Soil/Landform Unit 43

The moderately inclined low cone of Mount Moriac

Area:

1388 ha

0.10% of CMA region

The inclined low cones of Mount Hesse, Mount Moriac, Mount Wallace and Clever Hill form part of sequence of volcanic landforms within the Midlands of the Western Uplands, and the dissected plains of the Western Plains. These cones are characterised by cone crests and upper, mid or lower slopes. The cones support the vegetation classes plains Grassy Woodland and Herb-rich Foothill Forest. The upper slopes and crests, and the mid slopes support shallow red

friable

texture contrast and/or gradational soils, while the lower slopes host black self-mulching clays. The land use is mainly beef cattle and sheep grazing and cropping (particularly on the lower slopes). Erosion hazards are minimal. Areas with shallow stony gradational soils are susceptible to leaching of nutrients, and compaction is a problem on the lower slopes and depressions.

Mount Mercer
	Mount Hesse

Component	1	2	3
Proportion of soil-landform unit	25%	30%	45%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 700
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 18
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October-March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary basalt and scoria
Geomorphology	2.1.4 Dissected Western Uplands associated with volcanic landforms and 6.1.1 Eruption points of the Volcanic Western Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared: Nature conservation; passive and active recreation; water supply; hardwood forestry Cleared: Beef cattle and sheep grazing; cropping; residential development; horticulture
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Moderately inclined low cones
Elevation range (m)	104-690
Local relief (m)	40-50
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.4
Landform	Volcanic cone
Landform element	Broad crest and gentle upper slopes	Steep mid and upper slopes	Lower slopes
Slope and range (%)	3 (1-7)	6 (3-15)	3 (1-8)
Slope shape	Convex	Concave-Convex	Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Grassy Woodland (0.9%), Herb-rich Foothill Forest (0.7%)
SOIL Parent material	In situ basalt and scoria	In situ basalt and scoria	In situ basalt and scoria
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Friable red texture contrast soils (38); minor friable red gradational soils (40)	Friable red texture contrast soils (38); minor friable red gradational soils (40)	Shallo black self-mulching soils (39)
Soil type sites	MM5075, BD5, SW96	MM5075, BD5, SW96	SW102, SW101, SW103
Surface texture	Loams	Loams	Clays
Permeability	High	High	Very Low
Depth (m)	<0.7	<1	<1
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Texture contrast soil with low water holding capacity, moderate nutrient holding capacity in upper soil, high in subsoil. Gradational soils, low to moderate water holding capacity, moderate to high nurtient holding capacity. Shallow to moderately rapid site drainage with slight susceptibility to sheet erosion.	Texture contrast soil with low water holding capacity, moderate nutrient holding capacity in upp soil, high in subsoil. Gradational soils, low to moderate water holding capacity, moderate to high nutrient holding capacity. Shallow to moderate deep, friable soils that are often stony. Rapid site drainage with slight susceptibility to sheet erosion.	Uniform expansive clay soils, high water holding capacity, very high nutrient holding capacity. Shallow to moderate deep, friable and self-mulching soils that are often stony. Moderate site drainage with slight susceptibility to rill erosion.

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