Soil/Landform Unit 150
Landform Unit Description
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 Lunettes are found on the eastern side of swamps and flat plains (former swamps and lakes) |
0.09% of CMA region This unit consists of swamps, lakes and associated lunettes as part of an alluvial/aeolian complex sourced from volcanic material on the western side of Lake Corangamite. This succession of lakes, swamps, plains and minor lunettes hosts a range of vegetation communities including Grassy Woodland, Plains Grassy Woodland and Plains Sedgy Wetland. These small individual units are located within an alluvial area that drains directly into Lake Corangamite’s western shore. The unit has black gradational soils and some self-mulching grey cracking clays on the lunettes and flat plains. The soils are friable, strongly structured and productive, and generally deep with moderately rapid site drainage and no stone. The swamps have alkaline black or grey cracking clays. Rainfall is sufficient to influence grazing intensity (for dairying or beef/sheep production) and has a slightly higher rainfall than its associated unit to the south (Unit 156). Waterlogging and soil compaction are possible constraints in wet seasons for these soils. |  |
 Deep rooted perennial pastures such as phalaris thrive on the deep soils of the swamps and lunettes |  |
 |  Broad gentle lunette |
Component | 1 |
Proportion of soil-landform unit | 100% |
| CLIMATE Rainfall (mm) | Annual: 680 |
| Temperature (oC) | Minimum 8, Maximum 19 |
| Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration | October-March |
| GEOLOGY Age and lithology | Quaternary silt, clay and sand dunes and alluvium |
| Geomorphology | |
| LANDUSE | Uncleared areas: Water supply, nature conservation Cleared areas: Sheep and beef cattle grazing; dairy farming; water supply |
| TOPOGRAPHY Landscape | Low ridges associated with lakes |
| Elevation range (m) | 129-157 |
| Local relief (m) | 5-8 |
| Drainage pattern | Centripetal |
| Drainage density (km/km2) | 1.6 |
| Landform | Lunettes |
| Landform element | Lunettes |
| Slope and range (%) | 3 (1-9) |
| Slope shape | Convex |
| NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class | Grassy Woodland (2.5%), Plains Grassy Woodland (0.6%), Plains Sedgy Wetland (0.2%) |
| SOIL Parent material | Clay, sitl and fine sand |
| Description (Corangamite Soil Group) | Neutral or alkaline well structured black gradational soils (9) |
| Soil type sites | |
| Surface texture | Clay loam |
| Permeability | High to moderate |
| Depth (m) | >2 |
| LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS | Friable structured soil. Soil epth is deep to very deep with high water holding capacity. Well drained to imperfectly drained and high nutrient holding capacity. Higher relief to surrounding plains allows good site drainage. |
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