Soil types and their characteristics

Podosol, Cranbourne, Victoria

Generally, podosols have very low agricultural potential with very low chemical fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Ground-water contamination is a potential problem due to high permeability.

Tenosol, Three Springs, WA

Tenosols have a weakly developed soil profile which is typically very sandy and without obvious horizons. Tenosols form from highly salicious parent material and where rainfall is from 0 to 1400mm.

Generally, tenosols have a very low agricultural potential with very low chemical fertility, poor structure and low water-holding capacity. Ground-water contamination can be a potential problem due to the high permeability of these soils.

Yellow Kurosol, Toogoolawah, Qld.

Kurasols have a strong texture contrast (also known as a duplex soil) with a strongly acid B horizon that may or may not be sodic. Kurosols form from parent materials that are highly siliceous, siliceous to intermediate in composition and where rainfall is from 50 to 1350mm in poorly drained sites or 750 to 1300mm on well-drained sites. The surface of Kurosol soils are often acidic.

They generally have very low agricultural potential with high acidity (pH < 5.5) and low chemical fertility. Kurosols commonly have low water-holding capacity and are often sodic.

Sodosol, West Gippsland, Vic.

Sodosols show strong texture contrast with highly sodic B horizon but they are not highly acidic (pH > 5.5). Parent materials of Sodosols range from highly siliceous, siliceous to intermediate in composition.

Sodosols are only found in poorly drained sites with rainfall between 50mm and 1100mm. Generally, sodosols have very low agricultural potential with high sodicity leading to high erodibility, poor structure and low permeability. These soils have low to moderate chemical fertility and can be associated with soil salinity.

Brown Chromosol, Mt Lofty Ranges, SA.

Chromosols have a strong contrasting texture. They are not strongly acidic or sodic in the upper B horizon. The parent material of Chromosols ranges from highly siliceous, siliceous to intermediate in composition.

These soils are found in imperfectly drained sites (yellow and grey chromosol) where rainfall is between 250mm and 900mm. They are also found in well-drained sites (brown and red chromosol) with rainfall between 350mm and 1400mm. These soils have moderate agricultural potential with moderate chemical fertility and water-holding capacity. They can be susceptible to soil acidification and soil structure decline.

Vertosols are clay-rich soils (>35%) of uniform texture. They have the potential for strong cracking and slickensides. The parent materials of Vertosols range from intermediate, mafic to ultramafic in composition. These soils are found in imperfectly drained sites (black vertosol) with rainfall up to 1150mm in well-drained sites (red vertosol) with rainfall up to 900mm.

These soils have high agricultural potential with high chemical fertility and water-holding capacity but they require significant amounts of rain before water is available to plants. Gypsum and/or lime may be required to improve their structure. Heavy plastic clays can be difficult to cultivate especially when they are wet. Shrink-swell phenomena also creates problems for foundations of buildings built on Vertosols.

Red Ferrosol, Warragul, Vic

Ferrosols do not have a strong texture contrast. Their B2 horizon has high free iron oxide (Fe >5%). Mostly, they are well structured. The parent material of ferrosols is intermediate or mafic in composition. These soils are only found in well-drained sites with rainfall between 700mm and 1450mm.

Ferrosols have high agricultural potential because of their good structure and moderate to high chemical fertility and water-holding capacity. Their high rainfall equivalents (soils called Krasnozems) may suffer from acidification and nutrient leaching. They also have potential for structural decline.

Brown Kandosol, Peebinga, SA

Kandosols do not have a strong texture contrast between the A and B horizons. They have a massive or weakly structured B horizon and are not calcareous. Parent material of Kandosols ranges from highly siliceous, siliceous to intermediate in composition.

These soils are found in poorly drained sites (yellow and grey kandosol) with rainfall between 300mm and 1400mm and in well-drained sites (brown and red kandosol) with rainfall between 250mm and 1400mm. Generally, Kandosols have low to moderate agricultural potential with moderate chemical fertility and water-holding capacity.

Calcarosol, Pinnaroo SA

Calcarosols contain calcium carbonate (lime), especially in the subsoil. Parent material ranges from highly siliceous, siliceous to intermediate in composition. These soils are found in imperfectly drained sites where rainfall is up 400mm and in well-drained sites with rainfall between 250mm and 500mm.

Generally, they have low to moderate agricultural potential with low chemical fertility and water-holding capacity. They often have high salinity levels, alkalinity and boron toxicity.

Grey Dermosol, Hunter Valley NSW

Dermosols do not have strong texture contrast. They have a well structured B2 horizon containing low levels of free iron. The parent materials of dermosols range from siliceous, intermediate to mafic in composition.

The soils are found in imperfectly drained sites (yellow and grey dermosols) with rainfall between 550mm and 1350mm and in well-drained sites with rainfall between 450mm and 1200mm. Dermosols generally have high agricultural potential with good structure and moderate to high chemical fertility and water-holding capacity with few problems.