low in the catchment of Rifle Creek andalong Spear Creek where they may be dominant. The coarse sandy and gravelly soils ofDevil Devil series occur in isolated pockets along Devil Devil Creek. In some places theyoccur as slightly higher remnants of an older depositional plain but most often they areon the same level as the modem flood plain. They are unlike any other deposits from theHodgkinson Formation and are probably of granitic origin. The Mareeba granite of theMount Carbine Tableland may once have formed part of the catchment of Devil DevilCreek.

Ponzo Association Po

This unit occupies high terrace levels along the southern side of the S outh MossmanRiver and along Cassawary Creek. These terrace levels appear to be of similar height tothose on which the Virgil soils occur. The subsoils of Ponzo series are highly dispersivehence many of the terraces have been very strongly dissected. Many of the soils occurringin the area are exposed B or D horizons and bear little resemblence to the described modalprofile.


Garioch Association Gi

This is a minor unit in this survey area. It occurs on the alluvium of minor streamsin the drier south western portion of the Julatten uplands and would occupy much of theminor stream alluvium to the south and south east of Mt Molloy.

The solodic soils of Garioch series were the only soils examined but the intensityof observation in this area was very low and other soils could occur.

POORLY DRAINED SOILS FORMED ON ALLUVIUM

Seven soil series have been included in this group. Timara, Coom and Hewitt seriesoccur marginal to the fresh water swamps. Holloway series is restricted to the verynarrow coastal plain between the Mossman and Mowbray Rivers. In some areas it ismarginal to swamp lands while in other areas it occurs on the narrow near-level plainbetween the piedmont slopes and the mangroves.

Newell and Carson series occur in close association. Although they generallyoccupy a slightly elevated landscape they are obviously poorly drained. Devil Devilseries is restricted to small areas on the alluvium of some of the streams on the Julattenuplands. The field relationships of the major soils are shown on Figure 3 and the majordistinguishing features are summarised in Table 7.

Fresh waterSwamps

Flood plain

Figures. Schematic section showing soil/geomorphicrelationshipson the alluviumof the coastallowlands.

Table 7. Poorly drained soils formed on alluvium.


COOM Alluvial plain (back plain)

TIMARA Alluvial plain (swamp margins)

HEWITT Freshwater swamp

HOLLOWAY Alluvial plain (swamp margins)

NEWELL Alluvial plain

CARSON Alluvial plain

DEVIL DEVIL Alluvial plain

Uniform or gradational textured soil,mottled light grey and brownish yellow Bhorizons, seasonally saturated.Gradational or uniform textured soil, lightgrey B horizons, saturated for long periodseach year.Gleyed duplex soils with a very darkorganic surface.Mottled grey and yellow duplex soils withconspicuously bleached A2 horizon.Soils with black loamy A horizons andbright yellow mottled medium clay Bhorizons.Soils with black loamy A horizons andpale grey clayey B horizons.Coarse bleached sands overlying organic Dhorizons.


HOLLOW AY SERIESMottled grey and yellow duplex textured soils with conspicuously bleached A2 horizon.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILEG.S.G. P.P.R

CLASSIFICATION Soloth Dy3.41

LANDFORM PATTERN


Al

A2

B2

B3

Depth (cm)0- 14

14-30

30-75

75-120+

Alluvial plain (marginal to swamp lands)

Mossman 1:100 000 295780

Very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2) (10YR6/2d); loam; massive; hard dry;gradual changeLight brownish grey (10YR6/2) (10YR8/2d); silty clay loam; massive;hard dry; some yellowish brown gley mottling; clear changeGrey (10YR5/1) with strong brown (7.5YR5/6) distinct fine few mottles;heavy clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky; hard dry; diffuse changeGreyish brown (2.5Y 5/2) with brown (7.5YR4/4) distinct medium commonmottles; heavy clay; strong coarse subangular blocky; hard dry.

