Summary
| Occurrence | Southern Mallee (5%) |
|---|---|
| Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA) | 401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex |
| Also known as | Deep circle Valley loam, Doust soil series, Scaddan deep sands, Mallee sands |
| Australian soil classifications | Calcic Grey, Yellow or Brown Sodosol, Calcic Grey, Yellow or Brown Chromosol |
Distinguishing features
Topsoil
- Grey, pale yellow or white sands to 30–80cm.
- Often associated with sands blown from nearby lakes.
- Sands are often neutral but may become acid with agricultural production. Scaddan deep sands are more prone to surface and subsurface acidification because they do not have inputs of calcareous dust blown from salt lakes.
Subsoil
- Abrupt boundary between sand and clay layers at depths greater than 30cm.
- Clays alkaline, sodic, mottled and appear as polyhedral columns.
- Top of sodic domes restricts root penetration and can hold water up, saturating the lower part of the sandy surface soil in wet years.
- Deeper subsoils are often saline and potentially boron toxic.
Constraints
The following data has been derived from actual site samples taken. These results are recorded in this Excel spreadsheet.
| 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 Group of WA | 401 Alkaline grep deep sandy duplex* | 401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex* | 401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex* |
| Constraints | Topsoil (0-10cm) | Subsurface (10cm - clay) | Subsoil (clay) |
| Acidity and aluminium toxicity | Minor | Minor | n/a |
| Salinity | n/a | n/a | Minor |
| Sodicity and alkalinity | n/a | n/a | Minor |
| Boron toxicity | n/a | Minor | Minor |
| Poor nutrient retention | Minor | Minor | n/a |
| Aggregate stability | n/a | n/a | Minor |
| Compaction and hard layers | n/a | Major | Minor |
| Hard setting and crusting | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Water repellence | Minor | n/a | n/a |
| Low plant available water | Minor | Minor | Minor |
| Water-logging (seasonal) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wind erosion (seasonal) | Minor | n/a | n/a |
| Water erosion (seasonal) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
*Note - Data derived from site identifications (ID's).
- Soil Group of WA - 401 Alkaline grey deep sandy duplex, site ID includes: SGS 0154.
Further information
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 Muller, PG, Gee, ST and Moore, GA (1993) Esperance Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 8. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.
Overheu, T Nicholas, B and Needham, P (1996). Soil Information Sheet for the Mallee Area, Mount Beaumont: Karlsberg Soil Series. Agriculture Western Australia.
Scholz, GGH and Smolinski, HJ (1996) Soils of the Mount Beaumont area. Land Resources Series No. 7. 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.