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Marong map unit Osb
Back to: A Land Capability Study of the Rural City of Marong
| Map Unit: | Ordovician sediments, steep slope | Map Unit Symbol: | Osb |
| % of Study Area: | 0.2 |
General Description:
This unit is located on the steep upper slopes of the metamorphic aureole (Big Hill Range). The soils are very similar to those on the aureole crests; shallow dark grey brown stony loams. The variation being that the soils on the steep slopes tend to be slightly deeper. Surface coarse fragments are common.
Site characteristics:
| Parent material age: | Ordovician | Depth seasonal watertable: | > 5 m |
| Lithology: | Sediments | Potential recharge to groundwater: | Very high |
| Landform Pattern: | Rolling Hills | Flooding risk: | Nil |
| Element: | Upper slopes | Drainage: | Rapidly drained |
| Slope common: | 33% | Depth to hardrock: | 0.5 m (variable) |
| Slope range: | 30 - 40% | ||
| Rock outcrop: | 2 - 10% |
Major vegetation: Grey Box, Red Ironbark, Buloke, Golden Wattle, Red Stringybark, Hedge Wattle, Cat's Claw Grevillea, Black-anther Flax-lily, Tall Rapswort, Spear Grass, Wallaby Grass, Native bulbs.
Present land use: Native forest, park
| Land degradation: | Water erosion | Wind erosion | Salting | Acidification | |
Sheet/rill | Gully | ||||
| Susceptibility | Very high | Very low | Low | Low | Low |
| Incidence | Moderate | Low | Nil | Nil | Low |
Soil profile characteristics:
| Permeability (measured - average, range): | 4705, 1761 - 5904 mm/day |
| Permeability (estimated): | - |
| Available water capacity: | 95 mm H2O |
| Linear shrinkage (B horizon): | 1.6% |
Soil profile description:
| A1 | 0-17 cm | Brownish black (10YR2/2) fine sandy loam, weak subangular blocky peds less than 2 mm, rough fabric, very weak consistence, abundant angular metamorphic cobbles and stones, pH 5.2. Gradual transition to |
| B | 17-50 cm | Greyish brown (7.5YR4/2) fine sandy loam, weak structure, subangular blocky peds 2-5 mm, rough fabric, moderately weak consistence, less than 2% organic segregations, abundant angular metamorphic cobbles and stones, pH 5.3. |
| C | 50 cm | Rock |
Soil classification:
| Factual Key (Northcote): | Uc 6.1 (major) Um5.51 (minor) |
| Australian Soil Classification: | Acidic, Mellic, Grey, Kandosol; moderate, medium, loamy, very gravelly |
| Unified Soil Group: | GM |
Interpretation of soil analyses*
Horizon | pH | Gravel % | E.C. (salts) | Nutrient Status | P | K | Al | Organic Matter | Dispersibility |
| A | 5.2** | 68.9 | VL | VL | D | S | T | H | L |
| B | 5.3** | 57.1 | VL | VL | D | S | T | H | L |
Land capability assessment
Land Use | Class | Major limiting feature(s)/ landuse |
| Agriculture (CTS values) | C3T5S5 | Steep slope, very high gravel/stone/boulder content, very susceptible to sheet erosion |
| Effluent disposal (septic tanks) | 5 | Steep slope, excessive permeability – risk of polluting groundwater |
| Farm dams (earthen) | 5 | Steep slope, very low suitability of subsoil, shallow depth to hardrock, excessive permeability |
| Building foundations - slab | 5 | Steep slope |
| Building foundations - stumps/footings | 4 | Steep slope, high risk of slope failure, shallow depth to hardrock |
| Secondary roads | 5 | Steep slope |
| Urban residential | 5 | Secondary roads, building foundations (slab) |
| Rural residential | 5 | Farm dams, effluent disposal, secondary roads, building foundations (slab) |
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A Land Capability Study of the Rural City of Marong - map unit Osb - (PDF - 38 KB)