RANGE OF CHARACTERISTICS

65

MottledgB&B/HC-SC

A120A2

60

B2

90

B3

A horizon thickness ranges from 20 to 60 cm and is most commonly about30 cm. Texture ranges from loam to silty clay loam.The B horizons always have medium to coarse blocky structure and hardconsistence. Some profiles may grade towards the gley colours. Low tomoderate amounts of fine FeMn nodules are common in the upper part of theB2 horizon.Principal profile forms encountered include Dy3.41, Dy3.42, and Dy3.4/p.

COOM SERIESUniform or gradational texture profile, mottled B horizons, seasonally waterlogged.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILEG.S.G. P.P.F. S.T.

CLASSIFICATION Gleyed Podzolic Soil Gn3.94 Typic Tropaquept

LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial plain (back plain)

REFERENCE SITE Mossman 1:100 000 268848Horizon Depth (cm)Al 0-10 Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); clay loam; moderate 5-10 mm cast; moist

moderately weak; gradual change toA2 10-20 Grey (10YR5/1), (10YR6/2d); light clay; strong 5-10 mm cast; moist very

firm; clear change toA2/B2 20-30 Mixture of A2 and B2 material; diffuse change toB21 30-60 Grey (2.5Y6/1) with 10-20% 15-30 mm distinct brownish yellow (10YR6/

6) mottles; medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moist veryfirm; diffuse change to

B22 60-90 Light grey (N7/0) with 10-20% 15-30 mm distinct brownish yellow(10YR6/6) mottles; heavy clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; wet;moderately plastic, normal plastic; clear change to

B31 90-180 Light grey (N7/0) with 10-20% 15-30 mm prominent strong brown(7.5YR5/6) mottles; medium clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; wet;moderately plastic, normal plastic; diffuse change to

B32 180-210 Light grey (N7/0) with 2-10% 5-15 mm distinct yellowish brown (10YR5/8) mottles; light clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; moist moderatelyweak.

CS1R0 Division of Soils Divisional Report No. 102 63

G/CL-LC

RANGE OF CHARACTERISTICSCoom series is characterized by brightly coloured, mottled B horizons. Thecolour changes from yellow dominant with grey and possibly some redtowards the better drained Tully series end of the continium, to greydominant with yellow and strong gley colours towards the poorly drainedTimara end.The surface texture is most commonly light clay but ranges from clay loamor sil50

^ c o l o u r e d

A115A2

ii45

B2

110B3

silty clay loam to medium and heavy clay although the latter occurs onlyi ploughed land. Swamp hummock micro-relief is common on virgin

sites. On the mounds the Al horizons are darker and range from 10-15 cmthick. In the depressions they are lighter in colour and usually have strongroot line gleying.Principal profile forms encountered include Gn3.94, Uf6.4/p (mostcommon), Uf6.3/p, and Um6.34.

10-20A25.6

.0562.43

.1122

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T306COOM SERIESDepth cm 0-10Horizon AlpH 5.6E.C. mS/cm 107Org. C % 1.91N % .12AvP ppm 29Tot. P % .015Tot. K % .61Tot. S % .020Tot. Fe% .87Free Fe% .3Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'a)

'ECEC'/lOO g CC E C ( 2 ) £

CEC/100 & C(2)

Base Sat(3T

CECTO

Particle Size %GrCSFSSiCMineralogy ofthe clay fraction

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000 268848Sample site cleared palm forest, uncultivated.

20-30A2/B2

5.2.041

14

3.42.97.25.12.455.232

638794.3

1.48.97.23.43

1.314.4186

2552

4.1

02

384316

02

245024

Depth cm45-60

30-45B214.9

.035.19.0310

.96.2

<.O2.22.04.172.93.3124

1510

3.0

01

264727

ChV%10-20

45-60B214.6

.044

6.0031.07.010

.11

.23

.04

.183.43.9144

1512

3.7

01

264727

60-90B224.6

.038

90-120B314.4

.032

120-150B314.7

.014

180-210B324.6

.026

02

423520

011512315

20-30Ka%50-65

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations<2) NHOAcCEC

(3) Bases xlOO mNH, OAc CEC

Comp. Exch.


