MySoil: Ironstone gravels (Darling range)

Ironstone gravel soil with predominately sandy or loamy matrix over a less permeable layer which can be either loam, clay or reticulite (mottled sandy loam or clay loam).

Broadscale map (1:250 000) of the Darling range Agzone showing the distribution of ironstone gravel soils. The majority of the maps has 50–100% distribution of ironstone gravelly soils.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for loamy gravel. Ironstone gravel soil, with a predomintly loamy matrix, often grading to clay at >30cm.
Soil pit showing the profile of loamy gravel in the Darling range region.

Summary

Table 1 Ironstone gravels summary
Occurrence Darling range (40%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

301 Deep sandy gravel

302 Duplex sandy gravel

303 Loamy gravel

Also known as

Forest gravel, Jarrah gravel soil
Australian soil classifications

301 - Ferric or Ferric-Petroferric Tenosol, Ferric Kandosol, Ferric Chromosol

302 - Ferric Chromosol, Ferric Sodosol, Ferric Kandosol

303 - Ferric Kandosol, Ferric Chromosol, Ferric Dermosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Yellow, brown or grey sandy (301, 302) or loamy soils (303).
  • Acidic to neutral pH throughout profile.
  • Increasing gravel with depth.

Subsoil

  • Gravels dominant feature (>20% by weight) and can be unconsolidated (pea, buckshot) or cemented.(conglomerate).
  • Gravels overly semi permeable clays or clay loams or reticulite at depth depths >80 centimetres (cm) (301) or 30–80cm (302).

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 Group of WA

 301 Deep sandy gravel*

301 Deep sandy gravel*

 302 Duplex sandy gravel*

302 Duplex sandy gravel*

 303 Loamy gravel*

303 Loamy gravel*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil
Acidity and aluminium toxicity Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor
Salinity n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Minor

n/a

 Major

n/a

 Major
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention Severe Severe Severe Severe

n/a

n/a
Aggregate stability

n/a

n/a

n/a

 Major

n/a

 Minor
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Hard setting and crusting

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

 Minor

n/a
Water repellence Major

n/a

 Major

n/a

n/a

n/a
Low plant available water Minor Minor Major Major

n/a

n/a
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

*Note - Data derived from site identifications (ID's).

  • Soil Group of WA - 301 Deep sandy gravel site ID includes: TON 0121, WBW 1195, WBW 0993, SWL 0147, COR 0884, P 0553, CHT 1102.
  • Soil Group of WA - 302 Duplex sandy gravel site ID includes: SWL 0288, TON 0789, SWL 0297, TON 0136, FS 0140, TBO 1385, SWL 0278, TON 0148.
  • Soil Group of WA - 303 Loamy gravel site ID includes: TON 0044, FFS 0139, SWL 0145, TON 0154, SWL 0188, SWL 0281, SWL 0294, DAN 0422, COR 0889, WBW 0937, WBW 0939, WBW 0992, CHT 1100, CHT 1103, CHT 1104.

Further information

Churchward, HM (1992) Soil and Landforms of the Manjimup Area. Land Resources Series No. 10. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Department of Agriculture and Food (2013) Report card on sustainable natural resource use in agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

King, PD and Wells, MR (1990) Darling Range Rural Land Capability Study. Land Resources Series No. 3. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

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 (2010) Landscapes and Soils of the Narrogin District. Bulletin 4807. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

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

Stoneman, TC (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Moora Advisory District. Bulletin 4182. 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.

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.

Tille, PJ (1996) Wellington-Blackwood Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 14. Agriculture Western Australia.

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:33am