Bindi (Bi)

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Bindi- geo

Area: 27 sq. km (0.1%)

This land system is confined to an area of Devonian calcareous marine sediments interbedded with siltstones, at low elevations in the north-east of the survey area. Broad alluvial floors (the broadest of which are mapped in Walnut land system) and colluvial fill on lower slopes are characteristic. Topography ranges from low hills to undulating terrain, with rock outcrop on some strike ridges. Secondary, calcareous accumulations occur on some breaks-of-slope.

Shallow, reddish brown clays with fine structure have developed under low to moderate rainfall on the calcareous and silty, siliceous parent rocks. Lime is often present in the soil close to the surface and the reaction is usually neutral in the topsoil and alkaline at depth. The shallowness of the soil leads to low water-holding capacity and periodic water stress.

Now almost entirely cleared, the original vegetation was probably mainly a grassy woodland II, with open forest II on lower colluvial slopes and alluvial terraces.

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Bindi- image

Cleared low hills and undulating terrain adjacent to the forested slopes of Blomford land system

CLIMATE Rainfall, mean (mm) Temperature, mean (°C) Seasonal growth limitations	Annual 500 - 800; lowest July (30 - 50), highest October (50 - 80) Annual 12 - 14; lowest July (8 - 10), highest February (19 - 21) Temperature <10°C (av.): May - September Rainfall < potential evapotranspiration: November – March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Devonian; Taravale Formation, Buchan Group; siltstones with interbedded limestones, sometimes nodular
PHYSIOGRAPHY Landscape Elevation range (m) Relative relief (m) Drainage pattern Drainage density (km/km²)	Low hills and undulating terrain 400 - 700 80 - 120 Dendritic 1.3
PRESENT LAND USE	Mostly cleared: mainly grazing by beef cattle and sheep, mostly on improved pastures

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Bindi- cs

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Bindi- graph

LAND COMPONENT Percentage of land system Diagnostic features	1 55 Long gentle slopes	2 20 Short steeper slopes normal to strike with outcrop of calcareous rock	3 15 Lower slopes and some fans with deep soils	4 10 Valley flats
PHYSIOGRAPHY Slope %, typical and (range) Slope shape	10 - 20, (5 - 30) Concave, some convex	20 – 30, (10 - 40) Straight	5, (2 - 15) Concave	<2, (0 - 5) Straight but uneven
SOIL
Parent material	Siltstone and interbedded limestone		Colluvium and local alluvium	Alluvium
Description	Shallow reddish brown granular or fine blocky structured clay, often stony	Alternating rock outcrop and very shallow soil, otherwise similar to component 1	Variable; deep reddish brown fine blocky clay: dark grey mottled clay where drainage poor	Limited observations — black sandy clay loam to clay loam over stratified alluvium of variable texture
Classification	Euchrozems Gn3.13	Euchrozems Um6.24	Terra Rossas. Solodic Soils Gn3.15. Dy3.23	Alluvial Soils Um6.22
Surface texture	Clay loam	Clay loam	Loam to clay loam	Medium textures
Surface consistence	Very hard when dry	Very hard when dry	Hard to very hard when dry	Very hard when dry
Depth (m)	Mostly 0.4 - 0.8	<0.4, some deeper pockets	>2.0	>2.0
Nutrient status	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate to high
Available soil water capacity	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Perviousness to water	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow to moderate
Drainage	Good	Good	Variable: somewhat poor to good	Good
Exposed stone (%)	Generally 0	Generally 0	0	0
Sampled profile number	-	-	33	-
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure of vegetation and characteristic species of dominant stratum (+ Predominant species)	Grassy woodland II: E. pauciflora+. E. viminalis	Grassy woodland II: E. pauciflora+	Open forest II: E. goniocalyx+. E. polyanthemos	Limited data — probably open forest II with E. viminalis

Disturbance	Affected process and trend	Primary resultant deterioration			Casual activities	Primary off-site process
Disturbance	Affected process and trend	Form	Susceptibility of components	Incidence with components	Casual activities	Primary off-site process
Alteration of vegetation: — reduction in leaf area, rooting depth and/or perenniality	Reduced transpiration, resulting in increased deep percolation	Nutrient loss	Not determined	Not determined	Removal of trees	Increased movement of water to groundwater: increased base-flow of streams
Increased exposure of surface soil	Increased overland flow and soil detachment	Sheet and rill erosion	1,2,3; moderate - high	Common	Clearing, cultivating, burning, overgrazing, road and dam building and other earth-moving activities, rabbit burrowing, trafficking by stock and vehicles.	Increased flash flows and sediment load.
Increased physical pressure on soil	Increased compaction With reduced infiltration	Structure decline Sheet and rill erosion	12.3.4; moderate 12,3.4; moderate - high	Common on the gentler slopes Common	Increased trafficking and cultivation, overgrazing, export of organic matter As for sheet and rill erosion above	- Increased flash flows
Increased soil disruption	Increased soil break-up	Gully erosion	I; moderate 2; low 3,4; high	Common	As for sheet and rill erosion above	Increased sediment loam
Comments: Vegetative cover regenerates only slowly, particularly on exposed aspects because of hot, dry summers and autumns.

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