Marong map unit Qa4

Back to: A Land Capability Study of the Rural City of Marong

Map Unit:	Quaternary alluvium, terrace (Bendigo Creek)	Map Unit Symbol:	Qa4
		% of Study Area:	0.1

Land-form diagram for Marong map unit Qa4

General Description:
A small narrow terrace associated with the Bendigo Creek. The soils represent three distinct periods of deposition. Brown silty clays barns overly loamy sands which overly silty clay loamy and light clays. This terrace is still prone to flooding and a levee bank lines a section of the creek. Saline discharge, probably caused by clearing in nearby sedimentary hills, occurs in the unit.

Site characteristics:

Parent material age:	Quaternary	Depth seasonal watertable:	< 2 m
Lithology:	Alluvium	Potential recharge to groundwater:	High
Landform Pattern:	Alluvial terrace	Flooding risk:	Moderate
Element:	Flat	Drainage:	Well drained
Slope common:	0%	Depth to hardrock:	> 2 m
Slope range:	0-1%
Rock outcrop:	0%

Major vegetation: Yellow Gum, Yellow Box, Red Gum, Peppercorn, Spiny Rush, Rushes

Present land use: Grazing - cattle and sheep

Land degradation:	Water erosion		Wind erosion	Salting	Acidification
Land degradation:	Sheet/rill	Gully	Wind erosion	Salting	Acidification
Susceptibility	Low	Low	Low	Moderate	Moderate
Incidence	Low	Nil	Low	Moderate	Low

Soil profile characteristics:

Permeability (measured - average, range):	1630, 3330 - 460 mm/day
Permeability (estimated):	-
Available water capacity:	306 mm H₂O
Linear shrinkage (B horizon):	10.4 %

Soil profile description:

1A	0-13 cm	Brownish black (10YR3/2) silty clay loam with fine sand, weak structure,subangular blocky peds 5-10 mm, smooth fabric, moderately weak consistence, moderate organic matter, pH 6.75. Clear transition to
1B	13-38 cm	Dull yellowish brown (10YR5/4) silty clay loam with fine sand, weak structure, subangular blocky peds 5-10 mm, smooth fabric, moderately weak consistence, pH 6.9. Clear transition to
2C	38-84 cm	Dull yellowish brown (10YR5/4) loamy sand, apedal, sandy fabric, pH 7.4. Clear transition to
3A	84-100 cm	Dull yellowish brown (10YR5/3) silty clay loam with fine sand, a few fine faint orange mottles, apedal, sandy fabric, pH 7.4. Clear transition to
3B	100-120+ cm	Dull yellowish brown (10YR5/4) light day, a few fine faint orange mottles, apedal, sandy fabric, pH 7.5

Soil classification:

Factual Key (Northcote):	Um/Uc/G
Australian Soil Classification:	Rudosol; very deep, thin, silty, non-gravelly
Unified Soil Group:	CL

Interpretation of soil analyses*

Horizon	pH	Gravel %	E.C. (salts)	Nutrient Status	P	K	Al	Organic Matter	Dispersibility
1A	6.75	0	VL	M (estimation)	S	S	S	M	L
1B	6.9	0	VL	L (estimation)	S	S	S	L	H
2C	7.4	0	VL	VL (estimation)	S	S	S	L	L
3A	7.4	0	VL	L (estimation)	S	S	S	L	M
3B	7.5	0	VL	L (estimation)	S	S	S	L	H

VL : Very Low; L : Low; M : Moderate; H : High; VH : Very High; D : Deficient; S : Satisfactory; T : Toxic; **: Acid * See Appendix 4 for analytical results

Land capability assessment

Land Use	Class	Major limiting feature(s)/ landuse
Agriculture (CTS values)	C₃T₁S₄	Low permeability index
Effluent disposal (septic tanks)	3	Moderate risk of flooding, very rapid permeability - risk of polluting groundwater and adjacent stream
Farm dams (earthen)	5	High seasonal watertable, very rapid permeability
Building foundations - slab	3	High seasonal watertable. moderate risk of flooding
Building foundations - stumps/footings	3	High seasonal watertable. moderate risk of flooding
Secondary roads	3	Moderate risk of flooding, moderate depth to seasonal watertable, Universal Soil Group
Urban residential	3	Secondary roads, building foundations
Rural residential	5	Farm dams

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