Soil/Landform Unit - Bangerang prior stream plains

WLRA Landform Units Bangerang prior stream plain

Prior stream plains near Bangerang (prior strems can be observed in colour tone changes of soils)

Area: 8435 ha

0.36% of CMA region

Prior stream plains near Bangerang are located within the north-east of the Wimmera CMA region. As part of a transitional landscape (from Wimmera to Mallee) and representing historic drainage pathways, plains are dominated by cracking clay soils with minor

sodic

red texture contrast to red

calcareous

variants also occurring. Soils are often

gilgaied

with variable soil-moisture potential between mounds and depressions of these microtopographic landscape features. As a result, boron may be an issue especially where associated with depressions.

Lunettes

can be found, usually as isolated features that represent eastern extents of former floodplains and swamps. Land use is mainly cropping with soil

compaction

an issue where cracking and sodic soils have a lower resilience to cultivation and other forms of soil structure decline. Main types of remnant vegetation present include Low Rises Woodland, Ridged Plains Mallee, Low Chenopod Shrubland, Plains Grassland, Plains Woodland and Plains Savannah.

Remnant black box stand in an old ox-bow of a former stream
	Cereal cropping is a major land use

Component	1	2	3
Proportion of soil-landform unit	55%	35%	10%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 360
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 360
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 9, Maximum 22
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	September–April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Neogene marine sand and silt (Parilla Sand); Quaternary fluvial silt, sand and minor gravel (Shepparton Formation)
GEOLOGY Age and lithology
Geomorphology	5.4 Clay plains with subdued ridges of the North West Dunefields and Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: Nature conservation Cleared areas: Dryland cropping; sheep grazing
LANDUSE
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Plains with prior streams
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Plains with prior streams
Elevation range (m)	95–125
Local relief (m)	3
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.3
Landform	Plains
Landform element	Gently undulating plain	Level prior stream plain	Lunette
Slope and range (%)	2 (1-6)	1 (0-3)	4 (1-7)
Slope shape	Straight	Concave	Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Savannah (56.1%), Ridged Plains Mallee (16.2%), Plains Woodland (16.2%), Other (2.5%)
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class
SOIL Parent material	Fluvial and marine sand, silt and clay	Fluvial silt, sand and minor gravel	Aeolian sand, silt and clay
SOIL Parent material	Fluvial and marine sand, silt and clay	Fluvial silt, sand and minor gravel	Aeolian sand, silt and clay
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Cracking clay soils (34)	Cracking clay soils (23)	Cracking clay soils (34)
Soil type sites	WIA6, WIA9, WIA5	WIA11, WIA12, WIA17, HOR04	WIA6, WIA9, WIA5
Surface texture	Medium clay	Light clay	Medium clay
Permeability	Moderate	Very slow	Moderate
Depth (m)	> 3	> 2	> 3
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS Critical land features, processes, forms	High clay content results in restricted soil drainage, but can be variable due to micro relief (gilgai). Slightly susceptible to surface sheet erosion where slopes occur. Surface soils are friable and only slightly susceptible to wind erosion. Soils may be susceptible at critical moisture contents and have variable resilience to compaction.	Flat areas susceptible to inundation and waterlogging, but can be variable locally due to micro relief (gilgai). Surface soils generally not friable and are susceptible to compaction (less structure).	Slightly susceptible to surface sheet erosion where slopes occur. Surface soils are friable and only slightly susceptible to wind erosion due to self-mulching and massive nature. Soils may be susceptible at critical moisture contents and have variable resilience to compaction.

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