Ferguson Hill Land System

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Most outcrops of Tertiary sediments to the west of the Otway Range are either deeply dissected or deeply weathered soils. However, some ridges and spurs are only mildly dissected and their soil profiles are only weakly developed. These areas are found at Ferguson Hill, just south of Simpson, along Pipeline Road and in an additional small area near Cape Otway.

The parent material is Tertiary sand, silt and clay, with some minor areas of lateritic ironstone. The soils vary according to the nature of the outcropping beds, but in general their structure is weak and often the A and B horizons are not clearly differentiated. Profile drainage is good on all but those areas with hardpans, and these are the only areas prone to waterlogging despite the high annual rainfall.

Eucalyptus obliqua and E. baxteri colonize most areas and often reach heights in excess of 30 m on the better-drained soils. However, these stands are decreasing in areas as much of the land is being cleared for agriculture. The soils are naturally quite stable and the major problems are likely to arise from nutrient decline.		A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - ferguson hill


A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - ferguson hill
Along Pipeline Road the dissection is only mildly developed
on these comparatively youthful soils. In the foreground E. nitida
grown on grey sand soils, while in the distance tall open woodlands
occur on red gradational soils with weak structures.		A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - ferguson hill


Area: 52 km2
Component and its proportion of land system
1
15%
2
20%
3
25%
4
5%
5
8%
6
15%
7
10%
8
2%
CLIMATE
Rainfall, mm

Annual: 1,000 – 1,100, lowest January (40), highest August (130)
Temperature, 0oC
Annual: 13, lowest July (7.5), highest February (19)
Temperature: less than 10oC (av.) June - August
Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration mid November – March
GEOLOGY
Age, lithology

Paleocene marine sand, clay and silt; some Pleistocene lateritic ironstone
TOPOGRAPHY
Landscape

Undulating hills and ridges
Elevation, m
30-230
Local relief, m
40
Drainage pattern
Dendritic
Drainage density, km/km2
2.4
Land form
Hill
Drainage line
Broad ridge
Scarp
Land form element
Lower slope
Slope
Crest
Midslope
-
Crest, upper slope
Crest
-
Slope (and range), %
4 (1-7)
14 (5-37)
5 (2-9)
11 (3-15)
4 (2-9)
4 (0-11)
4 (0-7)
29 (25-37)
Slope shape
Straight
Straight
Convex
Straight
Concave
Convex
Straight
Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION
Structure

Open forest

Open forest

Low woodland
(variable)

Open forest

Open forest

Open forest

Tall woodland

Open forest
Dominant species
E. obliqua,
E. ovata
E. baxteri,
E. nitida,
E. obliqua
E. nitida,
E. baxteri
E. baxteri,
E. radiata,
E. obliqua,
E. cypellocarpa
E. obliqua,
E. baxteri
E. baxteri,
E. obliqua
E. baxteri,
E. obliqua
E. obliqua,
E. baxteri,
E. ovata, Acacia melanoxylon
SOIL
Parent material

Clay and silt

Clay, silt and sand

Sand

Sand, silt and clay

Alluvial sand, silt and clay

Clay and silt; some lateritic remnants

Clay and silt; some lateritic remnants

Colluvial lateritic ironstone
Description
Grey-brown gradational soils
Yellow gradational soils, weak structure
Grey sand soils with hardpans, uniform texture
Red sandy loam soils uniform texture
Grey gradational soils
Mottled yellow and red gradational soils
Red gradational soils, weak structure
Stony red gradational soils
Surface texture
Fine sandy loam
Sandy loam
Loamy sand
Sandy loam
Sand loam
Sandy loam
Sandy loam
Gravelly loamy sand
Permeability
Moderate
High
Very low
Very high
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Depth, m
>2
>2
>2
>2
>2
>2
0.9
>2
LAND USEUncleared areas: Hardwood forestry for sawlogs, posts and poles; water supply; nature conservation; gravel extraction.
Cleared areas: Sheep and beef cattle grazing; dairy farming; water supply
SOIL DETERIORATION HAZARD
Critical land features, processes, forms
Minor hazards.
Weakly structured surfaces on steeper slopes are prone to sheet erosion. Low inherent fertility and high permeability lead to nutrient decline.
Weakly structured sands on hardpans are pone to sheet erosion and seasonal waterlogging. Permeable surface sands of high acidity and low inherent fertility are prone to nutrient decline.
Low inherent fertility and high permeability lead to nutrient decline.
High seasonal water table lead to soil compaction.
Low inherent fertility, phosphorus fixation and permeable surfaces lead to nutrient decline.
Low inherent fertility and high permeability lead to leaching of nutrients.
Steep slopes with weakly structured surface soils of low water holding capacity are prone to sheet erosion.
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