Soil/Landform Unit 110

The low hills and gently undulating plains of Bostock Creek catchment between Camperdown and Cobden

Area:

4516 ha

0.34% of CMA region

The low hills and gently undulating plains near Camperdown in the south-west of the Corangamite catchment are associated with an eruption complex that includes scoria cones (Unit

) and maars (Unit

107

). The basaltic plains and hills are sought after for their high land versatility and productivity potential. As part of the volcanic Western Plains, the unit is characterised by gentle to undulating slopes with defined drainage lines and depressions. Associated with these landform elements are remnant vegetation that includes Plains Grassy Woodland and Scoria Cone Woodland. A relatively recent landform, the soils are black texture contrast and gradational and are not

sodic

at depth. Soils of higher topographic positions compared with the lower surrounding terrain are

friable

and better drained. Land use is quite varied and comprises dairy farming, beef cattle, horticulture and cropping. Residential development also is a minor land use. Seasonal waterlogging on lower slopes and drainage depressions is an issue along with soil

compaction

The undulating plains are known for the dominance of dairy farming
	Shelter belts of cypress and radiata pine are common

Component	1	2	3	4
Proportion of soil-landform unit	20%	33%	44%	3%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 790
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 18
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	November-March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary scoria and basalt
Geomorphology	6.1.1 Eruption points of the Volcanic Western Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared: Nature conservation; water supply; active and passive recreation Cleared: Cropping; beef cattle and sheep grazing; dairy; regional development
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Gently undulating low basalt hills
Elevation range (m)	120-280
Local relief (m)	60
Drainage pattern	Radial
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.8
Landform	Low hills and rises		Plains	Drainage depressions
Landform element	Upper slopes and crests	Gentle slopes and rises	Undulating plains	Drainage lines and depressions
Slope and range (%)	6 (2-15)	2 (1-8)	2 (0-5)	3 (0-5)
Slope shape	Convex	Irregular	Straight	Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Grassy Woodland (3.4%); Scoria Cone Woodland (0.8%)
SOIL Parent material	Basaltic scoria and ash	Baslatic scoria, ash and hard rock	Basaltic ash and hard rock	Basalt and associated alluvium
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Friable red (38) and mottled brown texture contrast soils (37)	Neutral and acidic black mottled texture contrast soils (37)	Neutral and acidic black mottled texture contrast soils and acidic mottled brown and grey texture contrast soils (37)	Neutral black mottled texture contrast soils (37) and black cracking clays (31)
Soil type sites	MM228, SW48, SW25	SW25, SW27, MM227	SW27, SW48, SW25	SW48, SW25, SW37
Surface texture	Clay loam	Fine sandy clay loam	Fine sandy clay loam	Fine sandy clay loam, light clay
Permeability	Moderate	Moderate to low	Low	Very low
Depth (m)	<1.3	<1.5	<2	>2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Texture contrast, moderate to high water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity depending on depth and stoniness. Friable, non-sodic soils with fine to moderate structure. Moderate rapid site drainage. Some susceptibility to sheet and rill erosion.	Texture contrast, moderate to high water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity depending on depth and stoniness. Friable, non-sodic soils with fine to moderate structure. Moderate site drainage. Some susceptibility to sheet and rill erosion.	Texture contrast, moderate to high water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity depending on depth and stoniness. Non-sodic soils with fine to moderate structure. Moderate site drainage. Some susceptibility to sheet and rill erosion.	Texture contrast and uniform clays, moderate to very high water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity. Expansive clay subsoils (often self-mulching surface soils). Slow site drainage. Some susceptibility to waterlogging.

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