TIMARA SERIESGradational or uniform textured profile with 1 ght grey B horizons.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.CLASSIFICATION ?Humic Gley Gn3.91LANDFORM PATTERN

REFERENCE SITE

Horizon

Al

Bl

B2

B3

Depth (cm)0-20

20-30

30-60

60-90

Alluvial plain (swamp margins)

Mossman 1:100000 287789Very few profiles were described in the Mossman area. The followingdescription is from the Tully Innisfail area (Murtha, 1986).

Dark greyish brown (10YR4/2); clay loam; strong fine subangular blocky;plastic wet; many fine tree roots; gradual change toLight brownish grey (10YR6/2); light clay; strong fine angular blocky;plastic wet; diffuse change toGrey (5Y4/1); medium clay; moderate coarse angular blocky; plastic andsticky when wet; diffuse change toDark grey (10YR4/1); medium to heavy clay; moderate coarse angularblocky; water table at 80 cm.


DgB/CL-MC

MottledLG&yBWIC-HC

Waler

A1

27

B1

40

B2

100

Surface textures of virgin soils range from sandy clay loam to medium claywhile cultivated sites are invariably medium or heavy clay. A l horizonsrange from 15 to 27 cm thick and are very pale coloured when dry.The B2 horizons range from sandy clay to medium clay or heavy claytexture. They are predominantly pale grey or gley coloured and are usuallywhole coloured in the upper part of the B horizon but may have coarseyellow or yellow red mottles at depth.Timara series occurs in very poorly drained areas and is flooded for aconsiderable period each year. Prominent swamp hummock microrelief isa feature of most areas. Permanent water tables occur at shallow depth;usually less than 1 m.Principal profile forms encountered include Gn3.91 and Uf6.7/p.

N E W E L L SERIESSoils with a black loamy surface and bright yellow mottled B horizons.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILEG.S.G. P.P.F. S.T.

?Humic Gley Dy5.21/p Aquic Kandihumult*

Alluvial plain

Mossman 1:100 000 265817

CLASSIFICATION

LANDFORM PATTERN

REFERENCE SITEHorizonAp

Ap

Ap

Al

A3

B21

Depth (cm)0-10

10-15

15-30

30-45

45-50

50-90

Black (10YR2/1); loam (organic); massive; moist moderately weak; few 1-2 mm roots;Black (10YR2/1); loam; massive; moist moderately weak; few 1-2 mmroots;Very dark grey (2.5Y3/1); loam; massive; moist moderately weak; few 1-2 mm roots;Black (10YR2/1); loam; massive; moist moderately weak; few 1-2 mmroots;Dark grey (10YR4/1); loam; weak 5-10 mm subangular blocky; wet;moderately sticky; few 1-2 mm roots; abrupt change toPale brown (10YR6/3) with 2-10% <5 mm faint yellow (10YR7/6) mottles;medium heavy clay; moderate 10-20 mm subangular blocky; wet;moderately sticky;Light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) with 10-20% 5-15 mm distinct red(2.5YR4/6) primary and yellow (10YR7/6) secondary mottles; mediumheavy clay; weak 10-20 mm subangular blocky; wet; moderately sticky;diffuse change toWhite (10YR8/1) with 20-50% 15-30 mm prominent red (10R 4/6) primaryand yellow (10YR7/6) secondary mottles; heavy clay; strong 10-20 mmsubangular blocky; moist moderately weak.

*May not meet particle size criteria for Kandihumult but this is confused by lack of data and disturbanceby ploughing.

B22

B3

90-120

120-180



BI/L-CL Ap

45

A3-B1

60

B2

90

B3

Texture of the Al or Ap horizon ranges from loam to light sandy clay loamand most soils are very organic. The black Ap horizon ranges from 25 to 45cm thick and usually grades to a dark grey or dark brown loam to clay loamA3 or B1 horizon. In some soils the latter may meet the Factual Key criteriafor an A2 horizon.The dominant B horizon colour ranges from light yellowish brown tobrownish yellow and the upper part may be whole coloured. Texture of theB horizon is most commonly light clay or sandy clay. Some soft FeMnnodules may occur in the B horizon and the fine red mottles in the lower Boften harden on exposure.Principal profile forms encountered include Dy5.21/p, Dy5.1/p, Dy3.2/p,Gn3.7/p,andUf6.3/p.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T309NEWELL SERIESDepth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N %AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%Free Fe%

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000Sample site in cultivated sugarcane field.

