Soil/Landform Unit 105

The undulating rises on teh southeastern margin of Lake Corangamite are derived from basaltic lava deposits with low stony rises, plains and depressions.

Area:

382 ha

0.03% of CMA region

This unit consists of undulating rises near Nalangil at the southern most extent of the current Lake Corangamite shore. This small single unit is derived from ash, scoria and basaltic lava deposits and forms part of the volcanic Western Plains. This soil-landform unit of the Western Plains is characterised by undulating low stony rises with prominent plains and minor depressions. The remnant vegetation class of these undulating rises and plains is Plains Grassy Woodland. These plains and low rises have black gradational soils with minor occurrences of brown gradational soils and shallow friable loams, especially in combination with surface stones on crests and upper slopes of rises. The depressions also comprise the black gradational soils of the plains and rises. The ash and scoria deposits are generally

friable

and highly productive due to high fertility. Land use is mainly dairy farming, grazing and minor cropping. The shallow soil tend to be susceptible to waterlogging (in wet seasons) and

compaction

Rise and plains near Nalangil

Component	1	2	3
Proportion of soil-landform unit	20%	35%	45%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 770
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 19
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	November-March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary scoria and Recent clay; sand and gravel
Geomorphology	6.1.1 Eruption points of the Volcanic Western Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: Nature conservation; water supply Cleared areas: Dairy farming; sheep and beef cattle grazing; croppping
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Low volcanic cones
Elevation range (m)	117-147
Local relief (m)	3-10
Drainage pattern	Centripetal
Drainage density (km/km²)	1.0
Landform	Volcanic cone
Landform element	Creast	Upper slopes	Lower slopes
Slope and range (%)	4 (1-10)	10 (5-20)	5 (2-10)
Slope shape	Convex	Convex	Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Grassy Woodland (0.7%)
SOIL Parent material	In situ basalt and scoria	In situ basalt and scoria	In situ basalt and scoria
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Neutral black and brown gradational soils and shallow friable loams (40) and black texture contrast soils (37)	Neutral black and brown gradational soils and shallow friable loams (40) and black texture contrast soils (37)	Neutral black and brown gradational soils and shallow friable loams (40) and black texture contrast soils (37)
Soil type sites	SW96, SW26, SW25	SW96, SW26, SW25	SW96, SW26, SW25
Surface texture	Clay loam to loam	Clay loam to loam	Clay loam to loam
Permeability	Moderate to high	Moderate to high	Moderate to high
Depth (m)	0.5	<1.5	<1.5
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Friable structured soil. Soil depth may be hsallow to moderately deep with limited water holding capacity. Well drained and high nutrient holding capacity. Upper soil may be acidic.	Friable structured soil. Soil depth may be hsallow to moderately deep with limited water holding capacity. Well drained and high nutrient holding capacity. Upper soil may be acidic.	Friable structured soil. Soil depth may be hsallow to moderately deep with limited water holding capacity. Well drained and high nutrient holding capacity. Upper soil may be acidic.

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