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Soil/Landform Unit 173

Landform Unit Description

Unit 173 image a
These gently undulating sedimentary plains are mainly used for cropping and grazing
      Area: 1101 ha
      0.08 % of CMA region

      This unit is a gently undulating sedimentary plain within the Western Plains. This unit is a small unit of two occurrences (east of Bannockburn and north of Anakie) consisting of very low relief and slow site drainage, apart from the drop to lower terrain. The main occurrence is north-west of Moorabool and is bound east and west by incised drainage valleys (including the Moorabool River valley) and is influenced by basaltic material from the north. The soils are alkaline texture contrast soils that are generally strongly sodic with poor permeability and mainly used for grazing. The surface soils are light (mainly sandy loams) with a limited nutrient holding capacity and poor structure, influenced by the sodic subsoil.
Unit 173 geomorphology

Unit 173 image b
Undulating basalt plain east of Bannockburn
Unit 173 cross section

Unit 173 graph

Unit 173 image c
Undulating basalt plain highlighting basalt rocks at the surface.

Component
1
2
3
Proportion of soil-landform unit
95%
3%
2%
CLIMATE
Rainfall (mm)

Annual: 550
Temperature (oC)
Minimum 9, Maximum 19
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration
October–April
GEOLOGY
Age and lithology

Neogene fluvial and marine sediments, Quaternary basalt and minor Paleogene tholeiites and pyroclastics
Geomorphology
LANDUSE
Uncleared: Nature conservation
Cleared: Beef cattle and sheep grazing; occasional cropping (cereal)
TOPOGRAPHY
Landscape

Undulating plains
Elevation range (m)
45–147
Local relief (m)
3–5
Drainage pattern
Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km2)
0.7
Landform
Long gentle slopes
Drainage line
Stony rises
Landform element
Slopes
Depression
Slope and range (%)
1 (1–3)
1 (1–2)
3 (2–5)
Slope shape
Straight
Straight
Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION
Ecological Vegetation Class

Plains Grassy Woodland (0.1%)
Dominant species
E. leucoxylon
SOIL
Parent material

Unconsolidated sediments (sand and clay) with
in situ weathered rock

Alluvium

In situ weathered basalt
Description
(Corangamite Soil Group)
Mottled dark grey sodic texture contrast soils, coarse structure (13/36)
Black clay soils, coarse structure (31)
Red shallow stony gradational (earths and loams) soil (40)
Soil type sites
Surface texture
Sandy loam
Clay
Clay loam
Permeability
Moderate to low
Low
High
Depth (m)
1.0–3.0
1.0–3.0
0.2–0.5
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS
Hardsetting surfaces, slowly permeable subsoil and overland flow can cause periodic waterlogging. Surface compaction and sheet erosion may also occur.
Clay soils in drainage line may experience waterlogging. Overland flow may lead to rill erosion.
Slopes and overland flow contribute to sheet erosion. Leaching and nutrient decline also occur.
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