Where are Calcarosols found in South Australia?

In SA calcarosols occupy over 5.5 million hectares and occur in every biophysical region.

Good places to see a Calcarosol

[Typical landscape shot]

What is a Calcarosol?

Calcarosols are calcareous sandy loams grading to a very highly calcareous sandy clay loam with abundant rubble over heavy clay at depth. They are well drained, alkaline, moderately fertile, and reasonably deep. Common chemical problems (or challenges) include high levels of salinity, sodicity, alkalinity and boron toxicity; phosphorus deficiency and reduced availability of trace elements.

Calcarosol

Why are Calcarosols important to South Australia?

Calcarosols in SA are widely used for cereal growing, pasture and irrigated horticulture, particularly vines along the Murray River and Clare Valley. Calcarosols have moderate to high inherent fertility and reasonable depth, making them important cropping soils on Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, Murray Mallee and the lower rainfall parts of the Northern Agricultural districts.