Marong Map unit Qba
Back to: A Land Capability Study of the Rural City of Marong
| Map Unit: | Quaternary basalt, crest | Map Unit Symbol: | Qba |
| % of Study Area: | 0.03 |
General Description:
The soils on the basalt cone are very shallow and stony. The profile is gradational with silty clay loam topsoils and red light clay subsoils. Depth is variable and scoria fragments are abundant throughout. Because this unit represents only a very small area in the Rural City, a detailed site description was not completed.
Site characteristics:
| Parent material age: | Quaternary | Depth seasonal watertable: | > 10 m |
| Lithology: | Basalt | Potential recharge to groundwater: | Very high |
| Landform Pattern: | Lava plan | Flooding risk: | Nil |
| Element: | Cone | Drainage: | Rapidly drained |
| Slope common: | 2% | Depth to hardrock: | 0.3 m |
| Slope range: | 0-5% |  | |
| Rock outcrop: | 20 - 50 % | | |
Major vegetation: Cleared
Present land use: Grazing
| Land degradation: | Water erosion | Wind erosion | Salting | Acidification | |
Sheet/rill | Gully | ||||
| Susceptibility | High | Very low | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Incidence | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Soil profile characteristics:
| Permeability (measured - average, range): | |
| Permeability (estimated): | Very rapid |
| Available water capacity: | 50 mm H2O |
| Linear shrinkage (B horizon): | N.A. |
Soil profile description:
| A | 0-18 cm | Dark reddish brown (2.5YR3/4) silty clay loam, weak structure, common scoria fragments, pH 6.5. Clear transition to |
| B | 18-30 cm | Reddish brown (2.5YR4/6) light clay, weak structure, abundant scoria fragments, pH 7.0 |
| C | 30 cm | Rock |
Soil classification:
| Factual Key (Northcote): | Gn 3.12 |
| Australian Soil Classification: | Haplic, Mellic, Red, Kandosol; shallow, medium, silty, gravelly |
| Unified Soil Group: | GC |
Interpretation of soil analyses*
Horizon | pH | Gravel % | E.C. (salts) | Nutrient Status | P | K | Al | Organic Matter | Dispersibility |
| A | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. |
| B | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. |
Land capability assessment
Land Use | Class | Major limiting feature(s)/ landuse |
| Agriculture (CTS values) | C3T2S5 | Very shallow depth to hardrock, low available water capacity, very high gravel/stone/boulder content |
| Effluent disposal (septic tanks) | 5 | Very shallow depth to hardrock, very rapid permeability - risk of polluting groundwater |
| Farm dams (earthen) | 5 | Very shallow depth to hardrock, very low suitability of subsoil, very rapid permeability |
| Building foundations - slab | 4 | High proportion of stones and boulders, shallow depth to hardrock |
| Building foundations - stumps/footings | 4 | High proportion of stones and boulders, shallow depth to hardrock |
| Secondary roads | 4 | High stone/boulder content, shallow depth to hardrock |
| Urban residential | 4 | Secondary roads, building foundations |
| Rural residential | 5 | Farm dams, effluent disposal |
The high resolution PDF file provided on this page can be viewed using the free Adobe PDF reader, this software can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).
A Land Capability Study of the Rural City of Marong - map unit Qba - (PDF - 40.1 KB)
© State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) 1996 - .
This work, Victorian Resources Online, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) as author, indicate if changes were made and comply with the other licence terms.
The licence does not apply to ‘branding’ or some ‘images or photographs’ that may be owned by third parties. We ask you to seek prior approval to use images using the VRO feedback form. Access to higher quality images can also be provided on request.
This page was last updated on .