A field day was held in Western Victoria in order to show in-field variation of soil types, the degree of the variation, its relation to the landscape and its management implications.The field site was put in its broad geomorphological setting to show the broader trends in the landscape. The resultant patterns given the local site its context, providing a method of noting likely relevance to visiting participants. The soil pits selected in the one field have limited elevational difference (2m at most) but range from alkaline (sodic) red texture contrast soils (Red Sodosols; Isbell, 2002) on the crests and upper slopes, with grey clay soils (Grey Vertosols) and yellow sodic texture contrast soils (Yellow Sodosols) with friable, loose (self mulching) surfaces in lower topographic positions. Variations at the lower landscape positions were due to gilgai (mound and hollow) relief with poor local drainage.

The local land use is predominantly cereal production. The provision of data on nutrients gave an indication of the likely effect of boron on plant behaviour as well as sodicity and salinity. A consensus from local agronomists was that boron and sodicity had an effect at depth (0.5-0.8m) while the presence of carbonates per se was not necessarily detrimental to cereal or pasture root penetration.

The variation in soil types over 500m in the one field (paddock) highlights possible variations in surface variability of pH, friability and surface crusting as well as deeper soil issues of drainage, water storage and nutrient availability.