Chromosols

Chromosols (Australian Soil Classification) are soils that have strong texture contrast between the surface (A) horizons and the clay subsoil (B) horizons. The subsoil is also not strongly acid i.e. pH is greater than 5.5 in water.

Chromosols are most common on sedimentary plains and rises in southern parts of the Corangamite region e.g. Bellarine Peninsula, south-east and south-west of Colac. Chromosols also occur in some areas on basalt and volcanic ash/scoria deposits, where they often have dark subsoils.

Chromosols in the Corangamite Region

This broad scale map presents an overview and should only be used as a general indication of the distribution of Chromosols in the Corangamite Region. It shows areas where Chromosols are most likely to occur within the region. Note that other soil types may also occur within these mapped areas.

This map has been developed from work undertaken by Robinson

et al.

(2003) as part of the Corangamite Land Resource Assessment project. This work utilised existing surveys, remote sensing information and additional field-work to develop an updated 1:100 000 scale soil/landform coverage across the region.

Soils are difficult to map at this broad scale because of their diversity. Even in relatively small areas a number of soils may occur, which relate to differences in topography and landscape position. Variation in some of the major soil profile properties can also occur within these mapped areas. Any agricultural enterprise should be based on a proper on-site assessment of the soil and landscape.

A number of soil surveys have been completed in this region at varying scales and intensity. However, in some areas very little soil survey has taken place. See the

Soil and Land Survey Directory

for details.