MySoil: Clays and shallow loamy duplexes (Central North)

Grey or brown loam over light to medium clay subsoils. Grey and red non cracking clays.

Broadscale map (1:250 000) of the Central north Agzone showing the distribution of clays and shallow loamy duplexes. The majority of the region shows clays occupying 3–10% from Dowerin to Bonnie Rock with some areas of 50-100% and 10–25%.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for red/brown non-cracking clay (soil group 622). The soil profile is red or brown clay throughout and sometimes with unknown substrates from 60cm depth.
Soil pit showing the profile of red/brown non-cracking clays in the Central north region. The soil profile is red/brown clay throughout.

Summary

Table 1 Clays shallow loamy duplex summary
Occurrence Central North (14%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

504 Grey shallow loamy duplex (Grey clay soil)

507 Red shallow loamy duplex (Jam soil)

508 Yellow/Brown shallow loamy duplex (Moort soils)

601 Hard cracking clay

621 Grey non-cracking clay

622 Red/brown non-cracking clay

Also known as

 Grey clay soil, Jam soil, Moort soil
Australian soil classifications

504 Grey or Yellow Chromosol, Grey or Yellow Sodosol

507 Red Chromosol, Red Sodosol, Red Dermosol

508 Yellow or Brown Chromosol, Yellow or Brown Sodosol

601 Epipedal, Crusty or Massive Vertosol

621 Grey or Yellow Dermosol, Grey or Yellow Kandosol

622 Red or Brown Dermosol, Red or Brown Kandosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Surface soils are hard loams and clays.
  • Inherently fertile throughout.

Subsoil

  • Dense poorly drained loamy to light clay subsoils.
  • Subsoils can range from mildly acidic to highly alkaline with carbonate at depth.
  • Saline and sodic subsoils common.
  • Drainage is impaired.

Constraints

The following data has been derived from actual site samples taken. These results are recorded in this Excel spreadsheet.

Table 2 Common management constraints key
Rating Limitation
Not applicable (n/a) No constraints identified
Minor Minor constraint - reduces crop yields in some years
Major Major constraint - reduces crop yields in most years
Severe Severe constraint - will always reduce crop yields
Table 3 Management constraints for clays shallow loamy duplex

Soil Groups of WA

504 Grey shallow loamy duplex*

504 Grey shallow loamy duplex*

507 Red 508 Yellow/brown shallow loamy duplex*

507 Red 508 Yellow/brown shallow loamy duplex*

 601 Hard cracking clay

601 Hard cracking clay

621 Hard grey clay

622 Hard red/brown clay*

621 Hard grey clay

622 Hard red/brown clay*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil
Acidity and aluminium toxicity n/a

n/a

 Minor Minor

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Salinity

n/a

n/a

n/a

Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Major

n/a

 Major

n/a

 Major
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor
Poor nutrient retention

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Aggregate stability

n/a

 Major

n/a

 Major

n/a

 Major

n/a

 Minor
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Hard setting and crusting Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Major

n/a
Water repellence

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Low plant available water

n/a

n/a

 Minor Minor

n/a

n/a

 Minor Minor
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

*Note - Data derived from site identifications (ID's).

  • Soil Group of WA - 504 Grey shallow loamy duplex site ID includes: FFS 0048.
  • Soil Group of WA - 507 Red, 508 Yellow/Brown shallow loamy duplex site ID includes: COR 0183, FFS 0133, COR 1497, COR 1031, SCS 0313, FFS 0067, FFS 0052, FFS 0063, FFS 0062, FFS 0044, FFS 0326.
  • Soil Group of WA - 601 Hard cracking clay site ID includes: FFS 0131, COR 1032, MRA 0501.
  • Soil Groups of WA - 621 Hard Grey Clay, 622 Hard Red/Brown Clay site ID includes: FFS 0043, MRA 0187.

Further information

Department of Agriculture and Food (2013) Report card on sustainable natural resource use in agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Grealish, G and Wagnon, J (1995) Land Resource of the Bencubbin Area. Land Resource Series No. 12. Agriculture Western Australia.

Lantzke, N and Fulton, I (1993) Land Resource of the Northam Region. Land Resource Series No. 11. Agriculture Western Australia.

McArthur, WM (2004) Reference Soils of South-western Australia (Reprint). Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Moore, G (2004) Soil Guide: A Handbook for Understanding and Managing Agricultural Soils. Bulletin 4343. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Sawkins, D (2010) Landscapes and Soils of the Northam District. Bulletin 4803. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Sawkins, D (2009) Landscapes and Soils of the Merredin District. Bulletin 4788. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Schoknecht, N and Pathan, S (2013) Soil Groups of Western Australia. Resource Management Technical Report 380. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Stoneman, TC. (1992) An Introduction to the Soils of the Merredin Advisory District. Bulletin 4235. Department of Agriculture.

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:37am