Soil/Landform Unit 106

The gentle slopes have shallow but well drained and fertile soils that support a variety of land uses

Area:

317 ha

0.02% of CMA region

This unit consists of gently inclined very low cones as part of the volcanic Western Plains. This unit consists of two very low cones called Mount Rebecca and Gow Hill between Cressy and Shelford. The higher relative relief aids drainage compared with the surrounding poorer drained, gently undulating basaltic plains. The soils are shallow alkaline red texture contrast soils (

Sodosols

and

Chromosols

) with strongly structured subsoils. Little native vegetation occurs as remnants (<1%) of the vegetation class Plains Grassy Woodland. This area has lower rainfall, which in conjunction with the soil favours broadacre cropping. However, the surface soil is susceptible to surface sealing (and structure decline) where

organic

matter levels are depleted, which may also increase sheet and rill erosion susceptibility.

The main land use of these gentle slopes is cereal cropping

Component	1	2	3
Proportion of soil-landform unit	20%	35%	45%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 600
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 19
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October-March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary basalt, minor Ordovician marine sandstone and shale
Geomorphology	6.1.1 Eruption points of the Volcanic Western Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: Nature conservation Cleared areas: Cropping (cereal); sheep and beef cattle grazing
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Low hills and volcanic cones
Elevation range (m)	14-452
Local relief (m)	20
Drainage pattern	Annular
Drainage density (km/km²)	<0.1
Landform	Rises
Landform element	Crest	Upper slope	Lower slope
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	Scoria and basalt	Scoria and basalt	Scoria and basalt
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Shallow alkaline red texture contrast soils (38)	Shallow alkaline red texture contrast soils (38)	Shallow alkaline red texture contrast soils (38)
Soil type sites	MM5075, MM5143	MM5075, MM5143	MM5075, MM5143
Surface texture	Loam, clay loam	Loam, clay loam	Loam, clay loam
Permeability	High	High	Moderate to high
Depth (m)	<1	<1.5	<2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Shallow soil. Texture contrast soils are prone to surface sealing. Strongly structured subsoils with low erodibility. Moderate to high nutrient holding capacity. Generally highly permeable.	Shallow to deep subsoil. Texture contrast soils are prone to surface sealing. Strongly structured subsoils with low erodibility. Moderate to high nutrient holding capacity. Generally highly permeable.	Moderate deep to deep soil. Texture contrast soils are prone to surface sealing. Strongly structured subsoil with low erodibility. Moderate to high nutrient holding capacity. Generally highly permeable.

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