Summary
| Occurrence | West Midlands (31%) |
|---|---|
| Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA) | 442 Calcareous pale deep sand 443 Gravelly pale deep sand 444 Pale deep sands |
| Also known as | Black wattle sand, Sand over gravel, Gutless grey sand, Grey sandplain |
| Australian soil classifications | 442 – Shelly Rudosol, Shelly Calcarosol 443 - Sesqio-Nodular Tenosol, Ferric Bleached-Orthic Tenosol 444 – Bleached –Orthic Tenosol, Aeric Podosol. Ferric-Petroferric Bleached-Orthic Tenosol Arenic Bleached-Orthic Tenosol, Basic Arenic Rudosol |
Distinguishing features
Topsoil
- Pale grey, white or pale yellow in colour.
- Mainly acidic pH trend (443, 444) though to alkaline throughout (442).
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.
| Rating | Implications |
|---|---|
| Not applicable (n/a) | No constraints identifed |
| Minor | Minor constraint - reduces crop yields in some years |
| Major | Major constraint - reduces crop yields in most years |
| Severe | Severe constrant - will always reduce crop yields |
| Soil Group of WA | 442 Calcareous pale deep sand* | 442 Calcareous pale deep sand* | 443 Pale gravelly deep sands* | 443 Pale gravelly deep sands | 444 Pale deep sand | 444 Pale deep sand |
| Constraints | Topsoil | Subsoil | Topsoil | Subsoil | Topsoil | Subsoil |
| Acidity and aluminium toxicity | n/a | n/a | Minor | Minor | Minor | Minor |
| Salinity | n/a | Minor | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Sodicity and alkalinity | n/a | Minor | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Boron toxicity | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nutrient retention | Severe | Severe | Severe | Severe | Severe | Severe |
| Aggregate stability | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Compaction and hard layers | n/a | Minor | n/a | Minor | n/a | Major |
| Hard setting and crusting | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Water repellence | Minor | n/a | Major | n/a | Severe | n/a |
| Plant available water | Minor | Minor | Major | Major | Severe | Severe |
| 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 (ID's).
- Soil Group of WA - 442 Calcareous pale deep sands, site ID includes: NCP 0854.
- Soil Group of WA - 443 Pale gravelly deep sands, site ID includes: NCP 0513, NCP 0357.
- Soil Group of WA - 444 Pale deep sands, site ID includes: DAN 0849, SC2 BAL2, SC2 BAL1, NCP 0882, SC2 BAS2, SC2 BAU1, DAN 0841.
Further information
Agriculture Western Australia (1997) Soil Information Sheets for the Northern Agricultural areas. Miscellaneous Publication 13/97. Agriculture 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.
Schoknecht, N and Pathan, S (2013) Soil Groups of Western Australia. Resource Management Technical Report 380. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.