No. 8 J U N E - i 9 6 0

sfc

A U M ' K A L I A N SOCiEYY OF SOIL SCIENCE

S O I L S N E W S

The Newsle t te r of the Aus t ra l ian Society of Soil Science

No. 8 June, 1960

CONTENTS

Ar t i c l e s Soil Science in Commonwealth government organisat ions Soil Science in State government organisa t ions: Addenda

Technical Notes: A Note on the Catclay Soils of the Mekong Delta in

Vietnam - E. Phi l l i s Soils, Geochemical Prospec t ing for Copper,, and

Hot Loess - C. G. Stephens

Le t te r to the Edi tor

Aus t ra l ian Society of Soil Science Fe de r a fCounc il Notes Membersh ip changes Branch act ivi t ies P e r s o n a l notes Summar ies of talks

Page

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15

17

18

19 20 21 22 24

News I tems and Notes 28

SOILS NEWS is issued solely to m e m b e r s of the Aust ra l ian Society of Soil Science and is regarded as an informal news se rv ice of that body The s t a t e ­ments printed herein a re not intended for citation e lsewhere and no repr in t s a r e available on reques t . L e t t e r s , communicat ions , short rev iews , and news i tems a re invited; m a t e r i a l for the next issue should reach the edi tor by mid-November . This is the las t of the four hal f -year ly i s sues to be made from Adelaide, the location: of the Fede ra l office of the Society for the two yea r s p r i o r to July 1960.

Off ice-bearers of Fede ra l Council

1958-60 Pres iden t : Mr. J . K . Taylor, C. S . I .R. O. Division of Soils 1960-62 P res iden t : Mr. R. G. Downes, Soil Conservat ion Authority, Melbourne. 1958-60 Vice -P res iden t : Mr. R. G. Downes 1960-62 Vice -Pres iden t : Mr. B . E . Butler , C. S . I .R . O . , Canber ra , A. C. T. 1958-60 Hon. Secre ta ry : Mr. A .R . P . Clarke , C , S . I . R , 0 . Division of Soils 1960-62 Hon. Secre ta ry : to be appointed. 1958-60 Hon T r e a s u r e r : Mr. R. D. Bond, C . S . I . R . O . Division of Soils 196 0-62 Hon T r e a s u r e r : To be appointed

1958-60 Hon. Edi tor Soils News: Mr. G. Blackburn, C . S . I . R . O Division of Soils, Adelaide

1960-62 Hon. Editor: Mr. J . G . Baldwin, C. S. I. R. O. I r r igat ion Resea rch Station Merbein, Victor ia .

SOIL SCIENCE IN COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS

This is the third and las t instalment of a s u m m a r y of soil r e s e a r c h work cur ren t ly undertaken in Aust ra l ia . Among the Commonwealth organisa t ions , the C . S . I . R . O . is outstanding for its number of projects in soil r e sea rch ; the re levant work in seven of its Divisions or Sections is mentioned below. Apart from the work undertaken within the F o r e s t r y and T imber Bureau of the Depar tment of In te r ior and mentioned below, there a re likely to be some p r o ­jec ts in o ther depar tments or authori t ies of the Commonwealth Government. These would include the Depar tment of T e r r i t o r i e s (Northern T e r r i t o r y , New Guinea - Papua , etc. ) and the Snowy Mountains Authority, but no information was available on any such work.

With reference to the work of the C. S. I. R. O. , it is understood that a m o r e complete and authori tat ive s u m m a r y of all i ts individual r e s e a r c h p ro ­jec t s , including soil work, may be issued l a te r by that body The annual r e p o r t s of the C . S . I . R . O . supply information in g r e a t e r de ta i l ,

The information given he re r e fe r s to 154 projects in Commonwealth organisa t ions , and al l but 3 projects a r e undertaken by the C. S. I. R. O. Although most of these projects a re within the Division of Soils (84), there a r e many listed for the Division of P lant Industry (34). The other 36 projects a r e shared by five other Divisions and Sections (Land Resea rch and Regional Survey 15, I r r igat ion R e s e a r c h Stations 9, Soil Mechanics 4, Entomology 4, and Meteorological Phys ic s 1).

All the soil r e s e a r c h projects l isted in this and the two previous numbers of Soils News number a lmos t 400 cu r ren t p ro jec t s . The State government organisat ions account for 180, the Commonwealth government organisat ions for 154, and the un ivers i t i es for 60 ,

Thanks a r e due to J . K . Sleeman for supplying detai ls of r e s e a r c h projects from Commonwealth organisat ions centred in Canberra .

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C . S . I . R . O . DIVISION OF SOILS

Soil Survey and Pedology

Aust ra l ian so i l s : classif icat ion, genes is , distr ibution and evaluation for land use . Mapping for publication at sca le 1 : 5 million C. G. Stephens

Atlas of Aus t ra l ian soi ls for per iodical publication, commencing August 1960 in 10 shee t s , most ly at sca le 1 : 2 million. K. H. Northcote

Factual key for recognition of Aust ra l ian soi ls . K. H. Northcote

Soil associa t ion maps of sou th -eas te rn South Aus t ra l ia , for publication at sca le 1 : 250,000. G. Blackburn

Distr ibution of t race element deficient soi ls in the lower south-eas t of South Aus t ra l i a . G. Blackburn, J . B . Giles.

Sand-dunes and sandstones in the Murray Basin plains of South Austra l ia and Victoria . Cha rac t e r i s t i c s and origins of the sands . Structure of the deposi ts . G. Blackburn, R. D. Bond

Distr ibution of soi ls in the Mount Crawford fores t r e s e r v e . G. G. Beckmann

F o r m s and dis t r ibut ion of carbonates in so i l s . C. B, Wells

Distr ibution and genes is of soi ls in the Alice Springs region. W. H. Litchfield

Soils of brigalow lands in Queensland and nor thern N.S..W. RIF-. I sbe l l .G^D. Hubble

Reconnaissance of soils in the Centra l Burnet t region, Qld. C . J . de Mooy

Regional study of the southern tableland, N . S . W . D . C . v a n Dijk (B. E„ But ler

Soil and hydrology survey of the lower Macleay River valley, Kempsey d i s t r i c t , N . S . W . P . H. Walker

Study of r i v e r t e r r a c e s and hill slope formations in Nowra d i s t r i c t , South Coast , N . S . W . P . H. Walker

Soil surveys and edaphic s tudies in nor th -eas t N . S . W . W. McArthur

Relation between growth of sub te r ranean clover and soil types at Griffith, N . S . W . J. Loveday

P r inc ip le s governing soil d is t r ibut ion at Mer red in , W.A. E. Bettenay

P o s t - t e r t i a r y eros ional h i s tory and soil development in the York d i s t r i c t , W.A. M. Mulcahy

Regional survey of Tasmanian soils K. D. Nicol ls , . G. M. Dimmock

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Soil Phys ics

Pe rmeab i l i t y of soi ls to water , with pa r t i cu la r reference to calculation of permeabi l i ty from pore s ize distr ibution m e a s u r e m e n t s . T, J. Marsha l l

Diffusion of gases in soi l , and the calculation of diffusio,n coefficients from poros i ty m e a s u r e m e n t s . T . J . Marsha l l

Hydraulic conductivity of so i l s in the field, possess ing a water table. J . W . Holmes

The wa te r ba lance , evaporat ion from a land surface , and deep penetrat ion of rainfall to shallow aquifers . Development of equipment including t ens iomete r and the neutron mois tu re m e t e r . J . W . Holmes

Pe rmeab i l i ty of so i l s , and the measu remen t of unsaturated permeabi l i ty of packed soil columns. Measurement of soil moi s tu re c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .

C. G. Gur r

Effect of tillage on evaporat ion from bare fallows, and availabil i ty of plant nut r ien ts . Shear s t r e s s in soil during tillage operat ions . Gaseous diffusion.

E. L. Greacen

Relation of physical p roper t i e s of soi ls to their s t ruc tu re . W . W . E m e r s o n

Modification of soil s t ruc tu re with chemica l s . W. W. Emersor .

E l ec t r i ca l analogue computer for simulating field and other problems in soil wa te r flow. J, S. Colville

The wate r ba lance , evaporat ion from the land surface and deep penetrat ion of rainfall to shallow aquifers . Installation of l y s ime te r s to m e a s u r e deep drainage and evaporat ion. J , S. Colville

The swelling of montmori l loni te and the swelling p r e s s u r e exerted as a function of cation s ta tus . A. V„ Blackmore

Evaporat ive losses from cultivated black ea r ths from Darl ing Downs, Qld. G. B. Stirk, R . E . P rebb le .

Water content changes in so i l s at Whian Whian state forest , N. S. W, G .B . Stirk, R . E . P rebb le .

