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Soil/Landform Unit 85

Landform Unit Description

Unit 85 image a
Rolling plains from Robinsons Road near Barongarook
      Area: 1493 ha
      0.11% of CMA region

      North of Forrest and extending towards Colac, undulating plains with often deeply weathered soils are found. The geology is mainly Pliocene clay with minor outcrops of sand. Redistribution of surface sand has resulted in polygenetic soils over much of the landscape, with weak hardpan development and impeded drainage. Surface soils seem to be naturally low in plant nutrients. Many areas remain uncleared and support open forests dominated by Eucalyptus obliqua and E. radiata. E. baxteri is notably absent in this slightly drier region. Other areas have been cleared for agriculture or converted to pine plantations. The main hazards to land use are loss of soil structure by compaction and leaching of nutrients.
Unit 85 geomorphology

Unit 85 image b
Cultivated crest and upper slope overlooing lower slopes and plains
Unit 85 cross section

Unit 85 graph

Unit 85 image c
Poor site drainage and low soil permeability lead to waterlogging
and pugging of the soil by stock

Component
1
2
3
4
Proportion of soil-landform unit
40%
30%
20%
10%
CLIMATE
Rainfall (mm)

Annual: 700-900, lowest January (40), highest August (80)
Temperature (oC)
Annual: 13, lowest July (8), highest February (18)
Seasal growth limitations
Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration late October-early April
GEOLOGY
Age and lithology

Pliocene unconsolidated clay, silt and sand. Recent sand veneer
Geomorphology
LANDUSE
Cleared areas: Sheep and beef cattle grazing dairy farming
Uncleared areas: Hardwood forestry for sawlogs, post and poles; nature conservation; active and passive recreation; softwood forestry; forest grazing
TOPOGRAPHY
Landscape

Gently undulating rolling plain in the western parts of the Barwon catchment
Elevation range (m)
120-280
Local relief (m)
30
Drainage pattern
Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km2)
2.1
Landform
Undulating plains
Landform element
Crest and upper slope
Upper and middle slope
Lower slope
Drainage line
Slope and range (%)
15 (0-10)
5 (0-10)
7 (1-15)
1 (0-2)
Slope shape
Convex
Convex
Linear
Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION
Structure

Open forest

Open forest

Woodland

Woodland
Dominant species
E. obliqua, E. radiata, occasionally
E. ovata, E. viminalis
E. radiata, E. obliqua, E. nitida
E. radiata, E. nitida
E. ovata, E. radiata, occasionally
E. aromaphloia
SOIL
Parent material

Clay, silt and sand

Clay, silt and sand with quartz sand veneer

Clay, silt and sand with quartz sand veneer

Alluvium
Description
(Corangamite Soil Group)
Mottled brown, grey, yellow and red gradational soils (17)
Grey sand soils, structured clay underlay at depth (8)
Grey sand soils, weakly structured clay underlay (8)
Mottled brown, yellow and grey gradational soils (34)
Soil type sites
OTR746, SW37, SW31
OTR737
-
-
Surface texture
Loam
Sandy loam
Sandy loam
Loam
Permeability
Moderate
Low
Low
Moderate
Depth (m)
>2
>2
>2
>2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS
Low inherent fertility and phosphorus fixation lead to nutrient decline.
Low inherent fertility with leaching of permeable surface horizons leads to nutrient decline.
Low permeability and seasonal perched watertable lead to waterlogging and soil compaction.
High seasonal watertable leads to waterlogging and soil compaction.
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