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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 47(3)

Distribution and causes of intricate saline–sodic soil patterns in an upland South Australian hillslope

M. Thomas A B C , R. W. Fitzpatrick A B and G. S. Heinson B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, Adelaide, SA 5064, Australia.

B School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: mark.thomas@csiro.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 47(3) 328-339 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07191
Submitted: 21 November 2008  Accepted: 15 December 2008   Published: 25 May 2009

Abstract

We describe a soil–landscape investigation conducted in a South Australian upland hillslope (128 ha) to understand the distribution and causes of saline–sodic soil patterns using convenient, ground-based geophysical surveys of the hillslope. These surveys included: (i) EM31 for deep (~6 m) apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) patterns, (ii) EM38 for shallow (>1.5 m) ECa patterns, and (iii) Bartington MS2-D loop sensor for surface volume magnetic susceptibility (κ) patterns. From these surveys we inferred hillslope distributions of: (i) deep (~6 m) concentrations of salinity associated with deep groundwater systems and deposits of magnetic gravels (dominated by maghemite and hematite) (EM31 sensor); (ii) shallow (<1.5 m) soil salinity (EM38 sensor); and (iii) preservation of pedogenic magnetic materials (e.g. maghemite and hematite) (MS2-D loop sensor). We also describe terrain analysis to locate near-surface hydropedological patterns using topographic wetness index. When combined in 3D geographic information system, strong visual matches were identified between patterns in: (i) geophysical surveys, (ii) terrain, and (iii) soil survey data, thus allowing integrated interpretations of soil–landscape pedogenic processes to be made on a whole-of-landscape basis. Such mechanistic interpretations of soil–landscape processes reveal and map intricate saline and sodic soil–regolith patterns and groundwater and fresh surface water flow paths that were not revealed during a previous traditional soil survey.

Additional keywords: saline–sodic, apparent electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, terrain analysis, conceptual toposequence model.


Acknowledgements

Here we build on a soil research legacy from the study area landscape initiated by Dr Albert Rovira of CSIRO Division of Soils during the 1980s. We are grateful for the ongoing support of the Cootes and Ashby families, the local farmers. Funding by the Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration (CRC-LEME), National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP), and SA Department for Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) is acknowledged. Finally, we thank Dr Richard Cresswell (CSIRO Land and Water) and the 2 anonymous referees for their advice in refining the manuscript.


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