MySoil: Ironstone gravels (Stirlings to Ravensthorpe)

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).

Broad scale map (1:250 000) of the Stirling to Ravensthorpe Agzone showing the distribution of clays and shallow loamy duplexes. The majority of the region shows clays and shallow laomy duplexes occupying 3 to 10% from Tenterden to Boxwood Hill. The reg
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for duplex sandy gravel. Ironstone gravel soil, with a predomintly sandy matrix, over a permeability contrast layer at 30-80cm.
Soil pit showing the profile of duplex sandy gravel in the Stirling to Ravensthorpe region.

Summary

Table 1 Ironstone gravels summary

Occurrence

 Stirlings to Ravensthorpe (6%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

301 Deep Sandy Gravels to 80 cm + (Forest gravel)

302 Duplex Sandy Gravels - gravel to 30–80 centimetres (cm)  (Gairdner gravels)

303 Loamy Gravel (Jarrah Gravel)

Also known as

Gairdner gravelly duplex, Jarrah gravel, Forest 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 soils to 30cm.
  • Acidic to neutral pH.
  • Gravel 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 between 30–80cm  depth.

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 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
Table 3 Management constraints for ironstone gravels

Soil Group of WA

302 Duplex Sandy Gravels*

302 Duplex Sandy Gravels*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil

Acidity and Aluminium toxicity

 Minor n/a

Salinity

n/a

n/a

Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Major

Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

Poor nutrient retention

 Severe Severe
Aggregate stability

n/a

 Major

Compaction and hard layers

n/a

n/a

Hard setting and crusting

n/a

n/a

Water repellence

 Major

n/a

Low plant available water

Major

 Major
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal) Minor

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

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

  • Soil Group of WA - 302 Duplex sandy gravels site ID includes: JSI 1145.

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 - 9:21am