Soil/Landform Unit 130

Area:

26 ha

<0.01% of CMA region

This unit of low hills is classified as being within the volcanic eruption points of the Western Plains. This unit of undulating low hills (may well be regarded as having an eruption point) occurs south-east of Carranballac on the north-west boundary of the Corangamite CMA region. This unit sits within gently undulating basalt plains (Unit

127

). Unit components are hillslopes (crest, upper and mid) and a lower slope which grades into the plains. The soils are shallow black texture contrast soils with some shallow cracking clays and friable red texture contrast soils (

Chromosols

) on the hillslopes and alkaline (

sodic

) brown texture contrast soils (

Sodosols

) on the lower slopes. These soils are subject to structure decline,

compaction

where deeper and also to waterlogging. The upper and mid slopes have more

friable

soils (red and black) and are subject to sheet erosion on the steeper slopes. The main land use is grazing.

Component	1	2
Proportion of soil-landform unit	100%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 610
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 9, Maximum 19
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October-April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary basalt and minor alluvium
Geomorphology	6.1.4 Volcanic Western Plains with well developed drainage
LANDUSE	Cleared areas: Sheep and beef cattle grazing
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Undulating low hills
Elevation range (m)	240-249
Local relief (m)	9
Drainage pattern	-
Drainage density (km/km²)	-
Landform	Low hills
Landform element	Upper and mid slopes	Lower slopes
Slope and range (%)	5 (3-10)	3 (1-7)
Slope shape	Straight	Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Absent
SOIL Parent material	Basalt	Basalt
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Shallow black texture contrast soils (37), minor shallow self-mulching clays (39)	Alkaline mottled brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soils (35)
Soil type sites	SFS5, SW101	SW86, CLRA49, SW90
Surface texture	Clay loam	Clay loam
Permeability	Moderate to poor	Poor
Depth (m)	<1.5	<2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Texture contrast, moderate water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity in surface and subsurface soils but higher in subsoil. Poor permeability but rapid site drainage. Where strongly sodic soil, susceptibility to structure decline and compaction (particularly when moist) and plant stress increase. Hardsetting surface soil.	Texture contrast, moderate water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity in surface and subsurface soil but higher in subsoil. Poor permeability but rapid site drainage. Where strongly sodic soil, susceptibility to structure decline and compaction (particularly when moist) and plant stress increase. Hardsetting surface soil.

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