Summary
| Occurrence | Central North (8%) |
|---|---|
| Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA) | 401 Alkaline Grey Deep Sandy Duplex 403 Grey Deep Sandy Duplex 407 Yellow /Brown Deep Sandy Duplex 409 Reticulite Deep Sandy Duplex |
| Also known as | Sand over clay, Sandy duplex |
| Australian soil codes | Dystrophic Yellow Chromosol Sodic Eutrophic Brown Chromosol 401 403, 407- Calcic Grey, Grey, Yellow or Brown Sodosol, Calcic Grey, Grey, Yellow or Brown Chromosol 409 - Reticulate Kandosol, Reticulate Chromosol, Tenosol |
Distinguishing features
Topsoil
- Pale brown, yellow or white acidic to neutral sands between depths of 30–80 cm.
- Gravel (<20 %) can be present usually at the base of the topsoil (sand) layer.
Subsoil
- Bleached sand layer commonly occurs above clay layer.
- Abrupt boundary between sand and clay layers or mottled reticulite.
- Clays often sodic, mottled and appear as polyhedral columns.
- Clay pH mildly acidic to neutral (407) through to alkaline (401).
Constraints
The following data has been derived from actual site samples taken. These results are recorded in Excel spreadsheets.
| Rating | Limitation |
|---|---|
| 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 Groups of WA | 401 Grey Alkaline Deep Sandy Duplex* | 401 Grey Alkaline Deep Sandy Duplex* | 401 Grey Alkaline Deep Sandy Duplex* | 407 Yellow/brown Deep Sandy Duplex* | 407 Yellow/brown Deep Sandy Duplex* | 407 Yellow/brown Deep Sandy Duplex* | |
| straints | Topsoil (0-10cm) | Subsurface (10cm - clay) | Subsoil (clay) | Topsoil (0-10cm) | Subsurface (10cm - clay) | Subsoil (clay) | |
| Minor | Minor | n/a | Minor | Major | Minor | ||
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||
| Sodicity and alkalinity | n/a | Minor | Major | n/a | Minor | Major | |
| n/a | n/a | Minor | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||
| Minor | Minor | n/a | Minor | Minor | n/a | ||
| Aggregate stability | n/a | Minor | Major | n/a | Minor | Major | |
| n/a | Minor | Minor | n/a | Minor | Minor | ||
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||
| Minor | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||
| Low plant available water | n/a | n/a | n/a | Minor | Minor | n/a | |
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||
| Minor | n/a | n/a | Minor | 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 Grey Alkaline site ID includes: COR 1651.
- Soil Group of WA - 407 Yellow/Brown site ID includes: MDN 0326, FFS 0071, FFS 0055, FFS 0045.
Further information
Grealish, G and Wagnon, J (1995) Land Resource of the Bencubbin Area. Land Resource Series No. 12. Agriculture Western Australia.
Lantzke, N and Fulton, I (1993) Land Resource of the Northam Region. Land Resource Series No. 11. Agriculture 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.
Sawkins, D (2010) Landscapes and Soils of the Northam District. Bulletin 4803. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
Sawkins, D (2009) Landscapes and Soils of the Merredin District. Bulletin 4788. 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. (1992) An Introduction to the Soils of the Merredin Advisory District. Bulletin 4235. Department of Agriculture.