0-10 10-15 15-30Ap Ap3.9 3.9

1.812 .6306.55

900 800.5002.12.0801.90

.6Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC'(1)

•ECEC/100 g CCEC<2)

CEC/100 e C(2)

Base Sat™C E C ^Particle Size %GrCSFSSiCMineralogy ofthe clay fraction

1.03.34

3.84.285.1

10.634299419

5.2

<16

273631

Depth cm ChV%50-90 5-10

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2) NH. OAcCEC

Ap4.4

.0864.13

.25200

.47

.06

.44

.053.64.61215387

3.6

<14

263239

(3)

30-45Al4.7

.071

61

1757

<12

254330

1%<1

Bases

45-50A35.0

.0321.83.1027

Ka%65-80

xlOONH. OAc CEC

265817

50-90B214.7

.035.28.0414

.0201.10.0151.80

.5

.43

.11

.06

.092.93.6

95

1314

3.4

<16

312538

G%10-20

(4)

90-120 120-150B22 B224.8 4.8

.026 .023

23

24

143151

Comp. Exch.


HEWITT SERIESGleycd duplex textured soil with very dark organic surface.

REPRESENTATIVE PROFILEG.S.G P.P.F.

CLASSIFICATION Humic Gley Dg2.5/pLANDFORM PATTERN


B2

Dl

D2

0-40

40-65

65-90

90- +

Fresh water swamp

Mossman 1:100000 307771

Very dark grey (10YR3/1); organic loam; weak 10-20 mm subangularblocky; moist moderately firm; gradual change toLight grey (10YR7/2) with 10-20% <5 mm distinct brownish yellow(10YR6/8) mottles; sandy clay loam fine sandy; massive; moist moderatelyweak; gradual change toLight brownish grey (10YR6/2); fine sandy loam; massive; diffuse changetoLight brownish grey (10YR6/2) with 10-20% <5 mm distinct yellowishbrown (10YR5/8) mottles; sandy clay loam fine sandy (heavy); massive.


55

VDG/OCL-L

VDG/OCL-L

MottledLG&bY/SCLFS-MC

LbG/SC

A115A230

B2

100

Most areas of Hewitt series soils are flooded for a considerable period eachyear and water tables can be encountered at shallow depth even when thesurface is dry.The dominant feature of these soils is the very dark organic surface but it isnot a peat and does not meet the criteria of an organic soil (Northcote 1979).The A horizon ranges from 10 to 30 cm thick and although many profileshave been described as not having an A2 this could be due to the wetconditions and the difficulty in making a proper observation anddescription. It has been observed also that in many soils and A2 horizoneven on the criteria of Northcote (1979) is not evident on wet soil coloursbut is clearly evident when the soil is dry.B horizon colours are dominantly light grey but may or may not be on theMunsell gley chart. Textures range from light to heavy clay and may be siltyorfinesandy. Stratifiedcoarsesedimentsareoftenencounteredataboutl mdepth.

CARSON SERIESSoils with a black loamy surface and pale grey B horizons.


CLASSIFICATION ?Humic Gley Dg4.21LANDFORM PATTERN Alluvial plain

S.T.Umbric Tropaquult

REFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)Ao 5+-0All 0-10

A12

A3

B2

DlD2

10-23

23-38

38-64

64-8080-120

Mossman 1:100 000 282830

Leaf litterBlack (10YR2/1); loam; strong 5-10 mm cast; moist moderately weak;many 2-5 mm roots; diffuse smooth change toBlack (10YR2/1); loam; strong 5-10 mm cast; moist moderately weak;many 2-5 mm roots; diffuse smooth change toDark grey (10YR4/1); clay loam (light); massive; moist moderately weak;few 1-2 mm roots; clear wavy change toGrey (5Y6/1) with 2-10% 15-30 mm distinct brownish yellow (10YR6/6)mottles; silty light clay; strong 5-10 mm subangular blocky; moistmoderately weak; few 1-2 mm roots; clear wavy change toGreyish brown (10YR5/1) with fine sandy loam; massive; moist very weak;Light grey (10YR7/1) with 2-10% <5 mm faint yellow (10YR7/6) motdes;clay loam, fine sandy; massive; moist very weak.

