MySoil: Deep sandy duplexes (Stirlings to Ravensthorpe)

Grey, brown and yellow sands over sandy clay or reticulite (mottled loamy sand) at 30–80 centimetres (cm) depth.

Broad scale map (1:250 000) of the Stirling to Ravensthorpe Agzone showing the distribution of deep sandy duplexes. Distribution is 25–50% from Boxwood Hill to Fitzgerald, 3–10% from Bremer Bay to Jerdacuttup and 3–10%, 10–25%, with 25–50%.
Soil pit showing the profile of grey deep sandy duplex in the Stirling to Ravensthorpe region. Grey sand over clay.
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 <30cm.

Summary

Table 1 Deep sandy duplexes summary
Occurrence Stirlings to Ravensthorpe (16%)

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

Fleming sands, Blue Mallee soil, (Karak and Arenar soil series)
Australian soil classifications

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

  • Organically stained to 10-15cm.
  • Pale brown, yellow or white acidic sands at depths of  30–80cm.
  • 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.
  • Clays often sodic, mottled and appear as polyhedral columns.
  • Clay pH mildly acidic (403, 407) through to alkaline (401).

Constraints

The following data has been derived from actual site samples taken. These results are recorded in this Excel spreadsheet.

Table 2 Common management constraint 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 Group 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/brown deep sandy duplex*

407 Yellow/brown deep sandy duplex*

407 Yellow/brown 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 Minor Minor n/a   Minor Major n/a   Minor Major n/a
Salinity

n/a

 Minor Major  

n/a

 n/a Minor  

n/a

 Minor Minor
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Minor Major  

n/a

 n/a Major  

n/a

 n/a Major
Boron toxicity

n/a

 n/a Minor  

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 Minor Minor n/a   Minor Minor n/a   Minor Minor n/a
Hard setting and crusting

Minor

 n/a

n/a

  

n/a

 n/a

n/a

  

Minor

 n/a

n/a
Water repellence Major n/a

n/a

   Major n/a

n/a

   Minor n/a

n/a
Low plant available water Minor Minor n/a   Minor

Minor

n/a

   Minor

Minor

n/a
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

 Minor

n/a

  

n/a

 Minor

n/a

  

n/a

 Minor

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

n/a

   Minor n/a

n/a

   Minor n/a

n/a
Water erosion 

(seasonal)

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 Alkaline Grey Deep Sandy Duplex site ID includes: TBO 1382.
  • Soil Group of WA - 403 Grey Deep Sandy Duplex site ID includes: TBO 1384, TBO 1376, TBO 1386.
  • Soil Group of WA - 407 Yellow /Brown Deep Sandy Duplex site ID includes: JSI 1165, JSI 1151, JSI 0148.

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.

Stoneman, TC (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Jerramungup Advisory District. Western Australian Department of Agriculture. Bulletin 4201.

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 - 9:20am