Australian soils and landscapes
214
FE1: Humose-Acidic, Dystrophic,
Red Ferrosol
General description of the soil
A deep, strongly structured Red Ferrosol with a low base status (i.e. Dystrophic) in the major part of
the B2 horizon which is strongly acid. The A1 horizon is moderately organic (i.e. Humose).
Environment and location of the example profile
Soil morphology
Distribution:
Widespread in small areas with high rainfall and basic igneous rocks,
extending from Tasmania to the base of Cape York Peninsula.
Typical land use:
Nature reserve. Where cleared, often used for dairying and in more
recent times for a diverse range of horticultural crops.
Common variants:
A1 horizon development is variable, as is depth of the solum.
World Reference Base:
Ferralic Nitisol.
Other names:
Krasnozems.
Landform:
Undulating low hills.
Parent material or substrate:
Basalt.
Drainage class:
Rapidly drained.
Surface condition:
Soft.
Site disturbance:
None apparent.
Native vegetation:
Rainforest.
Site location Site climate
Horizon Depth
(m)
Colour Mottles Texture Structure Consistence Coarse
fragments
Segregations Boundary
Grade Shape Size
A11 0.00–0.10 dark
reddish
brown
(2.5YR 3/4)
– heavy loam strong granular 2–5 mm weak (moist) – –
A12 0.10–0.20 dusky red
(10R 3/4)
– clay loam moderate subangular blocky 2–5 mm weak (mod. moist) – – gradual
B11 0.20–0.30 dusky red
(10R 3/4)
– clay loam weak angular blocky 5–10 mm weak (mod. moist) – – gradual
B12 0.30–0.60 dusky red
(10R 3/4)
– light clay moderate
parting to strong
angular blocky parting
to polyhedral
5–10 mm
parting to
2–5 mm
weak (moderately
moist)
– – diffuse
B21 0.60–0.90 dusky red
(10R 3/4)
– light medium
clay
moderate
parting to strong
angular blocky parting
to polyhedral
5–10 mm
parting to
2–5 mm
firm – – diffuse
B22 0.90–1.20 dusky red
(10R 3/4)
– medium clay moderate
parting to strong
angular blocky parting
to polyhedral
5–10 mm
parting to
2–5 mm
firm – – diffuse
B23 1.20–2.70 dark red
(2.5YR 3/6)
– medium clay moderate
parting to strong
angular blocky parting
to polyhedral
5–10 mm
parting to
2–5 mm
firm – – diffuse
B24 2.7–5.55 reddish
brown
(2.5YR 4/4)
– medium clay moderate angular blocky 5–10 mm firm 2–10% soft
weathered
basalt
–
BC 5.55–7.95 reddish
brown
(2.5YR 4/4)
– light medium
clay
2–10% soft
weathered
basalt
–
C 7.95–8.27 weathered
basalt
– – – –
J F M A M J J A S O N D
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
M
IL
LI
M
ET
R
ES
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
D
EG
RE
ES
CE
LS
IU
STmax 24.8 ˚C
Tmin 14.8 ˚C
R 1532 mm
E 1523 mm

Atherton Tableland, north Queensland
m
0.2
0.6
1.0
1.4
1.8
2.2
Ferrosols
215
Soil chemical and physical properties
Key profile properties
General qualities of the soil
Horizon Sample
Depth
(m)
pH
H
2
O
A
pH
CaCl
2
Elect.
Cond.
dS/m
A
CaCO
3
%
Org.
C %
G
Extr.
P
mg/kg
B
Tot.
P %
Tot.
K %
A
Cation exchange properties
A
cmol(+)/kg
ESP
%
Bulk
dens.
Mg/m
3
Particle size
%
F
Ca Mg K Na H+Al
B
CEC ECEC CS FS Silt Clay
A11 0.00–0.10 5.4 0.05 6.1 16 0.189 0.037 1.3 1.6 0.3 0.3 1.6 5 – 3 8 12 66
A12 0.10–0.20 5.3 0.04 3.7 9 0.173 0.021 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.3 3 6 14 63
B11 0.20–0.30 5.4 0.04 2.8 10 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.1 2 – 3 6 17 67
B12 0.30–0.60 5.4 0.05 1.9 14 0.158 0.017 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.8 2 – 3 7 17 62
B22 0.90–1.20 5.0 0.04 0.2 8 0.143 0.017 0.2 0.3 <0.1 0.3 0.2 1 – 3 8 12 68
B23 1.50–1.80 4.9 0.03 0.3 10 0.177 0.018 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 1 – 3 13 7 70
B23 2.10–2.45 4.8 0.03 0.180 0.018 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 1 – 3 12 5 70
B24 2.70–3.00 4.8 0.04 0.212 0.012 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 2 13 8 78
Infiltration:
Rapid.
Available water store:
Very large.
Permeability:
Very high in the near surface layers and high in the rest of the profile.
Physical root limitations:
None.
Erosion hazard:
Can be severe on slopes.
Nutrient availability:
General fertility level is low. Nitrogen and phosphorus applications are generally required.
Toxicities:
Problems with strong acidity may arise.
4 6 8 10
pH (1:5 soil/water)
4.4
4.0
3.6
3.2
2.8
2.4
2.0
1.6
1.2
0.8
0.4
0.0
D
ep
th
(m
)
EC (dS/m)
0.01 0.1 1 10 3020100
Exchangeable cations
(cmol(+)/kg)
100806040200
Particle size
(% weight)
10080604020
Solid, water & air
(% volume)
EC
ESP
Ca
Mg
K
Na
CEC
Clay
Silt
Sand
Gravel
Solid
Unavailable water
Available water
Air
Acknowledgements: Soil image, soil
description and laboratory data:
CSIRO Land and Water. Profile T62.
Landscape image: Bill van Aken,
CSIRO.
The rolling undulating
hills of the Atherton
Tablelands in north
Queensland were
originally covered by
rainforest.