Soil/Landform Unit - Lubeck alluvial plains

Plains near Lubeck with the Grampians Ranges in the distance

Area: 4394 ha

0.19% of CMA region

Running from Lubeck to Glenorchy, this alluvial plain unit constitutes part of the plains with leveed channels of the older

alluvial

plains (4.2.1). Including gently undulating plains, drainage depressions and alluvial flats, soils of this unit are mainly cracking and

self-mulching

clay soils (

Vertosols

) that are generally used fro cereal cropping. Areas within these plains would be vulnerable to flooding and seasonal inundation especially during wet years. The three main remnant native vegetation communities found are Red Gum Wetland, Drainage-line Woodland and Plains Woodland.

Cereal stubble near Lubeck
	Near level plains used for cerel and pasture production

Component	1	2	3	4
Proportion of soil-landform unit	15%	70%	10%	5%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 485
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 485
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 21
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	September–April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary fluvial silt, sand and gravel; Neogene marine sand and silt (Parilla Sand)
GEOLOGY Age and lithology
Geomorphology	4.2.1 Plains with leveed channels of the Older Alluvial Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: Nature conservation Cleared areas: Dryland cropping; sheep grazing
LANDUSE
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Alluvial plain and floodplain
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Alluvial plain and floodplain
Elevation range (m)	143–176
Local relief (m)	1–2
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.2
Landform	Gently undulating plains		Alluvial plains	Drainage depressions
Landform element	Gentle slope	Plain	Alluvial flat	Drainage line
Slope and range (%)	2 (1-4)	1 (0-3)	0 (0-1)	0 (0-1)
Slope shape	Linear	Straight	Straight	Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Woodland (76.5%), Drainage-line Woodland (7.3%), Red Gum Wetland (4.4%)
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class
SOIL Parent material	Marine sand and silt	Fluvial gravel, sand and silt, marine sand and silt	Fluvial gravel, sand and silt	Alluvial gravel, sand and silt
SOIL Parent material	Marine sand and silt	Fluvial gravel, sand and silt, marine sand and silt	Fluvial gravel, sand and silt	Alluvial gravel, sand and silt
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Cracking and self-mulching clay soils (24)	Cracking clay soils (23)	Cracking clay soils (23)	Cracking clay soils (23)
Soil type sites	WIA10, WIA19, WIA33	WIA11, WIA12, WIA17, HOR04	WIA11, WIA12, WIA17, HOR04	WIA11, WIA12, WIA17, HOR04
Surface texture	Medium clay	Light clay	Light clay to medium clay	Light clay to medium clay
Permeability	Slow	Very slow	Very slow	Very slow
Depth (m)	> 3	> 2	> 2	> 2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS Critical land features, processes, forms	Gentle slopes can be prone to periodic waterlogging, but can be variable due to micro relief (gilgai). Surface soils friable and only slightly susceptible to wind erosion. Soils may be susceptible to compaction at critical moisture contents.	Plains can be susceptible to inundation and waterlogging. Surface soils generally not friable and are susceptible to compaction (less structure).	Flats are susceptible to inundation from flooding and waterlogging. Surface soils generally not friable and are susceptible to compaction (less structure).	Drainage lines are extremely susceptible to inundation from flooding and waterlogging. Soil permeability is very slow. Surface soils generally not friable and are susceptible to compaction (less structure).

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