Soil/Landform Unit 58

In the distance a remnant stand of Eucalyptus viminalis and Eucalyptus radiata on the sand ridge surrounding a former swamp. This swamp is now a broad alluvial plain that drains into Lal Lal Reservoir

Area:

352 ha

0.03% of CMA region

This unit consists of a sandy ridge that has developed on the edge of a large swamp at Lal Lal. The exact genesis and reasons for existence of this sandy ridge are not entirely understood as firstly the ridge resembles a

lunette

in nature, yet lies on the opposite side to which it should given the prevailing wind direction, and secondly the coarse sandy nature of this ridge is confusing. As a sand ridge associated with swamps of the Western Uplands, there is a rich diversity of vegetation classes that coincide with the swamp plains. These vegetation classes include Aquatic Herbland/Plains Sedgy Wetland Mosaic, Grassy Woodland, Plains Sedgy Wetland with the dominant species being

Eucalyptus radiata

and

E. viminalis.

The sandy nature of these soils resulting in low fertility and water holding capacity has discouraged further clearing. Soils are primarily deep uniform sands.

Cutting through the lakeside sand ridge north of Lal Lal
	Sand profiles formed on top of Ordovician sediments are extremely leached and pale

Component	1
Proportion of soil-landform unit	100%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 760
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 7, Maximum 17
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	November-March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary fluvial sand and gravel, Neogene fluvial sand
Geomorphology	2.1.5 Alluvial terraces, floodplains and swamps of the Western Uplands
LANDUSE	Uncleared: Nature conservation; water supply Cleared: Beef cattle and sheep grazing; cropping; residential development; soil stripping
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Gently undulating extremely low ridge
Elevation range (m)	420-478
Local relief (m)	1-2
Drainage pattern	-
Drainage density (km/km²)	2.1
Landform	Lakeside sand ridges
Landform element
Slope and range (%)	2-3
Slope shape	Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Aquatic Herbland/Plains Sedgy Wetland Mosaic (23.9%), Grassy Woodland (1.8%), Plains Sedgy Wetland (0.8%)
Dominant species	E. viminalis, E. radiata
SOIL Parent material	Unconsolidated sand
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Yellow or grey sand soils (11)
Soil type sites	BD9
Surface texture	Sand
Permeability	High
Depth (m)	2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Soil tend to have a low water and nutrient holding capacity, therefore leading to fertility decline.

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