MySoil: Coloured deep sands (Swan Coastal Plain)

Brown, yellow and red sands >80 centimetres (cm) deep.

Broad scale map (1:250 000) of the Swan coastal plain Agzone showing the distribution of coloured sands. The high distribution of 50–100% is shown along the coastline from Lancelin to Margaret River.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for yellow deep sand. The soil profile is yellow sands greater than 80cm deep.
Soil pit showing the profile of yellow deep sand in the Swan coastal plain region.

Summary

Table 1 Coloured deep sands summary
Occurrence Swan Coastal Plain (14%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

441  Brown deep Sand (Alluvial brown sands)

445  Red deep sand

446 Yellow deep sand (Spearwood sand, Karrakatta sands)

Also known as

 Alluvial brown sands, Spearwood sand, Karrakatta sands
Australian soil classifications

441- Orthic Tenosol, Aeric Podosol

445 – Red-Orthic Tenosol

446 – Yellow-Orthic Tenosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Brown, red or yellow acidic sands.

Subsoil

  • Ironstone gravel may be present (445, 446).
  • Subsoils sands often acid to neutral pH.
  • Limestone or ferricrete may be present > 80cm.

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 coloured deep sands

Soil Group of WA

441 Brown deep sand*

441 Brown deep sand*

445 Red deep sand*

445 Red deep sand*

446 Yellow deep sand*

446 Yellow deep sand*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil
Acidity and aluminium toxicity Major Major Minor Minor Minor Minor
Salinity n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention Severe Severe Major Major Major Major
Aggregate stability

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor
Hard setting and crusting

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Water repellence Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a
Low plant available water Severe Severe Major Major Major Major
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal) Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

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

  • Soil Group of WA - 441 Brown deep sand site ID includes SWL 0192.
  • Soil Group of WA - 445 Red deep sand site ID includes GWRDC MR_06_RU, GWRDC MR_05_RU.
  • Soil Group of WA - 446 Yellow deep sand site ID includes NCP 0877.

Further information

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

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

McArthur, WM and Bettenay, E (1960) The Development and Distribution of the Soils of the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. Publication No.16. CSIRO, Melbourne, Vic.

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

Smolinski, HJ and Scholz, G (1997) Soils of the West Gingin Area. Land Resources Series No. 15. Agriculture Western Australia.

Tille, PJ and Lantzke, NC (1990) Busselton Margaret River Augusta Land Capability Study. Land Resources Series No. 5. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Wells, MR (1989) Land Capability Study of the Shires of Mandurah and Murray. Land Resources Series No. 2. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

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