Publication Date

1-2-1989

Series Number

74

Publisher

Department of Agriculture

City

Perth

ISSN

0729-3135

Abstract

The aim of the study was to provide soils information for the development and the planning of field experiments at the Kojaneerup annex of the Mt Barker Research Station. The annex has been established to develop stable farming systems and lies approximately 15 km south of the eastern end of the Stirling Ranges in the south-west of Western Australia. Soils on the annex were identified and mapped using a combination of grid and free survey methods. The soil map boundaries are accurate to within 50 metres either side of the boundary.

Based on a number of CSIRO soil surveys in the region four duplex series, with one major variant and, one uniform sand, were identified as occurring on the annex. The duplex series include: Waychinicup (solonetzic or Dy4.42 with columnar B horizons), Napier (mottled, yellow or gley duplex - Dy5 and Dg4), Napier with a continuous sesquioxide pan (Dy5.42 and Dy5.85), Bangalup (yellow duplex with brown and brownish A horizons - Dy5 and Dy4) and a calcareous soil (Dy4.83). The Napier, Waychinicup and Bangalup soil series all have ferruginous segregations (lateritic gravels) in a sandy textured A horizon which overlies the clay B horizon.

In contrast with the duplex series, the uniform sands or Kojaneerup soil series (Uc2.2l) are characterized by loamy sand and sand textures throughout the solum, a bleached A2 and a colour B horizon. Kojaneerup soils occur typically on the dunes, but they may also occur on the flats overlying buried duplex profiles.

All the soils have low chemical fertility. The Napier, Waychinicup and Kojaneerup series have hydrophobic surfaces and are also highly susceptible to wind erosion. It is hypothesized that the soil physical properties controls production particularly, the depth of sand and nature of the clay B horizons. The Waychinicup soil type with B horizons near the surface are likely to be the most productive on the annex, and the Kojaneerup series the least productive. The Napier soil type with a continuous sesquioxide pan may be best suited to shallow rooting subterranean clover pastures.

Number of Pages

46

Keywords

Soil surveys, Land capability, Western Australia, Soil, Kojaneerup

Disciplines

Natural Resources and Conservation | Soil Science

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