MySoil: Deep loamy duplexes and earths (Southern Wheatbelt)

Brown or Red loams grading to clay.

Broad scale map (1:250 000) of the Southern Wheatbelt Agzone showing the distribution of deep loamy duplexes and earths. Distribution is scattered with Corrigin region showing 10–25% and Hyden to Lake Grace showing 25–50%.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for Brown loamy earth. Brown loam (maybe clayey at depth).
Soil pit showing the profile of Brown loamy earth in the Southern Wheatbelt region.

Summary

Table 1 Deep loamy duplexes and earths summary
Occurrence Southern Wheatbelt (5%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

505 Brown deep loamy duplex (Deep Yate loam)

506 Red deep loamy duplex (York Gum soil)

541 Brown loamy earth (Yate loam)

544 Red loamy earth (Red loam, Yate loam)

Also known as

 Deep Yate loam, York Gum soil, Yate loam, Red loam, Yate loam
Australian soil classifications

Mesotrophic Red or brown Kandosol, Mesotrophic Red or brown Dermosol

505, 506 – Yellow, Brown or Red Chromosol, Yellow, Brown or Red Sodosol

541, 544 – Brown or red  Kandosol, Brown or red Dermosol,

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Red or brown hard loams.
  • Prone to  hard-setting.
  • Acidic (505, 541, 544) to neutral/alkaline(506) pH.

Subsoil

  • Neutral to alkaline.
  • Few root restrictions.
  • Calcareous nodules (506) or ironstone gravels (541, 544) may be present.

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 deep loamy duplexes

Soil Groups of WA

505 Brown or

506 Red deep loamy duplex*

505 Brown or

506 Red deep loamy duplex*

541 Brown or

544 Red loamy earth*

541 Brown or

544 Red loamy earth*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil

Acidity and aluminium toxicity

 n/a

n/a

 Minor Minor
Salinity

n/a

 Major

n/a

n/a
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Minor
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Aggregate stability

n/a

 Minor

n/a

n/a
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Hard setting and crusting Major

n/a

 Minor

n/a
Water repellence

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Low plant available water

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

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 - 505 Brown deep loamy duplex site ID includes: COR 1770.
  • Soil Group of WA - 506 Red deep loamy duplex site ID includes: TBO 0283.
  • Soil Group of WA - 541 Brown loamy earth site ID includes: JSI 1065.
  • Soil Group of WA - 544 Red loamy earth site ID includes: FFS 0074.

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.

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

Overheu, TD (1995) Soil Information Sheets for Ravensthorpe and part of the Jerramungup Agricultural Areas. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia and Landcare Western Australia.

Percy, H (2003) Nyabing-Kukerin Area Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 18. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Sawkins, D (2010) Landscapes and Soils of the Katanning District. Bulletin 4817. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Sawkins, D (2011) Landscapes and Soils of the Lake Grace. Bulletin 4825. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Stoneman, TC (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Lake Grace Advisory District. Bulletin 4178. 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.

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

Stuart-Street, A (2005) Tonebridge-Frankland Area Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 19. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

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 - 9:30am