Soil/Landform Unit 144

The level plains and low rise (is in the distance) are prone to waterlogging in wet seasons

Area:

42 ha

<0.01% of CMA region

This unit comprises rises with associated swamps and depressions near Derrinallum. The rises have well developed

profiles and defined drainage, and form part of the dissected lava plains of the Western Plains. Soils on the rises include conspicuously

bleached

texture contrast soils with sporadically bleached soils on some rises, and grey cracking clays in the lower swamps and depressions. Red or brown texture contrast soils border these clay depressions and are the higher yielding areas. Very little surface stone occurs except occasionally on rise crests and upper slopes. Remnant vegetation on this unit includes Plains Grassland/Plains Grassy Woodland Mosaic. The land use is extensively grazing (mainly sheep) and minor cropping on the better yielding soils. Waterlogging, particularly on the lower slopes and depressions, is the major land management issue; combined with poor soil permeabilities this makes cropping these depressions extremely difficult.

Plantations of blue gum is a new land use of these poorly drained level plains

Component	1	2	3	4
Proportion of soil-landform unit	3%	50%	40%	7%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 610
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 19
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October-April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Recent clay, sand and agravel and basalt
Geomorphology	6.1.5 Alluvium, terraces, floodplain, lakes, swamps and lunettes of the Volcanic Western Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared: Nature conservation Cleared: Sheep and beef cattle grazing; cropping (cereal)
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Lava plains and low rises
Elevation range (m)	168-189
Local relief (m)	2-10
Drainage pattern	Centripetal
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.4
Landform	Low rises		Plains	Drainage depressions
Landform element	Broad low crests and stony rises	Long gentle slopes	Broad plains	Swamps and depressions
Slope and range (%)	3 (2-6)	2 (1-5)	1 (0-3)	3 (0-5)
Slope shape	Convex	Linear	Straight	Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Grassland / Plains Grassy Woodland Mosaic (2.4%)
SOIL Parent material	Basalt	Basalt and colluvium	Basalt and colluvium	Clay sitl and sand and basalt
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Alkaline and neutral brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soils (36)	Alkaline and neutral brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soils and red texture contrast and brown gradational soils (36)	Alkaline and neutral brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soils (36)	Grey clays and red texture contrast and brown gradational soils (31)
Soil type sites	SFS6, CLRA47, MM5015	SFS6, CLRA47, MM5015	SFS6, CLRA47, MM5015	SW37, CLRA48, SW8
Surface texture	Fine sandy clay loam	Fine sandy clay loam	Fine sandy clay loam	Light clay
Permeability	Moderate to low	Low	Low	Very low
Depth (m)	<1.5	<2	<2	>2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Texture contrast soil, moderate water holding capacity and moderate nutrient holding capacity in surface and subsurface soils, higher in deep subsoil. Low to very low permeability. Stony. Strongly sodic subsoil. Moderate site drainage.	Texture contrast soil, moderate water holding capacity and moderate nutrient holding capacity in surface and subsurface soils, higher in deep subsoil. Low to very low permeability. Some stone. Strongly sodic subsoil, possible surface soil associated with poor drainage. Moderate to slow site drainage.	Texture contrast soil, moderae water holding capacity and moderate nutrient holding capacity in surface and subsurface soils, higher in deep subsoil. Low to very low permeability. Some stone. Strongly sodic subsoil, possibly surface soil associated with poor drainage. Slow to very slow site drainage.	Uniform fine texture, expansive clays. High water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity. Strongly sodic subsoil, possibly surface soil associated with poor drainage. Some friable self-mulching surfaces with high organic matter. Very slow site drainage.

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