MySoil: Deep sandy duplexes (Albany to Esperance)

Grey or yellow sands over sandy clays at 30–80 centimetres (cm) depth.

Broadscale map (1:250 000) of the Albany to Esperance Agzone showing the distribution of deep sandy duplexes. There is a high distribution of 50–100% near esperance to Cascade. The Albany region is mainly 25–50% deep sandy duplexes.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for grey deep sandy duplex. The soil profile is grey sand over sandy clay loam to clay at 30–80cm.
Soil pit showing the profile of grey deep sandy duplex in the Albany to Esperance region. Yellow sand over clay.

Summary

Table 1 Deep sandy duplexes summary
Occurrence South Coast sandplain (30%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex (Scaddan sand)

403 Grey deep sandy duplex (Fleming sands)

407 Yellow/Brown deep sandy duplex
Also known as

Fleming sands, Sandplain, Sandy Duplex
Australian soil classifications

401 - Calcic Grey, Grey, Yellow or Brown Sodosol, Calcic Grey, Grey, Yellow or Brown Chromosol

403 - Grey, Yellow or Brown Sodosol, Grey, Yellow or Brown Chromosol

407 – Yellow or Brown Chromosol, Yellow or brown Sodosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Pale yellow or white acidic sands to depths between 30-80cm.
  • Gravel (<20%) can be present usually at the base of the topsoil (sand) layer.

Subsoil

  • Abrupt boundary change between sand and clay layers at depths between 30 and 80cm.
  • Clays often sodic, mottled and appear as polyhedral columns.
  • Clay pH mildly acidic (403,407) through to alkaline (401).
  • Gravels (<20 %) may be present above the clay layer.

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 sandy duplexes

Soil Groups of WA

401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex*

401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex*

401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex*

   403 Grey deep sandy duplex*

403 Grey deep sandy duplex*

403 Grey deep sandy duplex*

   407 Yellow deep sandy duplex*

407 Yellow deep sandy duplex*

407 Yellow deep sandy duplex*
Constraints

Topsoil (0-10cm)

Subsurface (10cm - clay)

Subsoil (clay)

  

Topsoil (0-10cm)

Subsurface (10cm - clay)

Subsoil (clay)

  

Topsoil (0-10cm)

Subsurface (10cm - clay)

Subsoil (clay)
Acidity and aluminium toxicity Major Minor

n/a

   Minor Major

n/a

  

Major

 Major

n/a
Salinity

n/a

 n/a

n/a

  

n/a

 n/a Minor  

n/a

 n/a

n/a
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 n/a Major  

n/a

 n/a Minor  

n/a

 n/a

Minor
Boron toxicity

n/a

 n/a

n/a

  

n/a

 n/a

n/a

  

n/a

 n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention

Major

 Major n/a  

Major

 Major n/a  

Minor

 Minor n/a
Aggregate stability

n/a

 n/a

Minor

  

n/a

 n/a Minor  

n/a

 n/a

Minor
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

Minor

 n/a  

n/a

Minor

 n/a  

n/a

Minor

 n/a
Hard setting and crusting

n/a

 n/a

n/a

  

n/a

 n/a

n/a

  

n/a

 n/a

n/a
Water repellence Major n/a

n/a

   Major n/a

n/a

   Major n/a

n/a
Low plant available water

Minor

 Minor

n/a

   Major Major n/a   Minor Minor n/a
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

 Minor

n/a

  

n/a

 Minor

n/a

  

n/a

 n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal) Minor n/a

n/a

   Minor n/a

n/a

   Minor n/a

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

 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 - 401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex soils site ID includes: JSI 1149.
  • Soil Group of WA - 403 Grey deep sandy duplex site ID includes: JSI 0366.
  • Soil Group of WA - 407 Yellow deep sandy duplex site ID includes: JSI 0523, SC2 COU1, SC2 COL (acid).

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, T Nicholas, B and Needham, P (1996) Soil Information Sheet for the Mallee Area, Mount Beaumont.  Agriculture Western Australia.

Overheu, T Muller, PG, Gee, ST and Moore, GA (1993) Esperance Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 8. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Scholz, GGH and Smolinski, HJ (1996) Soils of the Mount Beaumont Area. Land Resources Series No. 7. Agriculture Western Australia.

Stoneman, TC Overheu, TD and Muller, PG (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Esperance Advisory District.  Bulletin 4230. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Stoneman, TC (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Albany Advisory District. Bulletin 4203. 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.

 

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:26am