Macroporos i ty s tudies on aggregates of basal t ic so i l s , in relat ion to agronomic p rob lems . D. S. Mclntyre

Phys ica l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of soils from different K. Layer s in New South Wales. D. S. Mclntyre

Soil Chemis t ry

Study of res idua l phosphate in soi ls , from pot exper iments . C .S . P ipe r , M . P . de Vr ies

Availability of potass ium C. S„ P ipe r

Soil Chemis t ry (cont'd)

Chemis t ry of Aust ra l ian ra in wa te r with specia l reference to salt content. J . T. Hutton

Interpreta t ion of t race element profiles of so i l s . A. C. Oer te l , R„ M. McKenzie,

and J. B. Giles

Use of t race element profiles in pedological r e s e a r c h A . C . Oer te l

Application of s ta t i s t ica l techniques in soil chemis t ry and pedology. A. C. Oer te l

Compar ison of t race element data and field observat ions on VictoriaP. so i l s . R. M. McKenzie

Chemical cha r ac t e r i s t i c s of solonetz and allied so i l s . H. C. T. Stace

Compilation of soil analyses and environmental data on grea t soil groups of Aus t ra l i a , supplementary to "Manual of Aus t ra l ian Soils". H„ C. T„ Stace

Chemis t ry of clay minera l s in so i l s . B„ M. Tucker

React ions of s t ruc tu ra l potass ium in i l l i tes . B. M. Tucker

Silicon, aluminium and phosphorus in so i l s . M. Raupach

Study of the nutrit ion of pines by use of pot exper iments , with special re ference to phosphorus and ni trogen. M. Raupach

Fer t i l i ty rat ing of South Aus t ra l i an soil types from labora tory and glasshouse exper iments . M. Raupach

Geochemical s tudies on soi ls formed on doler i te paren t m a t e r i a l s . K.G. Ti l le r

Sorption of heavy me ta l s , with pa r t i cu la r re ference to cobalt, by soi l - forming m i n e r a l s , K. G„ T i l l e r

The binding of sand gra ins by fungal hyphae. R. D. Bond

Studies in phosphate availabili ty. A . E . Mart in, I .p.Litt le

A s s e s s m e n t of soil fer t i l i ty s ta tus of major Queensland soi l s . A. E . Mart in, I. F . Fe rgus .

Effects of legumes , fe r t i l i ze r t r ea tmen t s and locations on the build-up of soil fer t i l i ty in the sub- t rop ica l environment. A . E . Mart in jointly with Division of

Tropical P a s t u r e s

Phosphorus in wheat-growing soi ls of N . S . W . J . D . Colwell

Micro-nut r ien t availabil i ty in re la t ion to soil organic ma t t e r . R. S.Beckwith.

Acid-montmori l loni t ic subsoi ls of the brigalow region, Qld. I. P . Lit t le, G.D. Hubble.

Nature of readi ly soluble aluminium in so i l s . R. S. Beckwith, I. P . Little

Chemical descr ipt ion of soil samples , R 0 D. Bond, A . R . P . Clarke , H . J . Beatty, R. Reeve, A. M. Graley, F0 J. Hingston, and A. G„ Turton

Soil Microbiology.

Chemical nature of soil humus and i ts ability to r e s i s t microbia l decomposi ­tion, with special re ference to aminoacid-phenol complexes. R. J . Swaby

Identification and origin of a red pigment extracted with petroleum e ther from green coloured soi ls observed in var ious places in the field R . J . Swaby.

Solubilization of rock phosphate by m i c r o - o r g a n i s m s . R. J„ Swaby and Joan I. Rogasch.

Study of the bac te r i a l genus Rhizobium and its association with leguminous plants . ~ ~ J.R,, Har r i s

Bioassay of vi tamins in root exudates and their importance in development of rh izosphere populations. J . R . H a r r i s and A„ D. Rovira

Role of m i c r o - o r g a n i s m s and s t ruc tu re formation in soil. J . R . H a r r i s and R .D . Bond

Mechanisms controlling microbia l populations in the rh izosphere of plants , pa r t i cu la r ly in relat ion to root exudates . A . D . Rovira and J . R . Ha r r i s

Influence of bac te r ia and fungi in development of plant roots and root ha i r s A . D . Rovira and G. D. Bowen

F a c t o r s influencing accumulation and decomposit ion of organic m a t t e r in the soi l , par t icu lar ly tillage and texture A .D . Rovira and E. L, Greacen

Taxonomy of rh izosphere bac te r i a . A . D . Rovira and P . G. Br isbane

Mechanisms of microb ia l decomposit ion of a romat ic nitrogenous compounds J . N . Ladd

Occurrence and activity of hydrocarbon oxidizing m i c r o - o r g a n i s m s in sub ­soi ls with re ference to petroleum prospect ing, J . N . Ladd and P . G. Br isbane

Isolation and study of mycor rh iza l fungi from Pinus radiata roots , from so i l s , and from fruiting bodies. G.D„ Bowen.

Influence of mycor rh iza on nutrient uptake by P . radiata . C D . Bowen

Fac to r s influencing decomposit ion of pine needle l i t ter , G. D. Bowen

Distribution of roots of P . radiata in soil profiles in relation to nutrient occur rence and occur rence of mycor rh iza . C D . Bowen and M, Raupach.

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Soil Mineralogy

Geochemis t ry and minera logy of gorceixi te and other phosphate m i n e r a l s in so i l s . K. Nor r i sh , T. R. Sweatman

Development and application of X-ray spect roscopy in the examination of soi ls and plants . K. Norr i sh , T. R. Sweatman

Atomic s t ruc tu re of the micas . E .W. Radoslovich

Po ta s s ium in m i n e r a l s . E .W. Radoslovich

F a c t o r s influencing the swelling of clay mine ra l s . J . A. Rausel l Colom

Studies of goethite and other fo rms of i ron oxide in so i l s . R.M° Taylor

Examination of clay minera l s in different g rea t soil groups- K. Nor r i sh , T„R. Sweatman and R. M. Taylor

Soil Micropedology. (R. Brewer , J, K. Sleeman, B. F . Breese )

Mineralogical study of parna nea r Henty, N. S. W. , with pa r t i cu la r reference to occur rence of quar tz and fe lspar coated with red iron oxide.

Compar ison of clay skins and s t r e s s cutans

Classif icat ion of micro-pedologica l features o ther than cutans .

Calculations of profile development in red-brown ear th , based on zircon as s table mine ra l .

Mineralogical study of brigalow clay so i l s , Qld.

- C . S . I . R . O .

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

Officers a r e located at Canber ra unless otherwise indicated.

Soil Fe r t i l i t y & Plant Nutrition

- P r o b l e m s of legume nodulation associa ted with soil c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . A . J . Anderson, J . F , Loneragan, J . A. Thompson.

- Fe r t i l i ty changes under pas ture and c rops in relat ion to phosphate fixation, organic m a t t e r accumulation and ion exchange capacity,

C. H. Wil l iams, J . Lipsett . - The chemica l nature of organic phosphates in soil .

D . J . Cosgrove.

- A study of the origin of organic phosphorus in so i l s . S.M. Bromfield.

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- A compar ison of phosphate f e r t i l i ze r s : effectiveness in relat ion to t ime of application and r e l ease of residual phosphorus.

K.D.McLachlan , K. Spencer (Armidale), & P . Ozanne(WA)

- Phosphate los ses from deep sands, P . G„ Ozanne (W.A. D„ J. Kirton(WA)

- Phosphate and nitrogen status of soi ls under ce rea l cultivation and the bui ld-up in fert i l i ty by pas ture in rotat ions , E. R. Watson (W.A. )

J . Lipsett . - Nitrogen and phosphate studies under i r r iga ted conditions in heavy clay

so i l s . C.R. Kleinig. (Deniliquin). - Seasonal nitrogen t ransformat ions under pas ture , J. R. Simpson.

- Soil ni trogen in re la t ion to competit ion between skeleton weed and cerea l ; the role of sub te r ranean c lover in the build-up of soil ni t rogen. R„ M. Moore.

- The forms of sulphur in the soil and their determinat ion, A. Steinberg, J . R . F reney (Armidale).

- A survey of the nutr ient s tatus of the soi ls of the New England Region with pa r t i cu la r reference to phosphorus and Sulphur.

K. Spencer, (Armidale)

- Mineral isat ion of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur N . J . B a r r o w ,

(Armidale)

- The role of calcium in nodulation and legume nutri t ion. J Loneragan.

- Chlorine as a plant nutr ient and zinc deficiency in sub te r ranean clover. P . G . Ozanne, (W.A.) D. J . Kirton(WA)

- Re-cycl ing of mobile e lements with deep rooting perennials in coastal sands . E . A . Greenwood, (W.A.)

- The distinction of native plant communit ies in relat ion to soil nutr ient s ta tus . C . W . E . Moore.

