Merricks (Me)

The broad valley floors that comprise Quaternary alluvial sediments are mapped into the Merricks mapping unit. Generally the surface soils are dark grey very fine sandy clay loams or clay loams overlying, at a depth of about 100 mm a strongly bleached similarly textured subsurface layer. Strongly mottled grey with yellowish brown or yellowish grey light or medium clays generally occur between 400 and 600 mm, with some ironstone concretions above and below the clay. Medium to heavy clays occur from about 700 mm depth and continue into the deep subsoil. The pH’s of the surface soil are around 5.0 to 6.0 and the subsoils about 5.5 to 6.5. These soils are best described as Yellow or Grey Dermosols using the Australian Soil Classification. Hydrosols can occur in the more poorly drained areas.

Because of their position in the landscape they tend to be poorly drained during wetter periods and are not usually used for horticulture but used for grazing. There are remnants of native vegetation, mostly swamp scrub and grassy woodland.

The proximity of this mapping unit to the sea, its low landscape position and generally shallow watertable, have resulted in soluble salts accumulation in the soil profile to such an extent, as to affect satisfactory pasture growth.