MySoil: Clays and shallow loamy duplexes (Moora to Kojonup)

Grey red or brown loam over light to medium clay subsoils.

Broad scale map (1:250 000) of the Moora to Kojonup Agzone showing the distribution of clays and shallow loamy duplexes. The majority of the region distribution of 10–25% from the Cranbrook to Clackline. Cunderin also has scattered area of 50–100%.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for Grey shallow loamy duplex (soil group 504). The soil profile is grey loam over clay at <30cm.
Soil pit showing the profile of grey shallow loamy duplex in the Moora to Kojonup region. The soil profile is grey loam over non-alkaline clay at <30cm.

Summary

Table 1 Clays and shallow loamy duplexes summary
Occurrence

Moora to Kojonup (10%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

504 Grey shallow loamy duplex (Grey Clay, Moort soil)

507 Red shallow loamy duplex (Jam soil)

508 Yellow/Brown shallow loamy duplex (Mallee duplex)
Also known as

Grey Clay, Moort soil, Jam soil, Mallee duplex, Shallow hard –setting grey sandy loam over clay, slopes of brown loamy duplex
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

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Surface soils are hard loams.

Subsoil

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

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 Implications
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 and shallow loamy duplexes

Soil Group of WA

504 Grey shallow loamy duplex*

504 Grey shallow loamy duplex*

507 Red shallow loamy duplex*

507 Red shallow loamy duplex*

508 Yellow/Brown shallow loamy duplex*

508 Yellow/Brown shallow loamy duplex*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil

Acidity and aluminium toxicity

 Minor n/a Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

Salinity

n/a

 Major

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

 Minor

Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Poor nutrient retention

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Aggregate stability

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor

Compaction and hard layers

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

Water repellence

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low plant available water

 Major Major

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Water-logging (seasonal constraint)

n/a

 Minor

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Wind erosion (seasonal constraint)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Water erosion (seasonal constraint)

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 soils site ID includes: FFS 0094, FFS 0101, KLC0 797.
  • Soil Group of WA - 507 Red soils site ID includes: P 0555, COR 1666, KLC 0494.
  • Soil Group of WA - 508 Yellow/Brown soils site ID includes: FFS 0128, KLC 0149, KLC 0496, MRA 0006, MRA 1186.

Further information

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

Fulton, I and Lantzke, N (1993) Soils of the Northam Advisory District: The Darling Range and West Kokeby Zones. Bulletin No. 4257. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Lantzke, N (1992) Soils of the Northam Advisory District. Bulletin No. 4244. The Zone of Ancient Drainage. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Lantzke, N (1993) Soils of the Northam Advisory District. Bulletin No. 4245. The Zone of Rejuvenated Drainage. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

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

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.

Percy, H (2000) Katanning Area Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 16. Agriculture Western Australia.

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

Sawkins, D (2010) Landscapes and Soils of the Narrogin District. Bulletin 4807. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Sawkins, D (2010) Landscapes and Soils of the Katanning District. Bulletin 4817. 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 (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Moora Advisory District. Bulletin 4182. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Stoneman, TC (1991) An Introduction to the Soils of the Narrogin Advisory District. Bulletin 4221. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Stoneman, TC (1991) An Introduction to the Soils of the Katanning Advisory District. Bulletin 4202. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Verboom, B and Galloway, P (2004). Corrigin Area Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 20. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

 

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:35am