- The importance of soil type in the dis t r ibut ion of medics , W.D.Andrew

- Physiological aspec ts of nutr ient uptake from soil in the ear ly s tages of plant growth. R„ F . Wil l iams.

- Nitrogen re la t ionships between soil and plant and the effect of ni t rogen, phosphorus and potassium fe r t i l i ze r s on the growth of tobacco.

P . J . Goodman, W . J . Lovett (Mareeba)

- The role of s i l ica in the so i l -p lan t -an imal cycle, L . H . P . Jones (Melbourne)

- The re la t ionship between, the distr ibution of rain fores t communit ies and soil fert i l i ty. L. Webb (Queensland)

Microbiology.

- P r o b l e m s of legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation. A . H . Gibson, F . W„ Hely, J . Brockwell , F „ J . Be rge r sen .

- Microbiological oxidation of sulphur, P . A. Trudinger.

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- Phosphate solubility and manganese availabil i ty as influenced by microb ia l decomposit ion of organic m a t t e r S. M. Bromfield.

Spec t rochemis t ry

- Spectrographic analys is of soi ls and plants and the uptake of plant nut r ients from soi l . D . J . David

Pe rmeab i l i t y and Water Relations

- The physics of liquid and vapour movement in unsaturated porous media . J . R . Phi l ip . A. Peck.

- Oxygen diffusion and permeabi l i t i e s in the heavy clay soi ls of the N . S . W . Riverina. R, H. Sedgley (Deniliquin)

- Es tab l i shment of pas tu res on heavy clay soils of the N. S. W. Riverina by the addition of gypsum to the i r r iga t ion water . J , L Davidson

(Deniliquin) R„ H. Crockford (Deniliquin). R. H. Sedgley (Deniliquin), in conjunction with J. Quirk, Univers i ty of Adelaide.

- Water usage under i r r iga ted conditions in the N . S . W . Rive r ina . B . D . Mil lar (Deniliquin)

- The effect of soil type, depth and water re la t ions on the es tabl ishment of perennial pas ture spec ies in a r e a s with Medi te r ranean c l imates .

A.W. Humphries . (W.A.)

- Soil mois tu re m e a s u r e m e n t s under different alpine and sub-alpine vegetation types. A . B . Costin.

- Field i r r iga t ion p rob lems . L. F„ Meyers (Deniliquin).

Pedology

- The his tory of evolution of soi ls and landscape fea tures in arid Aus t ra l i a . R.W. Je s sup .

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C . S . I . R . O .

DIVISION OF LAND RESEARCH AND REGIONAL SURVEY

(1) Broad Scale Regional Resources Surveys in Aus t r a l i a a.nd New Guinea.

In this work, pedologists a re closely associated with plant ecologists and geomorphologists in broad scale mapping and descr ipt ion of types of country (land sys t ems) , with the objective of a s se s s ing potential land use. On the mainland the sca le of mapping is genera l ly 1 .1 , 000, 000, and in New Guinea 1" = 2 mi l e s .

Field projec ts in 1959/60 were :

1959 - West Kimber leys , W,A„ (G. K. Rutherford) 1959/60 - Hunter Valley, N. S.W. (R. Van de Graaf) 1959 - Wewak-Lower Sepik Area , New Guinea (H. A. Haantjens) 1960 - Wabag Area , New Guinea (G. K. Rutherford)

(2) Soil Moisture as par t of the Total Water Balance

A group under Dr. R„ O. Slatyer has been studying soil mois tu re changes and movements as part of the total wa te r balance in so i l -p lan t -a tmosphere in spinifex and mulga plant communit ies at Alice Springs. This work is beir.g extended to cultivated c rops at Kimber ley Resea rch Station (Mr. W. R. Stern), and Katherine Resea rch Station (Dr. H .D. B a r r s ) in 1960.

(3) Nutr ient Supplies in Soils.

Dr. E. Phi l l i s is undertaking labora tory and greenhouse studies of nutr ient supplies in soi ls from exper imenta l s i t e s in Northern Aus t ra l ia , and s amp le s collected by Regional Surveys.

(4) Exper imenta l Work at Field Stations in Centra l and Nor thern Aus t ra l ia .

(a) Katherine Resea rch Station, N. T. (i) Land prepara t ion and fe r t i l i s e r r equ i rement s of various c rops

( L . J . Phil l ips)

(ii) Field and labora tory studies of the ni trogen cycle in the soil (R. Wetse laar ) .

(iii) Study of soil crus t ing in relat ion to farming prac t ices and plant development (W.Arndt, at Univers i ty of Queensland. )

(b) Kimberley Resea rch Station, W.A. Land prepara t ion , i r r iga t ion techniques, and fe r t i l i se r r equ i r emen t s

for r i ce , cotton, safflower, l inseed, etc (A.Chapman, N . J . Thomson, D. Beech).

(c) Coastal P la ins Resea rch Station, Darwin, N. T.

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Land prepara t ions including puddling techniques, i r r igat ion and f e r t i l i s e r requ i rements of r i ce (K. Wilson-Jones , D. Moir , and E. Boe rema) .

(d) Alice Springs, N„ T0

Pot exper iments on nutrient s tatus of selected soi ls and field t r i a l s on land prepara t ion and f e r t i l i s e r r equ i rements for the es tabl ishment of pas tu res (R. Winkworth).

C . S . I . R . O .

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY

- Soil and vegetation survey of the Bogan - Macquarie lucust outbreak a r ea ; based on soil surface features and vegetation communit ies as an aid to the location of the mos t favourable habitats of a locus t .

K. H„ L. Key. L. Chinnick.

- The role of insects in the decomposit ion of organic m a t t e r G. F . Bornemissza .

- Corre la t ion of the abundance of lucerne flea and soil t ex ture . M„ M. H. Wallace (W. A.)

- Survival of non-pa ras i t i c s tages of catt le tick on var ious soil types. P . R . Wilkinson. (Qld.)

C .S . I . R .O .

IRRIGATION RESEARCH STATIONS

1) Merbein, Victor ia .

I r r iga t ion and rec lamat ion , hydraul ic conductivity of so i l s , nutri t ion and fe r t i l i ze r r equ i rement s of vines. F . Penman, J . G . Baldwin, D. McE. Alexander , S . F . Bridley, R. C . B . Woodham.

2). Griffith, N . S . W ,

Nutri t ion of c i t ru s ; efficiency of tile drainage s y s t e m s ; hydraulic conductivity m e a s u r e m e n t s ; salinity effects on plant growth; leaching of soluble sa l t s ; evaporat ion from soi l s , using ly s ime te r s . E .R . Hoare, D. Bouma,

H. Groenewegen, T. Ta l sma .

C. S . I . R . O .

SOIL MECHANICS SECTION (Headquar ters : Syndal, Victoria)

Investigations of soi ls for housing and roads in var ious pa r t s of Aus t ra l ia . G. D. Aitchison

Soil movement under roads . B. G. Richards Soil movement under s t r u c t u r e s N. C. Donovan Investigations for building foundations. P . O . Mor r i s (Adelaide)

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C . S . I . R . O .

DIVISION OF METEOROLOGICAL PHYSICS (Headquar ters : Aspendale, Victor ia . )

Lys ime te r investigations of evaporation from soil . I. C. Mcllroy.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

COMMONWEALTH FORESTRY AND TIMBER BUREAU

AUSTRALIAN FORESTRY SCHOOL

- Examination of s o i l - t r e e re la t ionships in selected a r e a s . Influence of fire on fores t so i l s . Influence of t ree spec ies on surface soil c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , C. D„ Hamilton.

DIVISION OF SILVICULTURAL RESEARCH,

- Plant nutri t ion compris ing pot and field t r i a l s and chemical analys is of soil and foliage. Areas being investigated - coasta l sands of J e rv i s Bay N. S. W. , Hawkesbury sandstone soi ls n e a r Moss Vale, N . S . W . and var ious s i tes in the A. C. T. H. D„ Waring.

- The re la t ionship of leaf water deficit to soil mois ture in Pinus radiata in plantations at Green Hills , A. C. T0 R„ D, Johnston.

- The re la t ionship between soil mois tu re and d iamete r increment of Pxnus radia ta at Mount Burr , S. A,

C.K. Pawsey, J . H. Rui ter .

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SOIL SCIENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS : ADDENDA

CURRENT SOIL RESEARCH IN STATE RIVERS AND WATER

SUPPLY COMMISSION, VICTORIA.

1, I r r igat ion;

Measurement of soil mois tu re losses between i r r iga t ions in var ious soil types under permanent pas tu res (jointly with Depar tment of Agricul ture) A. A. Long and A. Webster .

2, Drainage:

(a) Subsurface Study of efficiency of tile drainage at shallow depth in peach o r cha rds having permeable surface soi ls underla in by re la t ive ly impermeable clays ( P . F . Shea).

