Summary
Occurrence | Swan Coastal Plain (25%) |
---|---|
Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA) | 442 Calcareous deep sands (Coastal limestone sands) 444 Pale Deep sands (Banksia sands) |
Also known as | Banksia sands, Deep calcareous coastal sands |
Australian soil classifications | 442 – Shelly Rudosol, Shelly Calcarosol 444 – Bleached –Orthic Tenosol, Aeric Podosol |
Distinguishing features
Topsoil
- Pale grey, white or pale yellow water repellent sands.
Subsoil
- Pale sand matrix to 80cm.
- Ironstone gravels (<20%) or weak coffee rock layer may be present <80cm (444).
- Ironstone gravels (>20%) or strong coffee rock layer may be present <80cm (443).
- Coloured sands may be present at depths > 30cm (444, 443).
- Subsoils highly leached with poor nutrient status and retention.
- Soil pH ranges from acid to neutral (443, 444) to highly alkaline (442) with limestone and calcrete.
Constraints
The following data has been derived from actual site samples taken. These results are recorded in this Excel spreadsheet.
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 |
Soil Group of WA | 442 Calcareous deep Coastal sand* | 442 Calcareous deep Coastal sand* | 444 Grey/white deep sand* | 444 Grey/white deep sand* |
Constraints | Topsoil | Subsoil | Topsoil | Subsoil |
Acidity and aluminium toxicity | n/a | n/a | Major | n/a |
Salinity | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Sodicity and alkalinity | n/a | Minor | n/a | n/a |
Boron toxicity | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Poor nutrient retention | Severe | Severe | Severe | Severe |
Aggregate stability | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Compaction and hard layers | n/a | n/a | n/a | Major |
Hard setting and crusting | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Water repellence | Minor | n/a | Severe | n/a |
Low plant available water | Major | Major | Severe | Severe |
Water-logging (seasonal) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Wind erosion (seasonal) | Major | n/a | Minor | n/a |
Water erosion (seasonal) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
*Note - Data derived from site identifications (ID's).
- Soil Group of WA - 442 Calcareous deep Coastal sand site ID includes: NCP 0803, NCP 0881.
- Soil Group of WA - 444 Grey/white deep sand site ID includes: SWL 0071, SWL 0072, CHT 1110, CHT 1106.
Further information
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.