CSIRO Division of Soils Divisional Raport No. 102 67


A1-Ap

Texture of the A horizon ranges from loam to light sandy clay loam andthickness from 25 to 40 cm. In some soils there is an abrupt change fromthe black Ap to light grey B horizons. Other soils have a dark greytransitional B1 horizon from 10 to 15 cm thick. The texture of the B horizonranges from light clay or silty clay to coarse sandy clay. In the soils with thesandy textures there is no evidence of pedality but all were very wet whenexamined.Principal profile forms encountered include Dg4.21, Dy2.1/p, Gn2.8/p, andUf6.4/p.

ANALYTICAL DATAProfile T304CARSON SERIES

Depth cmHorizonpHE.C. mS/cmOrg. C %N%AvP ppmTot. P %Tot. K %Tot. S %Tot. Fe%FreeFe%

Map Reference MOSSMAN 1:100 000 282830Sampled in undisturbed Melaleuca tall closed forest.

0-10A l l5.1

.01110.4.3518

.0651.20.110

.70.2

Exchange properties m.e./lOO g soilCaMgKNaH + Al'ECEC' (1)

'ECEC'/lOOgCCEC<2)

CEC/100 e CC )

Base Sat(3T

CEC(4)


Mineralogy ofthe clay fraction

.36

.72

.28

.215.77.32143

1264

5.8

58

273034

Depth cm38-64

(1) Sum of basic and acidic cations(2) NH. OAcCEC

10-23A124.8

.0505.77

43

912323026

ChV%5-10

(3)

23-38A35.1

.0141.13.0740

.9<0.1

<.02.08.08.102.73.0147

334

3.9

711402821

1%5-10

BasesNH. OAc CEC

38-64B24.5

.083.23

12.0052.22.012

<.O2.54.09.344.05.0186

2117

4.4

104

333628

Ka%50-65

xlOO

64-80 80-120Dl D25.3 5.2

.008 .011

7 7

42051219

G%10-20

("> Comp. Exch.


DEVIL DEVIL SERIESUniform coarse sand soils with strongly bleached A2 horizons.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G. P.P.F.?Siliceous sand Uc2Alluvial plainRUMULA 1:100 000 262692

CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon

Al

A21

A22

Dl

D2

Depth (cm)0-28

28-50

50-80

80-110

110-150+

Very dark grey (10YR3/1); sandy loam; massive; friable dry; moderatequartz gravel from 20 cm; gradual change toDark greyish brown (10YR4/2) (10YR6/ld); sandy loam; single grain;loose dry; high amount of quartz gravel; gradual change toGreyish brown (10YR5/2) (10YR7/2d); loamy sand; single grain; loose dry;high amounts of quartz gravel; diffuse change toBlack (10YR2/1) with reddish yellow (7.5YR6/4) distinct mediumcommon mottles; organic clay loam; massive; moist firm; diffuse changetoVery pale brown (10YR7/4); organic clay loam; massive; moist firm.


15

70

VDG/SL

gBlyS-SL

Gravelsor peats

A130

A2

90

These soils are of minor occurrence and only a few profiles have beendescribed. Where they occur on low flood plains they may be stronglylayered and exhibit two or more stages of soil development. The gravels areoften impenelrable by hand auger.As these soils appear to overlie buried soils there is no provision in theFactual Key beyond Uc2.

MAPPING UNITS: POORLY DRAINED SOILS FORMED ON ALLUVIUM

Newell Association NlNewell association occurs chiefly between the Mossman River and Saltwater

Creek with one small area immediately to the south of Mossman township. It occurs onalluvium which is for the most part higher than the level of the present flood plain andprobably represents a depositional plain associated with a higher sea level. A feature ofthe unit is the black, very organic nature of the A horizons of all soils in the unit. In mostsoils of this region such A horizons are usually associated with seasonal or prolongedflooding. Although most of these soils have very restricted subsoil drainage only smallareas pond water for any significant period so the reasons for the highly organic surfaceare unclear.