(b) Su r f ace Study of s u r f a c e d r a i n a g e d e s i g n u s i n g f o r m u l a e b a s e d on r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n run off and s o i l m o i s t u r e l e v e l (A, A . Long and

A. W e b s t e r ) .

3 / Land R e c l a m a t i o n :

I n v e s t i g a t i o n s of effect of l each ing and o t h e r t r e a t m e n t s f o r r e ­c l a m a t i o n of s a l i n e s o i l s ( e x p e r i m e n t a l p lo t s ; j o in t l y wi th D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e ) .

4„ B a t t e r S t ab i l i z a t i on :

The u s e of c r e e p i n g s a l t b u s h (At r ip lex s e m i b a c c a t a ) for B a t t e r S t ab i l i z a t i on ( c o m p l e t e d , E „ P 0 R o b i n s o n aM S. MT Bi l l ) . Method now g e n e r a l l y adop ted in C o m m i s s i o n w o r k s .

5„ G r o u n d w a t e r :

Study of the g r o u n d w a t e r h y d r o l o g y of the M a c a l i s t e r I r r i g a t i o n D i s t r i c t ( N a m b r o k - D e n i s o n A r e a ) in r e l a t i o n to w a t e r l o g g i n g and s a l i n i t y (A, W e b s t e r ) .

6. Ea r th P a m Construction:

Study of behaviour of existing dams by analysing r eco rds of pore p r e s s u r e and se t t lement of Eildon, Cairn Cur ran and Tullaroop Dams.

7. Ea r th P r e s s u r e s on Culverts,;

Measurements of ver t ica l and la te ra l p r e s s u r e s on the concre te culver t through Tullaroop Dam. Resul ts a r e being analysed in associat ion with Univers i ty of Melbourne.

8. Investigations a r e in p r o g r e s s with a view to improving testing p r o ­cedures in d i rec t shea r testing of soils and to develop more effective p rocedures of applying those r e su l t s to stabil i ty calculat ions.

14

TECHNICAL NOTES

A NOTE ON THE CATCLAY SOILS OF THE MEKONG DELTA IN VIETNAM.

(E, Ph i l l i s , C. S. I. R. O . , Division of Land R e s e a r c h and Regional Survey, Canber ra . )

The Mekong r i v e r has its origin in the Thibetan plateau to the north of the Himalayas , and flows in a genera l S . S . E . d i rect ion to empty into the South China Sea some 2, 500 mi les away. This r i v e r has in the cour se of t ime built up about the mouth an enormous flood plain with an elevation varying between 0, 5 and 3m. and deeply dissected by the s eve ra l mouths of the Mekong and its t r i bu t a r i e s . The r i v e r banks have been ra ised in the typical levee formation cutting off a vast a r ea , roughly t r iangular in shape, bounded on the base by the sl ightly ra ised ancient t e r r a c e country of Cambodia, and on the other two s ides by the levees of the Mekong and one of its t r ibu ta r i e s . This "P la in of the Rushes" as it is locally known is approximately 100 mi les a c r o s s the b a s e , and about 30 mi les deep.

The typical vegetation in the region cons is t s of rushes with occasional thickets of Melaleuca. The presence of toxic quant i t ies of soluble aluminium in the soi ls and in the drainage wa te r has been known for some considerable t ime but only recent ly has pedological work on the region been s tar ted under the di rect ion of Dr. F . J . Moorman, a n F . A . O , soil specia l i s t . As may well be imagined there is s t rong in te res t in the rec lamat ion of this land for agr icu l tu ra l use (mainly for r ice growing).

In descr ibing the formation of the depress ion known as the "Pla ins des Jones" Dr . Moorman says " recen t alluvium has been deposited in a c l a s s i c pa t tern with the coa r se textured m a t e r i a l s along s t r eambeds forming the levees , and the fine textured ma te r i a l s as well as peat and muck formations being found away from the s t r eambeds in the back swamps Sedimentation of a la rge par t of these m a t e r i a l s especia l ly in the back swamps has taken place in b rack i sh water . This explains the s t rong acidity of many of the soi ls in this region. Indeed under swampy conditions, the sulphates of the sea wate r a r e reduced to sulphides , mainly iron sulphides, which through drainage and subsequent oxidation give large quanti t ies of iron sulphates as well as sulphuric acid. Solution of the clay by sulphuric acid gives r i s e to the formation of aluminium sulphate, soluble at the existing low pH values . "

"Soils in the back swamps a r e in genera l very acid showing the yellow spotted "ca tc lay" (mottling of i ron sulphate). In the l ess well drained pa r t s no catclay is apparent , but the mudclay soi ls and the muck and peat soi ls of these pa r t s have s t rong potential acidity. Artif icial drainage of such soi ls would r e l ea se large quanti t ies of aluminium in solution. The acid so i l s , among other inconveniences a r e also chemical ly poor. "

A typical "oxidised" profile had the following c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,

0-15 cm. - Greyish -brown clay with humus. pH below 3. 5 15-90 cm. Typical catclay - light brown with yellow flecks of iron

sulphate pH below 3. 5 90 cm. downwards A soft light brown "soapy" clay.

pH approaching neutral i ty.

15

A non oxidised profile had the following c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .

0-4 cm. Layer of organic ma t t e r . 4-50 cm. Greyish clay with much organic mat te r . pH 4. 5-5. 5 5 0 Gin. d'ownwards "Soapy" clay. pH approaching neutral i ty .

This l a t t e r profile has ve ry high potential acidity. When such a soil is aera ted by cultivation or by drainage there is intense production of acidity. In one region where a sugar es ta te had attempted to rec la im such soil by deep cultivation followed by poldering, the acidity of the effluent drainage was said to have approached pHl , The effluent had cer ta in ly played havoc with s tee l dra inage pipes and a s teel pump.

Tes t s ca r r i ed out under labora tory conditions to es t imate the amount of l ime requi red to neut ra l i se the potential acidity of these soi ls have indicated that applications of the o r d e r of 100 tons of l ime (CaO) p e r a c r e would be requi red to neut ra l i se the top 20 inches of soil . )

Exper iments a r e now in p r o g r e s s on the effect of f e r t i l i s e r s on r i c e -cultivation on some of the marg ina l soi ls . In the absence of l ime, there was no response - with the heaviest d ress ing of l ime (9 tons / ac re ) there was some re sponse , but even although this fer t i l ised a r e a was ve ry much be t t e r than the control , it was s t i l l not good.

All the surface water seen in this region as well as the wate r in the canals was mos t marvel lous ly c lear . There were no weeds in the water , and of course no fish. One of the many problems posed by a t tempts at r e c l a m a ­tion in this region is the disposal of the grea t amount of acid that would be formed. In the course of its journey to the sea some 50-100 mi les away, this acid wate r would doubtless spread over the other r ice lands and could do much ha rm to the be t te r country.

It is est imated that some 5 million a c r e s of land a r e affected to some degree by this problem of potential acidity from oxidation of sulphur compounds. P r e s e n t thinking is along the l ines that marg ina l , mildly affected a r e a s may be worth rec lamat ion , but that the a r e a of high potential acidity may bes t be left in this undisturbed s tate and used for the production of such t imbers as will grow on them.

Selected References:

F„ R, Moorman. Sur les conditions pedologiques et las genese de la P la ins des Jones . Sayon 1958.

D . J , v, d, Spek. Katteklei . Vers lagen van handbouwkundige ondersockingen

No. 56, 2.

M. G.R. Hart . Sulphur oxidation in Tidal Mangrove soi ls of S ie r ra Leone. Plant and Soil 11,215 1959.

16

SOILS, GEOCHEMICAL PROSPECTING FOR COPPER, AND HOT LOESS.

(C.G. Stephens, C . S . I . R . O . Division of Soils, Adelaide)

In 1956 Mr. K. T i l l e r of the Division of Soils and the w r i t e r had "on the spot" d iscuss ions with Mr. A. Gibson of the South Aust ra l ian Mines Depar tment about the nature of the soils overlying the abandoned copper mines nn Upper Yorke Peninsula. At that t ime the problem was to classify and chemical ly c h a r a c t e r i s e the soi ls in which varying copper concentrat ions were found reflecting the presence of the lodes below Soil profile inspections in the d i s t r i c t revealed that the general ly deep mantle of soil overlying the ancient copper bearing rocks is composed of at least three major super imposed l a y e r s , the lower ones not neces sa r i l y continuous The lowest is an old la te r i t ic soil var iably silicified and t runcated, the middle layer a deep red clay ma te r i a l with nar row sharply defined alunite bands indicating saline lacust r ine deposition, and the uppermost an a lmost complete blanket of solonized brown soi ls in which much Kunkar (calcareous nodules and c rus t s ) has formed. The geologists map this superf icial m a t e r i a l as a Kunkar horizon.

