MySoil: Pale deep sands (Moora to Kojonup)

Deep white, grey or pale sands. Soil profile at least 80 centimetres (cm) deep before gravels or an increase in texture is encountered.

Broad scale map (1:250 000) of the Moora to Kojonup Agzone showing the distribution of Pale deep sands. The are small scattereed areas of 50–100% naer Cranbook, Cunderdin and Wickepin. There are larger areas of 3–10% near Wikepin, Cunderdin and Moora.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for Pale deep sand (soil group 444). The soil profile is sand >80cm with grey, white or pale yellow topsoil.
Soil pit showing the profile of Pale deep sand in the Moora to Kojonup region. The soil profile shows yellow sand, with grey topsoil.

Summary

Table 1 Pale deep sands summary
Occurrence Moora to Kojonup (6%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

443 Gravelly pale deep sand

444 Pale Deep sands

Also known as

Christmas tree and banksia sands, sandplain pear and banksia country
Australian soil classifications

443 - Sesqio-Nodular Tenosol, Ferric Bleached-Orthic Tenosol,

444 – Bleached –Orthic Tenosol, Aeric Podosol.

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Pale grey, white or pale yellow in colour.
  • Mainly acid pH.

Subsoil

  • Subsoil dominated by sand to depths of at least 80cm.
  • Subsoils often highly leached, poor nutrient status and retention.
  • Less than 20% Ironstone gravel maybe present below 15cm depth in a band at least 20cm thick (443).
  • Deep subsoils (>80cm) may contain clay, ferricrete or coffee rock (443, 444).

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 pale deep sands

Soil Group of WA

443 Pale gravelly deep sands*

443 Pale gravelly deep sands*

444 Pale deep sands*

444 Pale deep sands*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil Topsoil Subsoil
Acidity and aluminium toxicity Minor Minor Minor Minor
Salinity n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention Severe

Severe

Severe

Severe
Aggregate stability

Severe

Severe

Severe

Severe
Compaction and hard layers

Severe

 Minor

Severe

 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 Severe Severe Severe Severe
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal) Minor

n/a

n/a

Major
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

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

  • Soil Group of WA - 443 Pale gravelly deep sands site ID includes: KLC 0498, KLC 0800;
  • Soil Group of WA - 444 Pale deep sands site ID includes: TBO 1380, KLC 0148, KLC 0161, KLC 2315, KLC0726, COR 1664, COR 1654.

Further information

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

Fulton, I and Lantzke, N (1993) Soils of the Northam Advisory District: The Darling Range and West Kokeby Zones. Bulletin No. 4257. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Lantzke, N (1992) Soils of the Northam Advisory District. Bulletin No. 4244. The Zone of Ancient Drainage. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Lantzke, N (1993) Soils of the Northam Advisory District. Bulletin No. 4245. The Zone of Rejuvenated Drainage. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Lantzke, N and Fulton, I (1993) Land Resources of the Northam Region. Series No.11. 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.

Percy, H (2000) Katanning Area Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 16. 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.

Schoknecht, N and Pathan, S (2013) Soil Groups of Western Australia. Resource Management Technical Report 380. 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.

Verboom, B and Galloway, P (2004). Corrigin Area Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 20. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

 

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:36am