Soil/Landform Unit 4

Landform Unit Description

View over Mount Helen towards Ballarat from teh steep slopes of Mount Buninyong	Area: 9383 ha 0.70% of CMA region
	This land unit is situated in the dissected uplands (Midlands) near Ballarat and consists of rolling low hills. This unit within the Western Uplands is predominantly a single mass that forms part of the northern boundary of the Corangamite catchment with well defined dendritic drainage falling to the west and south. Vegetation is prominent across this unit and includes Heathy Dry Forest, Grassy Dry Forest, Valley Grassy Forest and Herb-rich Foothill Forest. The rounded topography broad crests may be associated with short steep slopes but the side slopes are rolling. The upland basalts and major drainage lines form significant borders. The soils generally have a significant silt component, are shallow and strongly acidic on crests and wetter areas, and are generally low in nutrients. They are often very susceptible to gully and sheet erosion in cleared areas given the weathered regolith and deeper profiles.

Undulating hills with native vegetation stands.
	Land use is primarily grazing and urban development of Ballarat

Component	1	2	3	4	5	6
Proportion of soil-landform unit	20%	15%	35%	23%	2%	5%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 780
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 780
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 7, Maximum 17
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	November-March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Ordovician marine sandstine and shale; Quaternary basalt and alluvium
GEOLOGY Age and lithology
Geomorphology	2.1.1 Dissected Western Uplands associated with Palaeozoic sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
LANDUSE	Uncleared: Nature conservation; water supply; hardwood plantation; softwood plantation; passive and active recreation Cleared: Beef cattle and sheep grazing; forestry; cropping (cereal); hardwood plantation; softwood plantation
LANDUSE
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Undulating hills and ridges
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Undulating hills and ridges
Elevation range (m)	360-630
Local relief (m)	50
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	3.0
Landform	Hills				Drainage lines	Ridges
Landform element	Broad crests	Gentle plains and rises	Rolling hills	Moderately steep slopes	Drainage line	Ridge and and ravine
Slope and range (%)	4 (1-7)	14 (5-37)	5 (2-9)	11 (3-15)	4 (2-9)	4 (0-11)
Slope shape	Convex	Convex	Convex	Straight	Concave	Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Heathy Dry Forest (23.4%); Grassy Dry Forest (4.6%); Valley Grassy Forest (1.8%); Herb-rich Foothill Forest (1.7%)
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class
Dominant species	E. obliqua, E. radiata	E. obliqua, E. viminalis	E. obliqua, E. viminalis	E. obliqua, E. dives, E. radiata, E. viminalis	E. ovata, E. radiata, E. viminalis	E. obliqua, E. dives, E. radiata, E. viminalis
SOIL Parent material	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	Alluvium, clay, silt, sand, gravel	In situ weathered sandstone and shale
SOIL Parent material	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	In situ weathered sandstone and shale	Alluvium, clay, silt, sand, gravel	In situ weathered sandstone and shale
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Shallow stony red gradational soil (25)	Red mottled, brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soil (25)	Red mottled, brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soil (25)	Red mottled, brown, grey or yellow gradational or texture contrast soils, fine structure (25)	Black gradational (earth) soil, (variable) (34)	Shallow stony red and brown, grey or yellow gradational soil (25)
Soil type sites	CLRA53, CLRA58, BD10	CLRA54, CLRA58, BD10	CLRA54, CLRA58, BD10	CLRA53, CLRA58, BD10	SW39, CLRA15	CLRA53, CLRA58, BD10
Surface texture	Gravelly loam	Loamy clay	Loamy clay	Fine sandy loam	Clay loam	Gravelly loam
Permeability	High	Moderate to low	Moderate to low	High	Moderate to low	High
Depth (m)	0.6	1.5	1	2	>1	0.5
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Hardsetting surfaces and low permeability leads to overland flow. This flow often creates sheet and rill erosion with major rainfall events. Gully erosion and leaching of salts also occur. Surface compaction can benefit from controlled traffic.	Hardsetting surfaces and low permeability leads to overland flow. This flow often creates sheet and rill erosion with major rainfall events. Gully erosion and leaching of salts also occur. Surface compaction can benefit from controlled traffic.	Hardsetting surfaces and low permeability leads to overland flow. This often creates sheet and rill erosion with major rainfall events. Gully erosion and leachign of salts also occur. Surface compaction can benefit from controlled traffic.	Steep slopes causing overland flow is likely to cause sheet and rill erosion. Nutrient decline is possible due to shallow and permeable soils.	Moderate permeability soils. Overland flow often creates sheet and rill erosion with major rainfall events. Waterlogging is periodic and gully erosion is most common here.	Moderate permeability soils. Overland flow often creates heet and rill erosion wiht major rainfall events. Waterlogging is periodic and gully erosion is most ocmmon here.

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