Recently M e s s r s . R. Woodall and D. Reid of the Western Mining Corporation which is in teres ted in again prospecting the a r ea discussed with the w r i t e r the likelihood or otherwise of the different l aye r s ca r ry ing significant var ia t ions in copper content of use in geochemical prospect ing and other factors such as changing groundwater levels l ikely to influence copper deposition. Mr. R. Crawford of the South Austra l ian Mines Department who is at p resent engaged on a geological mapping of the upper Yorke Peninsula area , ins t iga ted and took pa r t in these d i scuss ions . The d iscuss ions led to a visit to the field for th ree days with Mr. Crawford during which time the composit ion, origin, s t ra t igraphy and chronology of the superficial deposi ts were discussed. Of grea t in te res t was the demonst ra t ion by Mr. Crawford that the Kunkar horizons overl ie not only la te r i t i c soi ls and alunitic clays but a lso in var ious places r e s t on Sturtian t i l l i te , Moonta porphyry, Archaean rocks , Miocene l imestone, Cambrian l imestone 5 and Eocene sands . These super-pos i t ions together with the blanketing effect, r i s ing and falling with the relief of the country, point c lea r ly to the loess ia l na ture of the solonized brown soils and the associa ted Kunkar. Another in teres t ing feature is the presence of N.W. - S. E. oriented r idges of the or iginal loamy and ca lca reous loess in the southern par t of the a r e a and the capping of these r idges by additions of largely decalcified and redis t r ibuted m a t e r i a l in the nor thern portion. These cappings a r e r edde r in colour, c o a r s e r in texture and more susceptible to wind erosion

The information about the soils should be of g rea t cu r r en t in te res t to pedologists for from the new soil map of Aus t ra l ia , now in p r e s s , it is c l e a r that the ca lcareous loess is "hot" and has been der ived, not from an exposed continental shelf, but from the very powdery grey-brown and red ca lcareous dese r t soi ls of the Nullarbor Plain and other d i s t r i c t s in nor thern South Aus t ra l ia which lie adjacent to the solonized brown soi ls . These soi ls a r e very much more extensive than has been revealed by previous soil maps and lie in the path of the s t rong, hot, very turbulent and dusty winds which s t i l l blow from that region.

17

L E T T E R TO THE E D I T O R

The E d i t o r , Soi l s N e w s ,

D e a r S i r ,

I would l ike to ou t l ine a p r o p o s a l for the n a m i n g of A u s t r a l i a n g r e a t s o i l g r o u p s which h a s b e e n b r o a c h e d p r i v a t e l y f rom t i m e to t i m e but which h a s n e v e r p r e v i o u s l y been put f o r w a r d f o r publ ic d i s c u s s i o n

Many of the n a m e s in c u r r e n t u s e in A u s t r a l i a have b e e n taken o v e r f r o m the n a m e s of E u r o p e a n o r A m e r i c a n so i l g r o u p s o r have b e e n d e v i s e d by modi fy ing the o r i g i n a l n a m e . C l o s e s t u d i e s by v a r i o u s w o r k e r s have shown tha t the A u s t r a l i a n s o i l s do not c o r r e s p o n d p r e c i s e l y to the o r i g i n a l s o i l s to wh ich the n a m e w a s app l i ed . The s o - c a l l e d " r e d - y e l l o w podzol ics 1 ' a r e an e x c e l l e n t e x a m p l e of s u c h g r o u p s . The c o m m o n f e a t u r e s which have s u g g e s t e d the n a m e f o r the A u s t r a l i a n s o i l s a r e l e s s i m p o r t a n t than the d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n the A u s t r a l i a n s o i l s and the o r i g i n a l g r o u p s , but t h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s a r e not e a s i l y r e c o g n i s e d .

T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l d i s a d v a n t a g e s in th i s p r a c t i c e . O u r u s e of t h e s e t e r m s c a n be m i s l e a d i n g both to o u r own w o r k e r s who m a y be lead to e x p e c t s i m i l a r i t i e s wh ich do not e x i s t in the p r o p e r t i e s of s o i l s t hey e n c o u n t e r to t h o s e r e p o r t e d o v e r s e a s , and to o v e r s e a s w o r k e r s who m a y d e c i d e tha t the g r o u p s t h e y know have a m u c h w i d e r r a n g e t h a n t h e y had b e l i e v e d . The a u t h o r s of m a n y p a p e r s f r e q u e n t l y have to exp la in how the s o i l s he is d e s c r i b i n g d i f fe r f r o m o t h e r s o i l s of the s a m e n a m e . On the o t h e r hand, m a n y of the n a m e s which have b e e n g i v e n to c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y A u s t r a l i a n g r o u p s a r e often c u m b e r s o m e , e. g. " g r e y and b r o w n s o i l s of h e a v y t e x t u r e " . .

To o v e r c o m e t h e s e p r o b l e m s I would s u g g e s t tha t , when a g r o u p has been e s t a b l i s h e d and def ined , i t be g iven a d i s t i n c t i v e l y A u s t r a l i a n n a m e We have no folk n a m e s for s o i l s s u c h a s e x i s t in m a n y of the E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s bu t s a t i s f a c t o r y n a m e s could be obta ined f rom A u s t r a l i a n a b o r i g i n a l w o r d s for s o i l s , t r e e s , p h y s i c a l f e a t u r e s , and the l ike . The n a m e s c h o s e n need r e f e r to on ly one s p e c i a l f e a t u r e in the s o i l , which m a y be e s p e c i a l l y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of i t , o r even s o m e f e a t u r e in the e n v i r o n m e n t . Only p o r t i o n of the a b o r i g i n a l w o r d need be u s e d , o r two could be c o m b i n e d . Many l i s t s of euphon ious a b o r i g i n a l n a m e s have b e e n pub l i shed and it should be p o s s i b l e to ob ta in f r o m t h e s e , a g r e a t e r n u m b e r of s u i t a b l e n a m e s than a r e n e e d e d .

A few s u g g e s t i o n s f o r n a m e s for g r o u p s a l r e a d y r e c o g n i z e d a r e g iven h e r e . T h e s e n a m e s could be used a s they a r e o r wi th s l i gh t mod i f i ca t i on .

A b o r i g i n a l word A fgb~b~ri — ~ Moonbi Coochin Bundarie

Meaning black ground ashes red clay treeless plain

Great soil group Australian black earth. Podzol Krasnozems Grey and brown soils of

heavy texture.

- 18

A few other examples of words from which we could pick distinctive names a re given in the following list .

Gooyarra Sand Tal tarni red Kooruck soil Bunburra black Wilgee yellow clay Mallawa flat country Wilgarup red soil Algona Mountain Boonoona white ground Illambi big swamp

Most of these examples have been obtained from "Aboriginal Words and the i r Meanings" compiled by Joah H. Sugden (Dymock's Book Arcade) and from Austra l ian Aboriginal Words and P lace Names and the i r Meanings" compiled by S.J . Endacott (Georgian House, Melbourne)

G . C Beckmann.

AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE

FEDERAL COUNCIL NOTES

The Fede ra l Council has met on 4 occasions since the issue of "Soils News" No. 7; on 16th December 1959, 6th Apr i l , 5th May, and 25th May, 196 0. The next meeting is to be in July.

Bus iness

Membersh ip .

Applications for membership were received from 18 appl icants , all of whom were admitted to the Society. The res ignat ions of 8 m e m b e r s over this period were accepted with r eg re t .

Constitution.

Amendments to the draft constitution and by- laws were considered at recent Council meet ings . Copies of these documents will be posted soon to all m e m b e r s .

Soil Classif icat ion Committee

Financial help (£125) was successfully obtained from the Reserve Bank (Rural Credit Fund) to enable the Soil Classif ication Commit tee , convened by Mr. B. E. But ler , to meet in Sydney on the 8th and 9th Apri l , A com­prehensive repor t of the Guy Smith Classif ication System will be presented soon, following this meeting.

Election of V ice -P re s iden t (1960-62)

On the nomination of two candidates , Mr. B„E. But ler (A. C. T. ) and Dr. R. J. Fwaby (S. A. ), a postal ballot was conducted, resul t ing in the election of Mr. B. E. Butler as V ice -P res iden t of the A. S. S. S. for the period 1960-1962.

19

Biennial General Meeting

This meeting will be held on Fr iday , 22nd July I960, at 8 p. m. in the Conference Room of the Waite Agricul tural Resea rch Inst i tute, U r r b r a e , South Aus t ra l ia . Following genera l bus iness and the r epor t s of the Hon, Sec re t a ry and Hon. T r e a s u r e r , an address will be given by the re t i r ing P re s iden t , Mr. J . K . Taylor.

