MySoil: Pale deep sands (Swan Coastal Plain)

White, grey or pale sands overlying gravels to depths of at least 80 centimetres (cm).

Broad scale map (1:250 000) of the Swan coastal plain Agzone showing the distribution of pale deep sands. There is heavy distribution between 50%–100% inland from Lancelin to Perth, then along the coast from Perth to Dunborough.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for pale deep sand. Sand >80cm deep with white, grey or pale yellow topsoil.
Soil pit showing the profile of pale deep sands in the Swan coastal plain region.

Summary

Table 1 Pale deep sands summary
Occurrence Swan Coastal Plain (25%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

442  Calcareous deep sands (Coastal limestone sands)

444  Pale Deep sands (Banksia sands)

Also known as

Banksia sands, Deep calcareous coastal sands

Australian soil classifications

442 – Shelly Rudosol, Shelly Calcarosol

444 – Bleached –Orthic Tenosol, Aeric Podosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Pale grey, white or pale yellow water repellent sands.

Subsoil

  • Pale sand matrix  to 80cm.
  • Ironstone gravels (<20%) or weak coffee rock layer may be present <80cm (444).
  • Ironstone gravels (>20%) or strong coffee rock layer may be present <80cm (443).
  • Coloured sands may be present at depths > 30cm (444, 443).
  • Subsoils highly leached with poor nutrient status and retention.
  • Soil pH ranges from acid to neutral (443, 444) to highly alkaline (442) with limestone and calcrete.

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 pale deep sands

Soil Group of WA

442 Calcareous deep Coastal sand*

442 Calcareous deep Coastal sand*

444 Grey/white deep sand*

444 Grey/white deep sand*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil
Acidity and aluminium toxicity n/a

n/a

 Major

n/a
Salinity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Minor

n/a

n/a
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention Severe Severe Severe Severe
Aggregate stability

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

n/a

n/a

 Major
Hard setting and crusting

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Water repellence Minor

n/a

 Severe

n/a
Low plant available water Major Major Severe Severe
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal) Major

n/a

 Minor

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

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

  • Soil Group of WA - 442 Calcareous deep Coastal sand site ID includes: NCP 0803, NCP 0881.
  • Soil Group of WA - 444 Grey/white deep sand site ID includes: SWL 0071, SWL 0072, CHT 1110, CHT 1106.

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.

McArthur, WM and Bettenay, E (1960) The Development and Distribution of the Soils of the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. Publication No.16. CSIRO, Melbourne, Vic.

Moore, G (2004) Soil Guide: A Handbook for Understanding and Managing Agricultural Soils. Bulletin 4343. Department of 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.

Smolinski, HJ and Scholz, G (1997) Soils of the West Gingin Area. Land Resources Series No. 15. Agriculture Western Australia.

Tille, PJ and Lantzke, NC (1990) Busselton Margaret River Augusta Land Capability Study. Land Resources Series No. 5. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Wells, MR (1989) Land Capability Study of the Shires of Mandurah and Murray. Land Resources Series No. 2. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:20am