Physical condition of surface soil mapping highlights areas where plant growth may be impeded due to poor surface soil structure, predominantly due to a condition known as hard setting. Mapping shows the proportion of land with surface soils susceptible to hard setting or sealing, while detailed proportion data are supplied for calculating respective areas of each physical condition of surface soil class (spatial data statistics).

Water erosion potential, based on Soil Landscape Map Units of Southern South Australia, describes the susceptibility of land to sheet or rill erosion due to overland flow of water. Mapping shows the dominant water erosion potential class, while detailed proportion data are supplied for calculating respective areas of each water erosion potential class (spatial data statistics). Also available for download: Soil Water Erosion Potential (SA).

Physical condition of soil provides an integrated view of various physical impediments to plant growth associated with surface soils, subsoils and other limitations (e.g. waterlogging, salinity, rockiness or steepness). Mapping shows the most limiting soil physical condition (provided it occupies at least 30% of a map unit), while detailed proportion data are supplied for calculating respective areas of each physical condition of soil class (spatial data statistics).

This spatial dataset identifies areas of land showing the extent of acid sulfate soils. Acid sulfate soils have been classified into 5 different classes based on the likelihood of the acid sulfate soils being present in particular areas and at certain depths. Class 1: Acid sulfate soils in a class 1 area are likely to be found on and below the natural ground surface. Class 2 : Acid sulfate soils in a class 2 area are likely to be found below the natural ground surface. Class 3: Acid sulfate soils in a class 3 area are likely to be found beyond 1 metre below the natural ground surface. Class 4: Acid sulfate soils in a class 4 area are likely to be found beyond 2 metres below the natural ground surface. Class 5: Acid sulfate soils are not typically found in Class 5 areas. Areas classified as Class 5 are located within 500 metres on adjacent class 1,2,3 or 4 land. Contact data.broker@environment.nsw.gov.au for a data package (shapefile)

High natural levels of sodium, that are toxic to some plants, are typically associated with deep subsoil sodicity, high pH, high boron and moderate salinity, and occur mostly in drier parts of the state. Mapping shows the proportion of land with sodium toxicity in the upper 100 cm of soil, while detailed proportion data are supplied for calculating total land areas affected (spatial data statistics).

Surface carbonate often occurs as finely divided particles which reduce nutrient availability to plants and retard the degradation of some herbicides. Mapping shows the proportion of land with calcareous surface soils, while detailed proportion data are supplied for calculating respective areas of each surface carbonate class (spatial data statistics).