Next Soils Conference

The next soi ls conference will be held e i ther in 1961 or 196 3 The c o r r e c t t ime for this meeting should be in 1962, but this would involve clashing with the Internat ional Soil Science Society meeting of its Soil Fe r t i l i t y and Soil Classif ication Sections in New Zealand. Negotiations a r e being ca r r i ed out to de termine a suitable date and place for the next Austra l ian conference,

MEMBERSHIP CHANGES (16th December - 25th May)

New Members

Aylmore , L„A„G„ (S .A . I ) B r i n e r , G . P . (V. 1) Channon, J . R . (V. 13) Corbet t , J . T. (N.S .W.2) Dunk, W . P . (V. 11) F r i c k e , E. F . (S. A. 11) Greenland, D . J . (S. A. 1) Jones , H. R. (NSW 5) M o r r i s , I . R . J . (V 6)

Member s omitted from Soils News No, 7

Condon, R. (N.S .W.4)

Stefanson, R. (N.S.W. 2)

Wil l iams, O . B . (N.S.W. 14)

Trans fe r s

Atkins, B . F 0 from (NSW. 1) to(NSW. 24)* Beckmann, G. G. from (Q. 2) to (S.A."3) Churchward, H. M. f r o m ( A . C . T . 2 ) to (W.A. 1) Coll ins, P . J . from (N.S.W. 1 ) to (N.S.W. 23) Colwell, J . D . from (N. S. W. 6) to(A. C. T, 2) G r a s m a n i s , V .O . from (V.2) to (V. 12) Hughes, J . D . from (Q. 11) to (Q, 4) Jackson, E . A . from (S.A. 9) to (V. 14)* Litchfield, W. H. from (A. C. T. 2) to (S.A. 9) Maher , B. T. from (N. Sa W. ) to (N. S. W. 22) McCaffrey, L .A . H. from (N. S. W. 7) to (N. S. W. 16)

P e l s , S. (N.S.W. 3) Russe l l , J . S . (S.A. 2) Rutherford, G. K. (ACT3) Sargeant, I . J . (V. 6) Single, W. V. (NSW 6) Skurlow, J. (NSW 4) Stocklin, A. (NSW 3) Van de Craaf, R. H. (ACT 3) Wetse laar , R. (ACT 3)

Resignations.

Horton, I. (Q) S less , J . B . (NSW. 13) Bes t , R. (S.A. 1) Richardson, Miss J. (Q. 2) Spurling, M. (S.A. 2) Edye, L. (Q. 5) Lawson, E . H. (W.A. 3) Andocsy. B, (Q. 1)

20

Trans fe r s (Continued)

Smiles , D. E. from (N. S. W, 17) to (N. S. W. 2) Sparrow, G.W. from (N. S„ W. 1) to (N. S. W. 25)*

* (V. 14)is C . S . I . R . O . , A .R . L. S. , 314 Alber t Street , Eas t Melbourne, (S.'A. 11) is Depar tment of Agr icu l tu re , Hobart, Tasmania . Victor ia . (N.S .W. 22) is 66 Marsden Street , P a r r a m a t t a . (N„S,W. 23) is 33 Darnley Street , Gordon. (N.S.W. 24) is Agricul ture College, Wagga. (N.S.W. 25) is Universi ty of New England, Armidale .

BRANCH ACTIVITIES

South Aust ra l ia .

A meeting of the branch on 28th Apri l heard an addres s by Dr. D . J . Greenland (Agricul tural Chemis t ry Depar tment , Waite Institute) on "The ni t rogen cycle in t ropical ra in fo res t s" . This re fer red to some of the work by Dr. Greenland at the Univers i ty of Ghana before coming to Adelaide.

The Annual General Meeting is to be held on 2 3rd June.

Victoria .

A joint meeting of the branch with the Aust ra l ian Institute of Agr icu l tu ra l Science was held on March 4, when Mr. K . P . Bar ley (Agronomy Depar tment , Waite Insti tute, Adelaide) spoke on "Animals in the Soil".

New South Wale s

A symposium on "The application of soil surveys to land use" was presented at Wagga in September 1959, in conjunction with a meeting of the Riverina Sub-branch. P a p e r s were delivered by B. E. But ler (C. S. I. R„ O.) S .E. Flint (Water Conservat ion and I r r iga t ion Commiss ion, Leeton), F . R . Gibbons (Soil Conservat ion Authori ty, Kew, Victoria) and J„ D. Colwell (Agricultural Resea rch Inst i tute, Wagga). These papers and contributions by o ther speake r s were summar i s ed as follows by R. S to r r i e r and J. D„ Colwell.

"The common theme of a l l the talks given at this symposium on "The application of soil su rvey to land use" has been the need for c r i t i ca l appra i sa l of the c r i t e r i a used in soil mapping.

It would seem that in the f i rs t ins tance, the potential u s e r s of soil maps must specify the soil cha r ac t e r i s t i c s in which they a r e in teres ted . The field worke r may then decide on the possibi l i ty of mapping these or related c r i t e r i a . F o r instance the suitabil i ty of soi ls for lucerne growing within a region may s imply depend on the p resence o r absence of a cemented B horizon, a mappable feature . If on the other hand the c r i t e r i a was t race e lement s ta tus , then the surveyor may not be able to define i ts boundaries . "

21

Talks delivered at other meet ings of the Riverina sub-branch were :

S .E. Flint and A. Stocklin (W. C. & I. C ) , on deep well dra inage , and tile dra inage , respect ively ,

J . K . Taylor ( C . S . I . R . O.) on " P r o b l e m s requir ing a n s w e r s . "

J . Loveday (C. S. I. R. O. , Griffith), on "The determinat ion of soil p roper t ies which limit pas ture production under i r r iga t ion" .

PERSONAL NOTES

A. C. T. BRANCH

Mr. R. B r e w e r will be attending the 7th International Soil Science Congress at Madison U. S. A„ in August. He will p resen t a paper entitled "The petrographic approach to the study of so i l s " .

Mr. B . E . But ler commenced his long se rv ice leave on 7th Apri l . Accompanied by Mrs . But ler he departed on a tour of the Medi te r ranean and Scandinavian count r ies , Br i ta in , U . S . A . , and Japan.

Dr . J . D. Colwell commenced duty with the Division of Soils , C. S. I. R. O. , Canber ra as Senior Chemist in March.

Mr, W. Litchfield has been t rans fe r red from Canber ra to Alice Springs for a period of 3 y e a r s .

Mr. R. J . Hunter who has been working with P r o f e s s o r Alexander at the Univers i ty of Sydney will be continuing his s tudies with the Division of Soils, C S . I . R . O . , Canber ra as from July 18.

Dr . A„V. Blackmore has re turned from the Cornell Univers i ty U . S . A . , where he received a Ph. D. for his work on swelling forces in c lays . After a shor t s tay in Adelaide he re turned to duty with the Division of Soils, C S . I . R . O . , Canber ra .

Dr. K. Rutherford from Norway, and Mr. R. van de Graff from Holland have recent ly a r r ived in Canberra to take up positions as pedologists with the Division of Land Resea rch and Regional Survey, C. S. I. R. O.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Six m e m b e r s will attend the 7th International Soil Science Congress at Madison, U . S . A . , in August. They are Doctors Greacen , Marsha l l , Millington, Quirk, Stephens, and Mr. Tiller. Doctor Marsha l l is v ice -pres ident of the Soil Phys ics Section.

Mr. L. A. G. Aylmore is to leave Aust ra l ia in June to study under P r o f e s s o r L a m a r e at Columbia Universi ty, New York.

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Dr. J„W. McGari ty left Adelaide in Janua ry to take up his new post of Senior Lec tu re r in Soil Science at the Univers i ty of New England.

Mr . E„ A„ Jackson resigned in January from the Division of Soils, C . S . L R . O . to take another position in Melbourne with the Agr icul tura l R e s e a r c h Liasion Section of the same Organisation.

VICTORIA

Associa te P r o f e s s o r G. W. Leeper is abroad this yea r on study leave. His base during leave will be at Rothamsted, England.

Mr. G„ D, Aitchison was abroad for severa l weeks e a r l i e r this yea r . He then attended a conference organized by the Br i t i sh National Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.

Dr . , J . S. Hosking left Aus t ra l i a las t August for a period of 18 months in the U,S .A 0 where he is associa ted with geological su rvey work in Il l inois.

Mr . R. G. Downes left in May for a period of two months to be spent w i t h F . A . O . in I s r ae l .

Miss M. Dettman recent ly resigned from the Soil Mechanics Section of C. Sa I. Ra O. to take up a staff appointment with the Universi ty of Melbourne.

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SUMMARIES OF TALKS

THE USE OF SOIL SURVEYS IN IRRIGATION LAND USE PLANNING (Summary of talk presented to the Riverina Sub-Branch on 9th September,

1959 by S .E. Flint , Water Conservat ion and I r r igat ion Commiss ion, Leeton)

Since soil is one of the factors de termining the suitabili ty of land for any par t i cu la r use under i r r igat ion, soil surveys have been used widely in i r r igat ion planning at var ious levels .

