Dutson (Dn)

	Area: 120 sq. km (0.6%) In the Seaspray-Dutson area the land has been uplifted from beneath the sea by monoclinal movements associated with the Baragwanath Anticline. Perry, Barrier and Dutson land systems are widespread in this area. Dutson land system consists of almost flat to gently sloping plains with land forms of marine origin and with both sandy and sodic, clayey materials. Drainage is undeveloped and diversion or detention of run-off water behind old, coastal sand forms is common, resulting in many poorly-drained areas. Dutson is similar to Redgum I land system in age and topography but its heavier soils show the effects of marine deposition. Shallow groundwater of low to moderate salinity has been detected in some parts of this land system, resulting in a moderate salinity hazard in such areas.	Uneven sandy plains with some woodland still remaining. The bracken is indicative of the sandy. well-drained nature of the soils.
The nature of the soils is determined largely by the depth of sand over more clayey substrata. Where the sands are deeper than 0.5 to I m the underlying clayey materials appear to have little or no influence on soil formation processes. These soils, with topsoil darkened by humus merge into paler-coloured sands that overlie soft, bright yellowish-brown, sandy layers or cemented coffee-rock. The accumulation of iron compounds may extend into the top of the clay. Where the clay is close to the surface, duplex soils have developed, with coarse- to medium-textured upper horizons abruptly overlying clays that are sodic and alkaline at depth. Prior to clearing, grassy woodland II was probably the dominant vegetation, with woodland I and sedgeland in small swamps and swales.

CLIMATE Rainfall, mean (mm) Temperature, mean (°C) Seasonal growth limitations	Annual 500 - 800; lowest January (30 - 50), highest October (40 - 70) Annual 12 - 14; lowest July (9 - 10), highest February (19 - 20) Temperature <10°C (av.): July Rainfall < potential evapotranspiration: November – March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Pleistocene sands and clays of marine origin
PHYSIOGRAPHY Landscape Elevation range (m) Relative relief (m) Drainage pattern Drainage density (km/km²)	Gently sloping plains 20 - 80 0 - 5 Undeveloped 0.2
PRESENT LAND USE	Mostly cleared: grazing of beef cattle and sheep on improved pastures; extensive softwood plantations Minor proportion uncleared: bush grazing of cattle; apiculture

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

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

LAND COMPONENT Percentage of land system Diagnostic features	1 45 Clay plains with thin sand cover	2 30 Uneven sandy plains	3 20 Higher sandy rises	4 5 Swales and swamps
PHYSIOGRAPHY Slope %, typical and (range) Slope shape	<2, (0 - 4) Straight	<2, (0 - 4) Straight	2, (0 - 5) convex	<1, (0 - 2) Straight or concave
SOIL
Parent material	Sand; marine silt and clay Sand to sandy clay loam abruptly overlying mottled, generally alkaline clay at shallow depth	Sand	Sand	Sand
Description	Solodic and Solodized Solonetz	Dark sand over whitish sand overlying bright yellowish brown sand; yellow sand or sometimes clay below	Dark sand over paler sand over coffee rock: yellow sand below	No observations — probably black sand over grey sand over coffee rock or mottled clay
Classification	Soils Dy3.42, Dy3.43, Db2.43 and other Dy3. - , Dy5. - and Db2. - soils	Podzols Uc2.21, Uc4.22 and other Uc2. - and Uc4. - soils	Podzols Uc4.3-	Podzols. Humic Gleys -
Surface texture	Loamy sand to sandy clay loam	Sand		Sand
Surface consistence	Soft to slightly hard	Loose to soft		Soft
Depth (m)	>2.0	>2.0		>2.0
Nutrient status	Very low to low	Very low		Very low
Available soil water capacity	Moderate	Very low		Very low
Perviousness to water	Slow	Very rapid		Very rapid
Drainage	Poor	Somewhat excessive		Very poor to poor
Exposed stone (%)	0	0		0
Sampled profile number	-	72	-	-
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure of vegetation and characteristic species of dominant stratum (+ Predominant species)	Sands underlain by clays:	Mainly woodland I, II: Deeper sands: E. viminalis var. racemosa E. bridgesiana, E. cephalocarpa and/or E. ovata; less commonly E. melliodora or E. tereticornis		Sedgeland: Lepidosperma spp. in wetter areas Woodland I: E. ovata around margins

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: a) increased deep percolation and leaching b) raised winter/spring watertable	Nutrient loss Waterlogging Salting	1,4; low 2; moderate - high 3; high 1,2,4; moderate 4; high	Not determined Common Common	Removal of trees Reduced water use by plants within the catchment Reduced water use by plants within the catchment	Increased movement of water to groundwater. Increased waterlogging in lower areas Increased salting in lower areas
Increased exposure of surface soil	Increased overland flow and soil detachment Increased wind velocity over soil and increased detachment of sand	Sheet and rill erosion Wind erosion	1; low 12; moderate 3: high 4; low	Common Common	Clearing, softwood logging, burning, overgrazing, road and dam building and other earthmoving activities, rabbit burrowing, trafficking by stock and vehicles. As for sheet and rill erosion above	Increased flash flows and sediment load. Encroachment by sand
Increased physical pressure on soil	Increased compaction With reduced infiltration	Structure decline Sheet and rill erosion	1,4; low - moderate 2,3; low 1; low	Not determined Common	Increased trafficking and cultivation, overgrazing, export of organic matter As for sheet and rill erosion above	- Increased waterlogging in lower areas
Increased soil disruption	Increased loosening of sand	Wind erosion	1,2; moderate 3: high 4; low	Common	As for wind, sheet and rill erosion above	Encroachment by sand
Comments: Seasonal waterlogging is common and a number of these affected areas have become permanently saline

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