Studies on some deep sandy soils in Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland. 1. Morphological and chemical characteristics

Abstract

Deep sandy soils overlying granitic rocks are widespread in Cape York Peninsula. Rainfall is summer dominant and the annual mean is 1140 mm. Evidence is presented that some of the soils are weakly podzolised and some soil properties are influenced by an underlying clay horizon at depth. The method of soil sampling adopted permits a statistical estimate of the variability of soil chemical properties. Most data for the surface soils of this group have a sufficiently low variability both within and between sites to allow an assessment of plant nutrient status derived from associated experiments in field and glasshouse to be generally applicable throughout the region. All soils are very low in organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, sulphur, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and exchangeable cations.