Pu rposes for which soil su rveys a r e requi red , in increas ing o rde r of survey intensity, a r e . -

(a) Selection and delineation of a r e a s of soi ls most suitable for i r r igat ion development and indication of range of possible use .

(b) Definition of a r e a s of soi ls suitable for var ious intensi t ies of i r r igat ion agr icu l tu re

(c) Land classif icat ion for subdivision into economic uni ts . (d) Internal fa rm planning and working.

The grea tes t use of so i l surveys by planning author i t ies and agr icu l tu ra l advisory officers, is in connection with phases (c) and (d) and the comments which follow apply par t icu lar ly to these a spec t s .

Where fa rms a r e based on a d ivers i ty of operat ions , land * dis tr ibut ion should, ideally, be such a s to allow for the maximum combination of fa rm e n t e r p r i s e s , i . e . for fa rms of a given s ize and organization the re should be equal opportunity. Where fa rms a r e based on more intensive usage and thus a limited range of operat ions , it is n e c e s s a r y to ensure that each unity con­ta ins sufficient a r e a of land * suitable for the intended c rop or c rops and the t rea tment n e c e s s a r y for the production of these c rops under i r r iga t ion .

The above necess i t a t e s an ae r i a l delineation of soi ls or groups of soi ls classif ied in such a way a s to exp re s s the i r suitabili ty for var ious u s e s . In th is connection many soil surveys ca r r i ed out in the past in country a l ready i r r iga ted or intended for i r r igat ion development a r e of l imited value. Al­though such surveys have been initiated because they were requi red for land-use purposes , classif icat ion has been based mainly on ideas concerning the origin of the so i l s (ei ther preconceived or formulated during the course of survey) together with external environmental factors which aid in mapping. This often r e su l t s in the differentiating c ha ra c t e r i s t i c s not being coincident with those c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s which may be l imit ing with regard to i r r igat ion agr icu l tu re .

A second deficiency occurs in the a s s e s s m e n t of the units of classif icat ion; a s s e s s m e n t up to date has been by qualitative compar ison with c rop r e sponses on the s a m e o r s i m i l a r so i l s . This method fails if so i l s which have not previously been used under i r r igat ion a r e encountered or if new crops a r e being considered. It then becomes n e c e s s a r y to attempt to

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* The t e r m "land"is used as opposed to " so i l " because a s s e s s m e n t of i r r iga t ion land potential a lso involves considerat ion of surface slope and underdramage potential, e i ther or both of which may be more l imiting than the soi l .

a s s e s s the soil cha r ac t e r i s t i c s in t e r m s of crop, and t rea tment under i r r iga t ion . This is the logical fundamental approach" in any case. However, very little has been done with regard to determining specific c rop physical r equ i rement s (Physical because the physical p roper t i e s of the soil a r e the most l imiting under i r r igat ion and most difficult to co r rec t ) and relat ing such r equ i remen t s to readily observable and determinable soil p roper t i es in any region. This points to the need for r e s e a r c h into limiting soil p roper t i e s with respec t to es tabl ishment and productivity of different i r r iga ted c rops , taking into account land t r ea tment and changes which occur under i r r igat ion management .

It is considered that, for i r r igat ion soil surveys at the more intensive levels , in terpre t ive classif icat ions, which have in view the range of possible land-use , become n e c e s s a r y . Soil survey then involves delineating those kinds of soil sufficiently uniform in the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s which control l imiting p roper t i e s that the same resu l t s can be expected from a given use or t r ea tmen t .

It is obvious that the t a sk of the soil surveyor is made more difficult in that the mapping units will not always conform to mappable external fea tures .

SOIL SURVEYS AND SOIL FERTILITY

(Summary of a talk given to the Riverina Sub-Branch on 9th September, 1959, b y J . D . Colwell, Agr icul tura l R e s e a r c h Institute, Wagga, N. S. W. )

Soil sc ien t i s t s in genera l a r e often c r i t i c i sed on the faulty assumption that t he i r p r i m a r y objective is to study soil ferti l i ty. Whilst it may be argued that this should be the i r p r i m a r y objective the fact r ema ins that p rob­lems of soil fert i l i ty a r e r a r e l y considered ser ious ly by the majori ty of Soil Scient is ts , par t icu la r ly Pedologis ts , Soil Chemis ts and Soil Phys ic i s t s .

The Pedologist (or Soil Surveyor) is concerned with the 3 dimensional distr ibution of those soil features which a r e readi ly observed in the field, or which may be readi ly determined in the laboratory. Since soil fert i l i ty is mainly a ma t t e r of chemis t ry and physics, the application of soil survey to problems of soil ferti l i ty is limited by the edaphic value of the chemical and physical tools available to the Pedologist . Obviously soil surveys based p r imar i ly on colour and texture a r e , as agronomis t s hasten to point out, of l i t t le value in solving problems in soil fert i l i ty. Surveys incorporat ing such s tandard chemical and physical data as mechanical analys is , total P, total N, total C, tota l exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na, K, H," and pH a r e li t t le be t te r s ince these analyses reflect e i ther vaguely or not at all the physical and chemical c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of soi ls that affect plant growth. Until the chemist and physicist can provide for the Pedologist tools that m e a s u r e direct ly the soil c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s that affect plant growth, soil surveys can be expected to be of li t t le value in the study of soil fert i l i ty.

The work on the chemis t ry of soil phosphorus xhat is being c a r r i e d out at the Agr icul tura l R e s e a r c h Institute, Wagga i l lus t ra tes the type of chemical tool becoming available to the pedologist. This work has shown that the amount of phosphate in the soil solution (i. e. available phosphate) is determined by (i) the total amount of phosphate in the soil; solution equil ibr ium sys tem, (ii) the solution pH, (ill) exchangeable cations and free sa l ts and (iv) the phosphate sorption capacity of the soil . All of these c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s must be

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evaluated before the levels of available phosphate in different soil types can be compared . The total phosphate in the equil ibrium ref lects l and-use , parent m a t e r i a l and leaching. pH, exchangeable cations and free sa l t s a r e accepted pedogenic ind ica tors . Sorption capacity is possibly a function of the hydration, c rys ta l l in i ty and extent of the same i ron-a luminium sur faces that de te rmine soil colour and consis tency. Thus by a s se s s ing the soil c h a r a c t e r i s ­t i cs that de te rmine phosphate availabil i ty the pedologist would be both providing information of d i rec t agr icu l tu ra l value and, gaining information of value to pedology, per se .

EVAPORATION FROM THE LAND SURFACE AS CONTROLLED

BY SOIL MOISTURE SUPPLY

(Summary of a talk given to the South Austra l ian Branch on 2 7th August, 1959 b y M r . ' J . W . Holmes , Division of Soils , C . S . I . R . O . )

The p r i m a r y source of energy for converting liquid water into water vapour, in the p r o c e s s of evaporat ion from the land sur face , is the net input of radiat ion from the sun. In a humid c l imate , there is always presen t a bountiful supply of wa te r , and the evaporation ra te is then determined solely by the available energy and i t s par t i t ion between the evaporation p roces s , heating of the lower l ayers of the a tmosphere , and heating of the soil

In an ar id c l imate , the input of radiant energy exceeds what wa te r could be evaporated. The evaporat ion ra te is then determined largely "by the quantity of wa te r available for evaporat ion, and the ra te at which wa te r moves from the soil to plant roots or towards evaporating s i t e s nea r the soil surface .

The soi l moi s tu re regime in an arid or s e m i - a r i d cl imate is cha rac te r i sed by periods of r echa rge of soil mois tu re during rainy seasons followed by long droughts during which the soil mois tu re is depleted The extract ion of soil water by plant roo t s o r by d i rec t evaporat ion from o r near the soil surface , is a ra te p rocess which diminishes as the soil wa te r content becomes sma l l e r . Exper iments on pas ture on the Waite Institute fields showed that the evaporat ion ra te equalled the potential evaporat ion, until the suction in the root zone reached a value of about 3. 2 pF. Then the evaporat ion ra te became s m a l l e r than the potential r a t e . This resu l t for a red-brown ear th soil , may be contras ted with r e su l t s obtained in an exper iment on heath and lucerne vegetation on a deep sand soil , when the suction was not higher than about pF 2. 2, at the t ime of reduction of evaporat ion r a t e .

The cha rac t e r i s t i c s of a soil-plant unit a r e determined by the density of roots in the root zone, and the unsaturated permeabi l i ty of the soil . The l a t t e r , as is well known, falls off rapidly with increas ing soil xnoisture suction.

