Soil/Landform Unit - Tallageira swampy sand plains

WLRA Landform Tallageira swamp sand plains

Eastern extent of an east-west sandy plain near Bringabert

Area: 20 443 ha

0.87% of CMA region

This unit of low relative relief terrain consists of a major and minor occurrence north of Apsley on the South Australian border. This linear dunes subdivision (5.2.2) falls within the North West Dunefields and Plains

siliceous

dunefields. This dunefield and sand plain complex of

Quaternary

Lowan Sand (

aeolian

sediments) is a parallel feature of the Little Desert to the north. It is flanked to the north and south by plains as well as ridge topography. Dunefields and gently undulating plains are co-dominant. Soils are sandy (generally without a pan) within dunefields, and yellow grey sodic texture contrast soils (

Sodosols

) are found on the plains and local depressions. Sheet, wind and rill erosion are land degradation issues given the light sandy texture of the topsoils. Grazing (sheep, beef cattle) with occasional dryland cropping and nature conservation are major land uses. Remnant vegetation includes a number of communities found on damp sand or poorly drained soils. Plains Woodland, Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland/Shallow Sands Woodland Mosaic, Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland, Drainage-line Woodland, Plains Sedgy Woodland and Seasonally Inundated Shrubby Woodland occur here.

Sand component of swampy sand plain with remnant vegetation and improved pastures
	Sheep grazing on a swampy sand plain

Component	1	2
Proportion of soil-landform unit	50%	50%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 555

Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 21
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October–March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary paludal silt and clay

Geomorphology	5.2.2 Linear dunes of the Siliceous North West Dunefields and Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: hardwood forestry for sawlogs, posts and poles; nature conservation Cleared areas: sheep and beef cattle grazing; dryland cropping; nature conservation

TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Swampy sand plains

Elevation range (m)	97–158
Local relief (m)	2-3
Drainage pattern	Dendritic–deranged
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.2
Landform	Dunefields and plains
Landform element	Dunefield	Gentle undulating plain
Slope and range (%)	5 (1-10)	2 (1-5)
Slope shape	Straight	Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Woodland (31.6%), Shallow Sands Woodland (13.9%), Shallow Sands Woodland/Plains Sedgy Woodland/Seasonally Inundated Shrubby Woodland/Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland Mosaic (10.3%), Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland (10.2%), Other (33.8%)

SOIL Parent material	Aeolian sand	Marine sand and silt, paludal silt and clay

Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Sandy soils with and without pans (31)	Sodic yellow and grey texture contrast soils (32)
Soil type sites	WLRA74, WLRA85	LSWW8, LSWW7, WIA24, WIA31
Surface texture	Sand	Loamy sand
Permeability	High	Slow to moderate
Depth (m)	> 1.5	> 1.5
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS Critical land features, processes, forms	Soils with low organic matter levels can be susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where exposed. Low inherent soil fertility.	Susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where exposed. Low inherent fertility but well drained to pans or subsoil. Susceptible to compaction where hardsetting and poor drainage occurs.

Page top