Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

Soil/Landform Unit - Kalkee plains

Landform Unit Description

WLRA Landform Kalkee plains 2
Looking south-west towards Katyil across the Kalkee plains
      Area: 86 383 ha
      3.69% of CMA region

      North of the Wimmera River as it emerges from the Dissected Western Uplands are the clay plains for which the Wimmera region is renowned. The Kalkee plains are synonymous with the self-mulching grey clays that have supported cereal cropping for much of the last century. These clay plains (Kalkee plains) have been divided into two units with this unit comprising a significant proportion of the traditional Kalkee clay located north of Horsham. These clay soils are found mainly in a significant band running east-west north of Horsham before calcareous equivalents dominate further north. Landform components include very gentle rises and plains with drainage across these plains very subtle and often poorly defined. The self-mulching Vertosols have high clay contents that can be variable due to micro relief and presence of gilgai. Today these gilgai are very inconspicuous owing to continued cropping of these soils and levelling of many paddocks. Soils may also be susceptible to inundation and periodic waterlogging during significant rainfall events due to high clay contents when already saturated. The dominant remnant vegetation community is Plains Savannah. Other vegetation communities present include Low Rises Woodland, Ridged Plains Mallee, Plains Grassland and Plains Woodland.
WLRA Landform Kalkee plains 2

WLRA Landform Kalkee plains 2
Self-mulching soils within prior stream floodplains
WLRA Landform Kalkee plains 2

WLRA Landform Kalkee plains 2

WLRA Landform Kalkee plains 2

Kalkee plains near Kewell

Component
1
2
3
4
Proportion of soil-landform unit
15%
25%
55%
5%
CLIMATE
Rainfall (mm)

Annual: 425
Temperature (oC)
Minimum 8, Maximum 21
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration
September–April
GEOLOGY
Age and lithology

Quaternary paludal silt and clay; Neogene marine sand and silt (Parilla Sand)
Geomorphology
LANDUSE
Uncleared areas: nature conservation
Cleared areas: dryland cropping; sheep grazing
TOPOGRAPHY
Landscape

Gently undulating plains (Kalkee plains)
Elevation range (m)
100–150
Local relief (m)
2
Drainage pattern
Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km2)
0.4
Landform
Very gentle rises
Plains
Landform element
Broad rise crest
Rise slope (low)
Plain
Swamp
Slope and range (%)
2 (1-7)
4 (3-10)
2 (1-8)
0 (0-1)
Slope shape
Convex
Convex
Concave
Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION
Ecological Vegetation Class
Plains Savannah (38.5%), Plains Grassland (17.6%), Plains Woodland (13.3%), Other (6.3%)
SOIL
Parent material

Aeolian sand and silt

Marine sand and silt

Marine sand and silt, and paludal silt and clay

Marine sand and silt, and paludal silt and clay
Description
(Corangamite Soil Group)
Cracking clay soils (34) and sodic red texture contrast soils (39)
Cracking clay soils (34)
Cracking clay soils (34)
Seasonally wet soils: sodic yellow and grey texture contrast soils (33) and cracking clay soils (34)
Soil type sites
NA171, NA141, WIA6
Surface texture
Sandy loam - medium clay
Medium clay
Medium clay
Light clay
Permeability
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Slow
Depth (m)
1.5
> 3
> 3
> 3
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS

Critical land features, processes, forms
Hardsetting upper soil susceptible to sheet and rill erosion along with wind erosion when exposed. High clay surfaces result in restricted soil drainage, but can be variable due to micro relief (gilgai).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.High clay content results in restricted soil drainage, but can be variable due to micro relief (gilgai). Soils may be susceptible to inundation and waterlogging. 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.High clay content results in restricted soil drainage, but can be variable due to micro relief (gilgai). Soils may be susceptible to inundation and waterlogging. 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.Susceptible to seasonal inundation, waterlogging and ultimately soil salinity. Upper soils susceptible to sheet erosion and wind erosion when exposed.
Page top