Main Soil Types of Australia
Calcarosols: These soil types contain carbonate as soft or hard fragments or as a solid layer. It most commonly occurs in areas with limited rainfall and is used for growing an assortment of grains.
Kurosols: These are strongly acidic soils with an abrupt increase in clay down the soil profile. They extend from southern Queensland, through coastal and sub-coastal New South Wales to Tasmania. They are less common in Southwestern Australia.
Sodosols: This soil type has an abrupt increase in clay and has a high sodium level, which may lead to clay dispersion and instability. These soils are commonly found in a dry climate and they are widely distributed in the eastern half of Australia and the western proportion of Western Australia. These soils are usually very hard when dry.
Chromosols: Chromosols have an abrupt increase in clay content down the soil profile. They do not have high levels of sodium and are not strongly acidic in the subsoil. They occur in southern New South Wales and Victoria. Many Chromosols have hardsetting surfaces.
Kandosols: Kandosols are mostly well-drained, permeable soils, (allowing liquids and gases to pass through it). They are common in all States except Victoria and Tasmania. They are used for extreme agriculture in the wheatbelt of southern New South Wales and southwest Western Australia.
Tenosols: Tenosols are distributed in the eastern half of the continent where vast areas occur as red and yellow sand-plains. Large areas in Western Australia have red sandy soils with a red-brown clay at shallow depths. They have poor water retention, and because of this they are not very fertile in regions with low rainfall.
Dermosols: Dermosols are moderately deep and well-drained soils in the wetter areas of eastern Australia. They are strongly acidic in high rainfall areas and the contain calcium carbonate.
Ferrosols: Ferrosols have high iron and clay content and they occur along the eastern coastline in northern parts of Western Australia, in the high rainfall zones. They are used to grow horticultural crops and sugar cane in Queensland.
Rudosols: Rudosols are a widespread and diverse group of soils. Most have few commercial land uses because of their properties and occurrence in low rainfall regions. The largest areas occur in northwest Australia.
Podsols: Prevent fertile growth due to hydrogen ions that have replaced washed-out clay and iron oxides.
Vertosols: These soils shrink and swell and crack as the soil dries. They are used for agriculture in drylands where rainfall is adequate.
Kurosols: These are strongly acidic soils with an abrupt increase in clay down the soil profile. They extend from southern Queensland, through coastal and sub-coastal New South Wales to Tasmania. They are less common in Southwestern Australia.
Sodosols: This soil type has an abrupt increase in clay and has a high sodium level, which may lead to clay dispersion and instability. These soils are commonly found in a dry climate and they are widely distributed in the eastern half of Australia and the western proportion of Western Australia. These soils are usually very hard when dry.
Chromosols: Chromosols have an abrupt increase in clay content down the soil profile. They do not have high levels of sodium and are not strongly acidic in the subsoil. They occur in southern New South Wales and Victoria. Many Chromosols have hardsetting surfaces.
Kandosols: Kandosols are mostly well-drained, permeable soils, (allowing liquids and gases to pass through it). They are common in all States except Victoria and Tasmania. They are used for extreme agriculture in the wheatbelt of southern New South Wales and southwest Western Australia.
Tenosols: Tenosols are distributed in the eastern half of the continent where vast areas occur as red and yellow sand-plains. Large areas in Western Australia have red sandy soils with a red-brown clay at shallow depths. They have poor water retention, and because of this they are not very fertile in regions with low rainfall.
Dermosols: Dermosols are moderately deep and well-drained soils in the wetter areas of eastern Australia. They are strongly acidic in high rainfall areas and the contain calcium carbonate.
Ferrosols: Ferrosols have high iron and clay content and they occur along the eastern coastline in northern parts of Western Australia, in the high rainfall zones. They are used to grow horticultural crops and sugar cane in Queensland.
Rudosols: Rudosols are a widespread and diverse group of soils. Most have few commercial land uses because of their properties and occurrence in low rainfall regions. The largest areas occur in northwest Australia.
Podsols: Prevent fertile growth due to hydrogen ions that have replaced washed-out clay and iron oxides.
Vertosols: These soils shrink and swell and crack as the soil dries. They are used for agriculture in drylands where rainfall is adequate.