Soil/Landform Unit - Fairview plains

Plains north of Mt Arapiles

Area: 2029 ha

0.09% of CMA region

Located directly south of the Little Desert, the Fairview plains comprise two units, one within the Douglas Depression while the other abuts the southern boundary of the Little Desert further west. Occurring within the low ridge tops with remnant

aeolian

sands and flats south of the Little Desert (5.5.2), the landscape comprises plains with swamps and bordering sand dunes. Soils include brown and grey cracking clay soils (

Vertosols

) on plains and swamps with texture contrast variants present as part of bordering sand dunes. Sandy surfaces of dunes are likely to be susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where exposed. Clay soils may experience periodic waterlogging during wet seasons. There are a number of ecological vegetation communities on the plains including Heathy Woodland on well-drained sandy soils, Plains Woodland on poorly drained soils and Low Rises Woodland, Red Gum Wetland, Ridged Plains Mallee, Plains Savannah and Shallow Sands Woodland.

Plains to the west of Duchembegarra used as pastoral runs
	Cropping and grazing are major land uses

Component	1	2	3
Proportion of soil-landform unit	10%	15%	75%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 470
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 470
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 21
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	September–April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Neogene marine sand and silt (Parilla Sand); Quaternary paludal silt and clay; Quaternary aeolian dune sand (Lowan Sand)
GEOLOGY Age and lithology
Geomorphology	5.5.2 Low ridges and oriented swales of the North West Dunefields and Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: Nature conservation Cleared areas: Dryland cropping; sheep grazing
LANDUSE
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Gently undulating plains
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Gently undulating plains
Elevation range (m)	117–173
Local relief (m)	3–5
Drainage pattern	–
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.1
Landform	Plains
Landform element	Swamp	Bordering dune	Plain
Slope and range (%)	3 (1-7)	5 (3-10)	2 (1-8)
Slope shape	Concave	Convex	Straight
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Low Rises Woodland (37.7%), Shallow Sands Woodland (15.1%), Heathy Woodland (13.8%), Ridged Plains Mallee (13.0%), Plains Savannah (10.6%), Other (9.7%)
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class
SOIL Parent material	Swamp silt and clay	Aeolian sand	Fluvial silt, sand and minor gravel
SOIL Parent material	Swamp silt and clay	Aeolian sand	Fluvial silt, sand and minor gravel
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Grey and brown cracking clay soils (37)	Sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38)	Grey and brown cracking clay soils (37)
Soil type sites	LS3, LSWW9, LSWW5	LSWW11, LSWW17, LSWW13	LS3, LSWW9, LSWW5
Surface texture	Medium clay	Loamy sand	Medium clay
Permeability	Slow	Moderate - high	Slow
Depth (m)	> 2	> 2	> 2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS Critical land features, processes, forms	Susceptible to seasonal inundation and waterlogging. Slightly susceptible to surface sheet erosion where soils are exposed. Surface soils friable and only slightly susceptible to wind erosion.	Susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where exposed and surfaces with little organic matter. Susceptible to compaction where hardsetting and restricted drainage. Low inherent soil fertility.	Susceptible to inundation and waterlogging in lower areas, but can be variable due to micro relief (gilgai). Slightly susceptible to surface sheet erosion where soils are exposed. Surface soils are friable and only slightly susceptible to wind erosion. Soils susceptible to compaction at critical moisture contents.

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