Soil/Landform Unit 168

Landform Unit Description

Unit 168 image a
The broad hills crests and plains of the dissected plain has resulted in development for hills. Land is mainly used for cropping and grazing
      Area: 3701 ha
      0.28% of CMA region

      The undulating low hills in the Maude and Moriac areas comprise predominantly Neogene unconsolidated sediments with woodland vegetation. These deeply weathered soils of the undulating low hills form part of the Western Plains. Soils are mainly brown texture contrast soils with occasional deep uniform sands. Surface soil horizons are naturally low in plant available nutrients and also have low water holding capacities. Most areas are cleared and support open woodlands (Plains Grassy Woodland and Grassy Woodland) dominated by Eucalyptus leucoxylon and E. camaldulensis. Other areas have been cleared for agricultural purposes including grazing and cropping. The main hazards to land use are leaching of nutrients and gully erosion.
Unit 168 geomorphology

Unit 168 image b
The scarps and steep slopes that occur on the western boundary of the unit are composed of a source of geologies		Unit 168 cross section

Photo: Twelve Apostles near Port Campbell
Unit 168 image c
Potato crop at the base of Mount Duneed within this unit

Component
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Proportion of soil-landform unit
50%
8%
8%
4%
5%
14%
3%
8%
CLIMATE
Rainfall (mm)

Annual: 590
Temperature (oC)
Minimum 9, Maximum 19
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration
October-April
GEOLOGY
Age and lithology

Neogene unconsolidated sediments
Quaternary basalt
Neogene unconsolidated sediments - gravel, sand and clay
Various Neogene Paleogene strata basalt, unconsolidated sediemnts (limestone, etc)
Ordovician slates and sandstones interbedded
Pleistocene basalt
Geomorphology
LANDUSE
Uncleared: Nature conservation; water supply
Cleared: Cropping; beef and cattle grazing; low quality forestry; gravel extraction; town sites
TOPOGRAPHY
Landscape

Undulating low hills
Elevation range (m)
8-193
Local relief (m)
12
Drainage pattern
Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km2)
0.7
Landform
Undulating plains
Scarp
Sides of the river valley
Sides of the river valley
Sides of the river valley
Long gentle slopes with stony rises
Landform element
Upper plain
Drainage line
Lower plain
Stony upper slope or crest
Upper slope or crest
Mid-slope
Lower slope
Slopes
Slope and range (%)
3 (2-5)
1 (1-2)
2 (1-5)
45 (20-60)
25 (10-50)
20 (10-50)
20 (10-50)
2 (1-3)
Slope shape
Straight
Concave
Straight
Convex to straight
Convex
Straight to concave
Straight to concave
Straight
NATIVE VEGETATION
Structure

Plains Grassy Woodland (0.9%)

Grassy Woodland (0.7%)
Dominant species
E. camaldulensis
E. camaldulensis
E. leucoxylon, Acacia spp.
E. leucoxylon,
E. camaldulensis
E. leucoxylon,
E. camaldulensis
E. leucoxylon,
E. camaldulensis
E. leuxocylon,
E. melliodora,
E. viminalis
E. leucoxylon
SOIL
Parent material

Unconsolidated clay, silt, sand and gravel

Unconsolidated sediments and recent alluvial deposits

Unconsolidated clay, silt, sand and gravel

In situ weathered basalt

In situ unconsolidated sediments with some areas of colluvial basalt

In situ unconsolidated sediments and limestone, with colluvium from higher land. Some quartzite outcrops

In situ slates and sandstone with colluvium

In situ weathered rock
Description
(Corangamite Soil Group)
Mottled brown, yellow and red texture contrast soil, both fine structured (13)
Mottled brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soils, fine structure (13)
Mottled brown, grey or yellow texture contrast soils, coarse structure (14)
Stony shallow brown clay soils (39)
Black clays (39) or brown, grey or yellow texture contrat soils (13)
Black clays (30) with some red gradational or texture contrast soils and some sandy areas - quartzite (29)
Mottled brown, grey or yellow tradational or texture contrast soils (25)
Mottled dark grey sodic texture contrast soils, coarse structure (35)
Soil type sites
SW99, SW93, OTR734
BD10, CLRA53, CLRA58
SW86, CLRA49, SW90
Surface texture
Fine sandy loam
Sandy loam
Sandy loam
Clay loam
Clay to clay loam
Mostly clay with some sandy areas
Fine sandy clay loam
Sandy loam
Permeability
Moderate
Moderate to low
Low
Moderate
Moderate to low
Moderate
Moderate to low
Moderate to low
Depth (m)
1.0-2.0
1.5-2.5
2
0.1-0.5
0.5-1.2
0.3-2.0
0.3-1.0
1.0-3.0
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS
Hardsetting surface can cause overland flow and minor sheet erosion.
Seasonal high watertables along with periodic waterlogging and minor gully erosion are the main erosion issues.
Dispersible subsoils and overland flow/subsurface flow conribute to moderate gully erosion.
Steep slopes, undercutting, slumping and falling rocks are minor hazards.
Moderate to steep slopes with deep black clayey soils, are known to be of moderate slip hazard. Rilling on exposed soils also occurs.
Moderate to steep slopes with deep black clayey soils, are known to be of moderate slip hazard. Rilling on exposed soils also occurs.
Moderate to steep slopes with deep black clayey soils, are known to be of moderate slip hazard. Rilling on exposed soils also occurs
Hardsetting surfaces and slowly permeable subsoils contribute to overland flow. Periodic waterlogging and soil compaction is an issue.
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