Soil/Landform Unit - Telangatuk plains

Plains east of Lake Toolondo and est of the Black Range

Area: 13 223

0.56% of CMA region

This unit of very low relative relief terrain has major occurrences near Lake Toolondo and west of the Black Range on the southern boundary of the Wimmera CMA region. This low plateau complex is part of the Western Uplands: low elevation plateaux division (2.3). This low plateaux complex of

Cainozoic

sediments is part of a continuous landform extending from the south (Dundas tableland). It is flanked by subdued ridges and dunefields (Darragan, Quantong) as well as residual fans and aprons (Ullswater) to the north. The level plain is the major landform feature with gently undulating sand plains, swamps/playas and lunettes also occurring. Soils include brown and yellow grey

sodic

texture contrast soils (

Sodosols

) with grey and brown cracking clay soil (

Vertosols

) in local depressions. Sandy soils or soils with a deep sandy surface (

Tenosols

) occur on the crests and lunettes. Wind erosion is a local issue where topsoils are light textured and exposed. This unit is used for dryland cropping and grazing (sheep, beef cattle). Remnant vegetation communities include Plains Woodland, Creekline Sedgy Woodland, Shallow Sands Woodland, Red Gum Wetland, Plains Grassy Woodland, Heathy Woodland and Cane Grass Wetland.

Cropped plains at Telangatuk East
	Majestic red gum near Telangatuk East

Component	1	2	3	4
Proportion of soil-landform unit	10%	5%	60%	25%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 515
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 515
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 20
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October–April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Neogene marine sand and silt (Parilla Sand); Quaternary paludal silt and clay; Neogene marine sand, sandstone, silt laterite (Dorodong Sand); Quaternary alluvial gravel, sand and silt
GEOLOGY Age and lithology
Geomorphology	2.3.2 Low relief, low drainage density low plateaux (tablelands)
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: water supply; nature conservation Cleared areas: dryland cropping; sheep and beef cattle grazing
LANDUSE
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Flat plain
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Flat plain
Elevation range (m)	149–202
Local relief (m)	1–2
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.5
Landform	Gently undulating plains
Landform element	Swamp/playa	Lunette	Level plain	Sandsheet/plain
Slope and range (%)	0 (0-1)	5 (3-10)	1 (0-3)	3 (1-6)
Slope shape	Concave	Convex	Straight	Linear
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Woodland (34.0%), Creekline Sedgy Woodland (18.0%), Plains Grassy Woodland (8.0%), Other 38.0%)
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class
SOIL Parent material	Paludal silt and clay	Aeolian sand	Marine sand and silt, paludal silt and clay	Aeolian sand
SOIL Parent material	Paludal silt and clay	Aeolian sand	Marine sand and silt, paludal silt and clay	Aeolian sand
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Seasonally wet soils: sodic yellow and grey texture contrast soils (33)	Sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38) and sandy soils with and without pans (31)	Grey and brown cracking clay soils (37) and sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38)	Sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38) and sandy soils with and without pans (31)
Soil type sites	NA171, NA141, NA178	LSWW11, LSWW17, WLRA74	LS3, LSWW9, LSWW5	LSWW11, LSWW17, WLRA74
Surface texture	Sand	Loamy sand	Loamy sand to medium clay	Loamy sand
Permeability	Very slow	Moderate to high	Slow	Moderate to high
Depth (m)	> 1.5	> 1.5	> 2	> 1.5
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS Critical land features, processes, forms	Susceptible to seasonal inundation, waterlogging and ultimately soil salinity. Upper soils susceptible to sheet erosion and wind erosion when exposed.	Susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where exposed and surfaces with little organic matter. Susceptible to compaction where hardsetting and restricted drainage. Upper soil is susceptible to acidification.	Susceptible to inundation and waterlogging in lower areas. Slightly susceptible to surface sheet erosion where soils are exposed and sandy. Clayey surface soils are friable and only slightly susceptible to wind erosion. Soils susceptible to compaction at critical moisture contents.	Susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where exposed and surfaces with little organic matter. Susceptible to compaction where hardsetting and restricted drainage. Upper soil is susceptible to acidification.

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