Newell series is the dominant soil and occupies about 80% of the unit. Associatedsoils include Carson series which is much more poorly drained and occurs in slightdepressions and Dayman series which is obviously a well drained soil and occurs on whatappears to be old stream levees or areas of sandy channel infill. Small areas of Silkwoodseries occur along the southern boundary of the unit in the vicinity of Mossman Northwhere they occupy an old levee of the Mossman River.

Coom Association Co

Small areas of this unit occur between the Mossman River and the northernboundary of the survey area. Most occurrences are on low- lying back swamp areas ofthe flood plains but some very poorly drained areas on the lower end of the fan slopes havebeen included.


Coom series is the dominant soil but the normal sequence is to find Coom, Timaraand Hewitt series in close association and occupying progressively wetter sites. Ingeneral terms the Coom soils have no extensive surface ponding of water but are saturatedfor much of the year with ground water at 10 to 20 cm depth. Timara series pond waterfor short periods (2-3 months) and have shallow ground water for most of the year whilethere is surface water on the Hewitt series for a prolonged period (6+ months) each year.

The units along the highway to the north of Wonga Beach are examples of thoseoccurring on the alluvial fans. They have formed in these sites due to the extensiveseepages that occur where lateral drainage waters come to the surface. Hewitt series isnot normally mapped as an associate of Coom series but in this area the occurrences aretoo small to map separately.

Holloway Association HoThis is a minor association and has been mapped only in the area to the south east

of Mount Beaufort. It occurs on alluvium immediately inland of the younger beach ridgesof Hull Association and where recent drainage systems have dissected the older Brosnanridges. The dominant soils are the duplex soils of Holloway series but soils similar toHewitt and Timara series may be locally dominant in small areas. Holloway series is alsocommon throughout Clifton Association close to where it abuts the mangroves or beachridges.

Timara Association TiThis unit has been mapped only in the Cape Tribulation area. It occupies very low

lying areas which may be seasonally ponded or which occur as a fringe to the mangroveswamps.

Timara series is dominant but some areas of the better drained Coom series andthe more poorly drained Hewitt and Bulguru series are also included. Throughout the areaTimara and Coom series occur in very close association and some areas mapped as Coomassociation may be Timara series dominant.

ORGANIC SOILS AND SOILS OF THE TIDAL ZONE

Soils dominated by organic matter in the upper part of the profile occur in bothfreshwater and saltwater environments. Small freshwater swamps are common on theJulatten uplands where they occur as typical alluvial plain back-swamps. On the coastthey occur in meander cutoffs, on lower slopes subject to near permanent seepage andmore commonly adjacent to mangrove swamps. The latter areas may be subject tooccasional tidal influences. Only one soil series has been described for the freshwaterswamps and no differentiation has been made of the mangrove soils.

Bulguru Association BuThis unit includes all of the fresh and brackish-water swamps. Most areas have

permanent water on the surface and access is difficult so few soil inspections have beenmade. The dominant soil feature is the peaty or highly organic surface over gleyed claysubsoils. Soils similar to Bulguru series are dominant but in some areas the organicsurface may overlie reworked beach ridge or dune sands. Small areas of Timara or Hewittseries may occur around the margins of the units.


BULGURU SERIESGleyed soils in Melaleuca swamps.REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE

G.S.G.CLASSIFICATIONLANDFORM PATTERNREFERENCE SITEHorizon Depth (cm)

P.P.F.Humic Gley Dy5.41Alluvial plain (swamp)RUMULA 1:100 000 281650

Al 0-15 Very dark grey (10YR3/1); organic loam; weak medium subangular blocky;friable moist; clear change to

A2 15- 40 Greyish brown (10YR5/2) (10YR7/2d); silty clay loam; massive; hardmoist; gradual change to

B2 40- 90 Dark grey (10YR4/1) with light grey (10YR7/2) and yellowish brown(10YR5/5) distinct fine common mottles; gritty medium clay; coarseblocky; wet plastic; diffuse change to

B3 90-120+ Light yellowish brown (2.5Y6/4) with light grey (10YR7/2) and yellowishbrown(10YR5/6)distinctfine common mottles; gritty medium clay; coarseblocky; wet plastic.


