MySoil: Pale deep sands (Salmon Gums)

Neutral to acidic pale or yellow fine sands prone to water repellence and wind erosion. White, grey or pale yellow sands greater than 80 centimetres (cm) deep, and usually greater than 150cm. Colours become brighter and textures increase to clayey sand or sandy loam, sometimes with small amounts of gravel at 120-150cm.

Broadscale map (1:250 000) of the Salmon Gums Agzone showing the distribution of Pale deep sands. The majority of the region shows 3–10% from Cascade to east of Salmon Gums with some scattered areas of 25-50%.
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 Salmon Gums region. The soil profile shows yellow sand, with grey topsoil.

Summary

Table 1 Pale deep sands summary
Occurrenece

sandplain and sand dunes near lakes in transitional Mallee (6%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

444 – Pale deep sand,

446 – Yellow deep sand

Also known as

Banksia sands/Corinup sand; Mallee-Banksia sand/Heart Echo sand
Australian soil classifications

Bleached –Orthic Tenosol

Aeric Podosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Grey to dark grey, water repellent fine sand to 10cm.
  • White or pale yellow acid (pH 4.5 – 6) sand commonly to 40-60cm.
  • Often non wetting and prone to wind erosion.
  • High nutrient leaching.
  • Prone to acidification.

Subsoil

  • Sand colour increases in intensity below 60cm, texture often increases to a loamy or clayey sand (4-12% clay) and often has small ironstone nodules or gravels.
  • Clay is sometimes encountered below about 150cm, which can impede deep drainage and provide a small reservoir of additional late season water.
  • Heart Echo soil located near salt lakes can contain free lime as finely divided lime and/or lime nodules, with pH increasing to 8.5 or higher.

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

 Pale deep sand - Corinup*

Pale deep sand - Corinup*

 Pale deep sand - heart echo*

Pale deep sand - heart echo*
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

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Aggregate stability

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

 Minor

n/a

n/a
Hard setting and crusting

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
Water repellence Severe

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) Major

n/a

n/a

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 - 444 Pale Deep Sand - Corinup site ID includes: SGS 0155.

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, T Muller, PG, Gee, ST and Moore, GA (1993) Esperance Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 8. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

Overheu, T Nicholas, B and Needham, P (1996). Soil Information Sheet for the Mallee Area, Mount Beaumont: Karlsberg Soil Series. Agriculture Western Australia.

Scholz, GGH and Smolinski, HJ (1996) Soils of the Mount Beaumont area. Land Resources Series No. 7. 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.

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:26am