MySoil: Sandy earths (West Midlands)

Pale, brown, yellow or red sands grading to loam by 80 centimetres (cm).

Broadscale map (1:250 000) of the West Midlands Agzone showing the distribution of sandy earths, with scattered distribution between Lancelin through to Dongara ranging between 3%–10%. In Geraldon distribution ranges between 50%–100%.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for red sandy earth. Red sand grading to loam by 80cm.
Soil pit showing the profile of red sandy earth in the West Midlands region.

Summary

Table 1 Sandy earths summary
Occurrence West Midlands (3%)
Soil Groups of Western Australia

463 Red sandy earth

464 Yellow sandy earth (Tammar soil)

465 Pale sandy earth
Also known as Red sandy loam
Australian soil classifications

Mesotrophic red kandosol

Red, yellow or grey kandosol

Orthic tenosol or bleached-orthic tenosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Pale, brown, yellow and red sands
  • Acid to neutral pH.

Subsoil

  • Sandy grading to loamy by 80cm depth
  • Acid to neutral pH (464, 465) and occasionally calcareous at depth (463)
  • May grade to a clay at 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 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 sandy earths
Soil Group of WA 462 Brown sandy earth* 462 Brown sandy earth* 463 Red sandy earth* 463 Red sandy earth* 464 Yellow sandy earth* 464 Yellow sandy earth*
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 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Boron toxicity n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Poor nutrient retention Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor
Aggregate stability n/a Minor n/a Minor n/a Minor
Compaction and hard layers n/a Minor n/a Minor n/a Minor
Hard setting and crusting Minor n/a Minor n/a Minor n/a
Water repellence Minor n/a Minor n/a Minor n/a
Low plant available water Minor n/a Minor n/a Minor n/a
Water-logging (seasonal) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal) Minor n/a Minor n/a Minor n/a
Water erosion (seasonal) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

*Note - Data derived from site identifications.

  • Soil Group of WA - 462 Brown sandy earth site ID includes: FFS 0010
  • Soil Group of WA - 463 Red sandy earth site ID includes: FFS 0026
  • Soil Group of WA - 464 Yellow sandy earth site ID includes: FFS 0033, FFS 0024, NCP 0872.

Further information

Agriculture Western Australia (1997) Soil Information Sheets for the Northern Agricultural areas. Miscellaneous Publication 13/97. 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.

Dye RA, Van Vreeswyk AME and Moore GA (1990) Geraldton Rural Residential Land Capability Study. Land Resources Series No.4. 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.

Rogers, LG (1996) Geraldton Region Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 13. Agriculture Western Australia.

Stoneman, TC (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Geraldton Advisory District. Bulletin 4181. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Stoneman, TC (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Three Springs Advisory District. Bulletin 4180. 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.

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 26 April 2017 - 11:19am