MottledBG+YB/MC

MottledGleyed MC

A1A245

B2

90

B3

The thickness of the organic surface horizon ranges from 7 to 45 cm andwhile some are almost wholly strongly decomposed organic debris mosthave a high mineral soil content.In many areas these soils have 5-10 cm of stratified recent sedimentsoverlying the organic materials. In addition the subsoils are often stronglystratified sediments which range from coarse sands to clays.

Mangroves MgThe largest areas of mangroves occur on the Daintxee River estuary and in the

embayment on the lee of Island Point. Smaller areas occur around the mouths of all minorstreams.

The majority of the mangroves are growing on reworked beach ridge sands. In mostareas there has been some addition of finer textured deposits which have been largelyincorporated by mechanical or biological activity. Textures generally range from clayeysand to sandy clay and it is only on some accretion bends where clays and mudspredominate. Some areas are very organic. Leaf and stem litter contribute to the surfacealthough distribution is very patchy. Tidal movements tend to sweep some areas clearwhile accumulating litter in other areas. Remains of mangrove roots and their slowbreakdown in the reducing conditions results in a build up of organic matter in the subsoiland the development of what is loosely described as a mangrove root peat. Some areasare strongly sulphidic particularly where the mangroves abut fresh water swamps or inareas of shallow groundwater.

ANALYTICAL METHODS AND ABBREVIATIONS

pH.

Electrical conductivity.Total nitrogen.

Determined on a 1:5 soil/water suspension using glassand calomel electrodes and a direct reading meter aftershaking for 1 hr.Measured on the above 1:5 suspension.Determined by the Honda (1962) modification of theKjeldahl method.


Organic carbon.

Availble phosphorus.

Total P, K and S.

Exchangeable cations andexchange capacity.

Ammonium Acetate CEC.

Base saturation.

Particle size.

Free Fe.

E.c.mS/cmOrg.CNCaMgKNaH + AlCEC'ECECBase satAvPTot. PTot. KTot. STot. FeGT

CSSi

Readily oxidizable organic matter was determined by themethod of Walkley and Black (1934). No factor has beenapplied.Determined by the method of Kerr and von Stieglitz(1938) by extracting with 0.005 M sulphuric acid for 16h.Determined by X-ray spectrography as described byStace etal. (1968).Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium wereextracted by shaking two grams of soil with 20 ml of amixture of 0.1 M BaCl2and 0.1 M NH4C1 for two hours.The cations in the extract were determined by atomicabsorption spectroscopy. For CEC determination theamount of Mg absorbed by the soil at approximately soilpH and at an ionic strength of 0.006 was measured usinga compulsive exchange technique (Gillman, 1979).Acidic cations (H + Al) were extracted with 1 M KC1(Soil Survey Staff, 1972).

Air dry soil extracted with 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0 (SoilSurvey Staff, 1972).Calculated as a percentage, sum of basic cations andammonium acetate CEC.Determined using the pipette and sieve method ofCoventry and Fett (1979).Extracted with citrate-dithionite at room temperature(Holmgren, 1967).The texture abbreviations used on the profile diagramsare those specified by McDonald et al. (1984). Thecolour names are those recommended in the Munsellcolour book, a capital is used for the primary colour andlower case for the qualifier, e.g. brown is B, yellowishbrown is yB.Electrical conductivity millisiemens per centimeter.Organic carbonTotal nitrogenCalciumMagnesiumPotassiumSodiumHydrogen + AluminiumCation exchange capacityEffective cation exchange capacityBase saturationAvailable phosphorusTotal phosphorusTotal potassiumTotal sulphurTotal ironGravelCoarse sandSilt


C ClayFe Free ironLoss lgn Loss on ignitionChV Chloritised vermiculiteI IlliteKa KaolinG GibbsiteGo/Ha Goethite/Haematite

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author sincerely thanks the Mossman Central Mill Company Limited for themonetary grant made towards this project. Those funds were used to defray alloperational costs involved in the field work. Without that funding this survey would nothave been possible.

