MySoil: Stony soils (Darling Range)

Soils that have rocks, stones or coarse gravels as a dominant profile feature. Often overlying bedrock.

Broadscale map (1:250 000) of the Darling range Agzone showing the distribution of shallow sandy duplexes. The majority of the map shows 3–10% stony soils from Perth through to Albany, with patches near Gingin with 50–100% and 25–50% stony soils.
A stylised diagram of the soil profile showing the topsoil and subsoil layers for Shallow gravel. Ironstone gravel soil over cemented gravels, rock or other hard or permanently cemented layers at <80cm.
Soil pit showing the profile of Shallow gravel in the Darling range region.

Summary

Table 1 Stony soils summary
Occurrence Darling Range (7%)

Soil Groups of Western Australia (WA)

 304 Shallow gravel

Also known as

Buckshot gravel soil, Ironstone cap soil, Laterite soil
Australian soil classifications

304 - Ferric-Petroferric Tenosol, Ferric Petroferric Kandosol or Ferric Petroferric Chromosol

Note: these soils may be genetically linked to Podosols

Distinguishing features

Topsoil

  • Yellow, brown, grey or red sandy topsoils.
  • Acid throughout the profile.
  • High gravel content (>20 %).

Subsoil

  • Gravels (<20%) overlying loams and clays.
  • Cemented gravels (ferricrete), hard cemented layers  or rock at <80 centimetres (cm).

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 deep sandy duplexes

Soil Group of WA

304 Shallow gravel*

304 Shallow gravel*
Constraints Topsoil Subsoil
Acidity and aluminium toxicity Minor Minor
Salinity n/a

n/a
Sodicity and alkalinity

n/a

 Minor (clay)
Boron toxicity

n/a

n/a
Poor nutrient retention Severe Severe
Aggregate stability

n/a

 Minor (clay)
Compaction and hard layers

n/a

n/a
Hard setting and crusting

n/a

n/a
Water repellence Minor

n/a
Low plant available water Major Major
Water-logging (seasonal)

n/a

n/a
Wind erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a
Water erosion (seasonal)

n/a

n/a

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

Soil Group of WA - 304 Shallow gravel site ID includes: TON 0797, KLC 0551, DAN 0421.

Further information

Churchward, HM (1992) Soil and Landforms of the Manjimup Area. Land Resources Series No. 10. Department of 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.

King, PD and Wells, MR (1990) Darling Range Rural Land Capability Study. Land Resources Series No. 3. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Tille, PJ (1996) Wellington-Blackwood Land Resource Survey. Land Resources Series No. 14. Agriculture Western Australia.

See also

MySoil

Further information

Soils

Topics

Page last updated: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 9:33am