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WATER USAGE BY WHEAT

(Summary of a talk given to the South Aust ra l ian Branch on 2 7th August, 1959 by R, J„ F rench , South Aus t ra l ian Depar tment of Agr icul ture . )

A study onthe soil mois ture reg ime and its re la t ion to the yield of a wheat c rop is being conducted by the Depar tment of Agricul ture at 5 country cen t r e s . The cen t res a r e Wanbi, Minnipa, Gladstone, Maitland and Turret f ie ld . These s i tes r ep re sen t a range of solonised brown soi ls and red brown ear ths in rainfal ls from 12 - 2 0" pe r annum.

The mois tu re contents of the upper 4 feet of profile a r e measured over the preceding s u m m e r and in the growing period from seeding to harves t . A number of aspec ts of mois tu re usage a r e being related to the yield of the crop.

In addition, the wilting point and field capaci t ies of these soi ls a r e being measu red , together with the clay, calcium carbonate and stone content. These factors will give information on the availabil i ty of the soil mois tu re .

The t r i a l has so far been in p r o g r e s s only 2 y e a r s , during which one season was v e r y d r y (1957) and the other reasonably good (1958). The indications from this work a r e therefore only tentative at present ,

Some of these indications a r e :

1. A good build up of soil moi s tu re occurs only if there a r e good winter r a ins and the soil is fallowed before the pas ture flowers.

2. Once the topsoil d r i e s out, there is usual ly little fur ther loss of soil mois tu re from the fallow over the s u m m e r period. This occurs in soi ls with a well defined clay layer at about a foot. However, in one soil (Minnipa) where the profile has a fair ly uniform light texture throughout it appears that lo s ses from the fallow over s u m m e r a r e much g r e a t e r and extend to the deeper l aye r s .

In gene ra l , the mo i s tu r e loss from fallow over s u m m e r is somewhat less than the loss from land ca r ry ing dead g r a s s .

3. The crop yields were co r re l a t ed with the mois tu re in the soil at seeding t ime in the dry yea r (1957) but not in the wet te r year , 1958„ In nei ther yea r was there a significant co r re la t ion between crop yield and mois tu re used.

4. In genera l , mo i s tu r e was used more efficiently for grain production in the dry year than in the wet year .

5. There is a suggest ion that the maximum yield difference between c rop on fallow and no fallow is about 13 bushels pe r a c r e at a soil mois tu re difference of about 3^ inches.

6. In the dry yea r , the c rops obtain from 30 - 50% of the i r mois tu re r equ i rement from the s tored mois tu re compared with 15 - 25% in the wet year .

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NEWS ITEMS AND NOTES

NEW ZEALAND SOIL NEWS Recent i ssues of "New Zealand Soil News" included the following

fea tures :

Soils of N. Z. Gley and Saline Gley soi ls (1959, No. 2) Yellow Brown Pumice Soils (1959, No. 6, 1960, No. 1) Gley Podzols (1960, No. 2)

Soil Conditions and Animal Health: Facia l Eczema R e s e a r c h (1959, No. 3) Selenium (1959, No. 4)

Soil Po tass ium (1959, No. 4) Dental Ca r i e s and Soils (1959, No. 3) Radioactivity in N. Z. Soils (1959, No. 3)

THE WAY AHEAD

This is the t i t le of the pres ident ia l add re s s by A. G. Norman, at the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the Amer ican Society of Agronomy. The following excerpt from this add re s s was supplied by J . T. Hutton (S. A. ) for inclusion he re .

"The Soil Environment . Much of what has been said up to now would appear to re la te p r ima r i l y to the plant without reference to the soi l . Soil sc ien t i s t s have t radi t ional ly adopted a chemical approach to the study of the soil and of plant nutr ients in thesoil , yet they have usually stopped short of the point where soil-plant re la t ionships begin, namely the root surface or the soi l - root interface. Conversely, plant physiologists have ordinar i ly examined root functions in environments completely different f r o m those provided by soi l . Mechanism studies on nutrient uptake a r e making considerable headway at p resen t . Our concept of uptake p r o c e s s e s in plants is undergoing considerable change. P r i m a r y entry into roots appears to be a diffusion phenomenon r a the r than an osmotic phenomenon and not an energy-dependent p r o c e s s . Subsequent accumulation into ce l l s , however, is energy-dependent . An appreciable part of the appa ren t exchange capacity of roots may be internal . There a r e good reasons for believing that water can move within plants through a continuous sys tem without ce l lu la r b a r r i e r s , and that inorganic and organic molecules both enter and leave plants r a the r freely through roots and leaves . Plant composit ion may be more dependent on wate r r eg ime than has hi therto been supposed, and s imi l a r ly the apparent quantitative nutrient r equ i rement s of a pa r t i cu la r c rop may be more a function of soil environment and water supply than an absolute var ie ta l r equ i rement . It might be pertinent to ask whether t he re is any way of determining the absolute nutrient r e q u i r e ­ments of a plant, or whether such information would be meaningful if it were obtained. An ideal nutr i t ional environment indeed may be one in which all nutr ients e lements a r e available to the point of slight luxury consumption at all t i m e s .

Mechanism studies will no doubt provide explanations for the fact that different crop species grown side by side in the same soil withdraw quite

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different amounts of nut r ient e lements , an observat ion which has become m o r e difficult to understand if it is t rue that the soil solution has free entry into the roo ts . It can only be supposed that the presence of the roots them­se lves with the i r associa ted mantle of m ic roo rgan i sms so modifies the composit ion of the soil solution that that which en te r s and from which accumulat ion takes place is quite d i s s imi l a r to that at a distance from the roo ts . This is perhaps another way of saying that the importance of exchan§ e reac t ions in plant nutri t ion has not yet been a s s e s s e d . "

BURIED SOILS.

The Joint Planning Committee for the Regional Resea rch and Extension Study, Southern Tablelands of N, S. W. , recent ly held a school for local officers in teres ted in the soil layering of that region Organisat ions who sent the i r men along were : N. S. W. Depar tment of Agricul ture (4), Soil Conservat ion Service of N, S. W. (1), Rura l Bank of N„ S. W.) (3), National Capital Development Commiss ion (2), Aust ra l ian F o r e s t r y School (1), Stock and Agricul ture Section, Depar tment of In ter ior (2), Depar tment of P r i m a r y Industry (1), and C S . I . R . O . (4).

As par t of the work of theCommit tee , K .D . Woodyer has prepared a r epo r t on the soi ls of the Yass Valley. This is based on field s tudies by D. C. van Dijk of C S. I„ R O Division of Soils. The repor t will be made available l a te r this yea r following the appearance of a paper by van Dijk on the pediplain bas ins . Other r epo r t s of the Committee deal with c l imate , water r e s o u r c e s , and plant nutri t ion of the Yass Valley.,

The purpose of the t h ree -day res ident ia l school, which was held in Canbe r r a , was to co r r e l a t e information contained in the soi ls r epor t with agronomic r e sponses in different si tuations. The mos t obvious implicat ions, it was d i scovered , re lated to soil conservat ion and fores t ry It is possible that a shift from sub te r ranean clover , the most popular sown spec ies in the grazing a r e a s , to plants that can exploit the mois ture and nut r ients of the deeper soil l ayers may p resen t new cor re la t ions between soil and management p rac t i ces .

Institute of Aus t ra l ian Geographers

This institute was established during the A . N . Z . A . A . S . Congress at Adelaide m August 1958. The f irst genera l meeting was held in Janua ry at Melbourne. The principal of f ice-bearers of the Council a r e : P res iden t : P r o f e s s o r Griffith Taylor; V ice -Pres iden t : P r o f e s s o r O. H. K. Spate; S e c r e t a r y - T r e a s u r e r : Dr. K. W. Thomson.

This information was given in the Aust ra l ian Journal of Science (April 196 0), which also mentions that the Institute plans to publish 1) The Austra l ian Geographical Record annually, 2) a r egu la r Journal , and 3) a. s e r i e s of monographs .

A National Commit tee for Geography nominated by the Institute has been formed by the Aust ra l ian Academy of Science The convener is P r o f e s s o r O. H. K. Spate.

2 9

C . S . I . R . O . Soils Labora tory in Adelaide.

Work s tar ted in April 196 0 on construct ion of a t h r e e - s t o r y labora tory building for the C . S . I . R . O . Division of Soils at the Waite Agr icu l tu ra l Resea rch Institute nea r Adelaide. It will provide labora tory and office accommodation for 45 staff member s at a cost of £175, 000 Occupation of this building is expected in September 1961 for the following sec t ions : soil physics , soil microbiology, soil su rvey and pedology, clay mineralogy; and micropedology. The soil Chemis t ry section will r emain with the office block in the building officially opened in March 1959 The Division recent ly took possess ion in Adelaide of a new workshop building and a new s to r e . Work has a lso commenced on the erec t ion there of a second glasshouse for the Division.

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