Soil/Landform Unit - Apsley plains

WLRA Landform Units Apsley
Gently undulating plains near Apsley that have been selectively cleared as part of past pastoral runs

Area: 44 123 ha

1.88% of CMA region

The plains in the very south-west of the Wimmera CMA region consist of a sequence of gentle plains, swamps and

playa

plains, and gentle rise slopes around Aplsey. As part of the low ridges and oriented swales of the

North West Dunefields and Plains

, the landscape is dominated by cereal dryland cropping, sheep grazing and pastures irrigated by large centre pivot systems. Vegetation is dominated by woodland and wetlands with Plains Woodland and Red Gum Wetland the most dominant remnant EVCs. Soils are dominated by red, yellow brown and grey texture contrast soils with varying depths of sand overlying

mottled

medium to heavy clay subsoils. Wind, sheet and rill erosion are likely where

hardsetting

soils are exposed with little

organic

matter to bind soil particles together.

Remnant red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

Component	1	2	3
Proportion of soil-landform unit	20%	20%	60%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 620
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 620
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 21
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October-April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary paludal silt and clay; Quaternary coastal and inland dunes and dune sands; Neogene marine sands and silts (Parilla Sand)
GEOLOGY Age and lithology
Geomorphology	5.5.2 Low ridges and oriented swales of the North Western Dunefields and Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: softwood forestry for sawlogs, posts and poles; nature conservation Cleared areas: dryland cropping; sheep grazing; irrigated pastures
LANDUSE
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Gently undulating plain
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Gently undulating plain
Elevation range (m)	94–176
Local relief (m)	3–5
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.5
Landform	Plains
Landform element	Playa/swamp	Dune and rise slope	Gentle plain
Slope and range (%)	3 (1-7)	5 (3-10)	3 (1-8)
Slope shape	Concave	Convex	Straight
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Woodland (54.2%), Red Gum Wetland (13.2%), Shallow Sands Woodland/Plains Sedgy Woodland/Seasonally Inundated Shrubby Woodland/Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland Mosaic (10.8%), Other (21.1%)
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class
SOIL Parent material	Marine sand, silt and clay	Aeolian sand and silt	Marine sand, silt and clay
SOIL Parent material	Marine sand, silt and clay	Aeolian sand and silt	Marine sand, silt and clay
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38)	Sodic red texture contrast soils (39)	Sodic red texture contrast soils (39)
Soil type sites	LSWW11, LSWW17, LSWW13	NA174	NA174
Surface texture	Loamy sand	Sandy loam	Sandy loam
Permeability	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Depth (m)	1.3	> 1.2	> 1.2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS Critical land features, processes, forms	Susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where exposed and surfaces have little organic matter. Susceptible to compaction where hardsetting and restricted drainage. Upper soil is susceptible to acidification.	Hardsetting upper soil susceptible to sheet and rill erosion along with wind erosion when exposed. Dispersive and deep subsoils susceptible to gully erosion on steeper slopes. Compaction of upper soil variable depending on soil depth and moisture content. Upper soil is susceptible to acidification.	Hardsetting upper soil susceptible to sheet and rill erosion along with wind erosion when exposed. Dispersive and deep subsoils susceptible to gully erosion on steeper slopes. Compaction of upper soil variable depending on soil depth and moisture content. Upper soil is susceptible to acidification.

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