MySoil: Shallow sandy duplexes (Albany to Esperance)

Grey or yellow sands to 30 centimetres (cm) over neutral sandy clays.

Broadscale map (1:250 000) of the Esperance Agzone showing the distribution of shallow sandy duplexes. There is a scattered distribution of 50–100 % near Cascade and east of Espereance.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for grey shallow sandy duplex. Grey sand over sandy clay loam to clay at <30cm.
Soil pit showing the profile of grey shallow sandy duplex in the Albany to Esperance region. Grey sand over sandy clay loam to clay at <30cm.

Summary

Table 1 Shallow sandy duplexes summary
Occurrence South Coast sandplain (13%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

404 Grey shallow sandy duplex
Also known as Shallow duplex soil
Australian soil classifications

404 Grey, yellow or brown Sodosol, Grey, yellow or brown Chromosol

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Grey acidic sands to 30cm.
  • Gravel (<20 %) can be present usually at the base of the topsoil (sand) layer.

Subsoil

  • Abrupt boundary change between sand and clay layers at depth <30cm.
  • Clays often sodic, mottled and appear as polyhedral columns.
  • Clay pH mildly acidic.

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 shallow sandy duplexes

Soil Group of WA

404 Grey shallow sandy duplex*

404 Grey shallow sandy duplex*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil
Acidity and aluminium toxicity Major n/a
Salinity n/a Minor
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Minor
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention Minor

n/a
Aggregate stability

n/a

 Minor
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

n/a
Hard setting and crusting

n/a

n/a
Water repellence Major

n/a
Low plant available water

n/a

n/a
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

 Major 
Wind erosion (seasonal) Minor

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

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

  • Soil Group of WA - 404 Grey shallow sandy duplex site ID includes: JSI 0528.

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 Nicholas, B and Needham, P (1996) Soil Information Sheet for the Mallee Area, Mount Beaumont. 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.

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

Stoneman, TC Overheu, TD and Muller, PG (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Esperance Advisory District.  Bulletin 4230. Western Australian Department of Agriculture.

Stoneman, TC (1990) An Introduction to the Soils of the Albany Advisory District. Bulletin 4203. 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, 18 November 2015 - 9:29am