Particular thanks are due to Mr A. Ford (Mill Productivity Officer) and Mr A. Rudd(B.S.E.S. Extension Officer) for assistance freely granted throughout the survey, to MrN. Crees (Pest Control Officer) for assistance in visiting some of the more inaccessibleparts of the survey area and to Mr H. Schmid (Field Cane Inspector) for assistance duringfield operations in the Julatten area. Mr V. Ages (Analyst, Mossman Mill) assisted MrP. Bakker (CSIRO Division of Soils, Townsville) in the analytical determinations. Themaps and figures were prepared by Mr R. Schuster (CSIRO Division of Soils, Adelaide).Mr M.G. Cannon assisted during all of the field operations on the coastal country.

Finally, the hospitality shown to myself and Mr Cannon by the Directors and staffof the Mill was greatly appreciated.

REFERENCES

Coventry, RJ. and Fett, D.E.R. (1979). A pipette and sieve method of particle-sizeanalysis and some observations on its efficacy. CSIRO Aust. Div. Soils Divl. Rep.No. 38.

Gillman, G.P. (1979). A proposed method for the measurement of exchange propertiesof highly weathered soils. Aust. J. Soil Res. 17, 129-39.

Honda, C. (1962). Acceleration of decomposition on nitrogen analysis of soil by theKjeldahl method. J. Sci. Manure 33(4), 195.

Holmgren, G.G.S. (1967). A rapid citrate-dithionite extractable iron procedure. Proc.Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 31, 210-11.

Kerr,H.W. andvonStieglitz.C.R. (1938). The laboratory determination of soil fertility.Bur Sugar Exp. Stn. Qld. Tech. Commun. No. 9.

Laffan, M.D. (1988). Soils and land use on the Atherton tableland, north Queensland.CSIRO Aust. Div. Soils, Soils Land Use Ser. No. 61.

McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F. Speight, J.G., Walker, J. and Hopkins, M.S. (1984).'Australian Soil and Land Survey, Field Handbook'. (Inkata Press: Melbourne).

Murtha, G.G. (1975). Soils and land use on the northern section of the Townsville coastalplain, north Queensland. CSIRO Aust. Div. Soils, Soils Land Use Ser. No. 55.

Murtha, G.G. (1986). Soils oftheTully-Innisfail area, north Queensland. CSIRO Aust.Div. Soils Divl. Rep. No. 82.

Northcote, K.H. (1979). 'A Factual Key for the Recognition of Australian Soils'. 4thEd. (Rellim: Glenside, S.A.).

Soil Survey Staff. (1972). Soil survey laboratory methods and procedures for collectingsoil samples. U.S. Dep. Agric. Soil Cons. Service, Soil Survey Investig. ReportNo. 1. (Govt. Printer: Washington D.C.).


Soil Survey Staff. (1951). Soil Survey Manual. U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. No. 18.Soil Survey Staff (1975). Soil Taxonomy: a basic system of soil classification for

making and interpreting soil surveys. U.S. Dep. Agric. Handb. No. 436. (Govt.Printer: Washington, D.C.).

Stace, H.C.T., Hubble, G.D., Brewer, R., Northcote, K.H., Sleeman, J.R., Mulcahy, M.J.and Hallsworth, E.G. (1968). 'A Handbook of Australian Soils'. (Rellim:Glenside, S.A.).

Thompson, W.P. and Cannon, M.G. (1981). Soils of the north Mulgrave coast, Caims,north Queensland. Qld. Dept. Primary Industries internal report to the BeachProtection Authority, Qld.

Tracey, J.G. (1982). 'The vegetation of the humid tropical region of north Queensland'.(CSIRO: Melbourne).

Walkley, A. and Black, I.A. (1934). An examination of the Degtjareff method ofdetermining organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acidtitration method. Soil Sci. 37,29.

important notice csiro - publications · spanos* thorpe* txmara* toolakea tully* tyson* utchee*...

Documents