Soils of Bass Coast

COMMON COMMON GROUND GROUND COMMON COMMON GROUND GROUND COMMON COMMON :03 GROUND GROUND | | Soils of Bass CoastCOMMON COMMON| | COMMON Region GROUND GROUND GROUND Fact Sheet series for the Small Rural Landholder SHARE : LEARN : ACTION COMMON COMMON What soil do I have on Soils are derived from rocks The Landscape Cambrian greenstones (600 million years) Bass Coast has environmental and my property? GROUNare the oldest rocks inD the .Bass Coast GROUNDlandscape values of regional and national Managing soil is a region outcropping on Phillip Island. significance. These include Ramsar listed Silurian sandstones and mudstones (430 wetlands, marine parks and remnant native complex issue. million years), and Devonian granite vegetation covering 864 square kilometres. There are many questions (400million years) are also seen here along COMMONwith Tertiary basalts, which cover most of This environment contains fragmented landholders can ask to help the island and part of French Island. COMMONnatural landscapes with large patches of determine key properties. For remnant native vegetation that has example: Cretaceous sediments deposited significant biodiversity values. GROUND(~ 135million years ago) occupy the ItGROUND has 180 kilometres of coastline, Do I have a sandy soil with good majority of the Bass Coast mainland area. wilderness areas and productive drainage but poor fertility, or do I farmland on a range of topographical have a red to brown volcanic loam In the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous landscapes. periods (96-160 million years ago), soil that appears to be more fertile? sediments were deposited into a basin, Perhaps I have a gravelly granitic Land classing along with swamp material. Once Land classing ranks land on its suitability clay soil. compacted, this formed coal seams in the for agricultural and horticultural production Wonthaggi area. and identifies land more suited to non- This fact sheet explores the agricultural activities. This evaluation Extensive faulting resulted in the formation major soil types across the Bass includes assessment of the biophysical, of Port Phillip and Western Port Bays. Coast region and discusses their economic and social factors that potentially could constrain the use of the land for properties in terms of what Rocks weather to soils particular horticulture and agriculture enterprises they might best support. Through the agency of weathering, enterprises. chemical, physical and biological elements All rural landowners should be combine to render ancient rocks into finer Knowledge of the landscape described aware of their soil types and how particles that together with organic above will dictate the relative suitability best to manage them. Given that materials, over time form the basis of the of land for these activities and will help the earth’s topsoil ranges from 1cm soils and soil profiles that we see today. with the development of plans to implement sustainable production systems. or less to 40cm, landowners have a responsibility to ensure that this Agricultural production across the Bass precious resource is protected Coast region is largely determined by and well managed. the soils and their inherent fertility. COMMON COMMON GROUND GROUND COMMON COMMON GROUND GROUND COMMON COMMON GROUND GROUND | | COMMON COMMON| | COMMON –––––––––– Soils of Bass Coast GROUNDRegion GROUND GROUND SHARE : LEARN : ACTION Soils ofCOMMON Bass Coast COMMON | There are a number of soil mapping units that comprise the major soil types seen | | across the region. It is the characteristics of these units that identify them with specific productionGROUN systems. D. GROUND Five of these major units have been selected to illustrate the type of agricultural :03 production they support. Flinders COMMON (Fl) Dalmore (Da) COMMONMonomeith (Mn) Practical resources All of the soils overly early These soils occur to the SW These soils occur tertiary basalts. Most of and NW of Bass. Two types extensively to the south The Department of the Environment the surfaceGROUND soils are dark of soil can be identified, GROUNDand east of Bass. and Primary Industries (DEPI) brownish grey clay loams however both have very Victorian Resources Gateway can or very fine sandy clay dark grey medium or heavy The surface soils are grey provide detailed information on the loams. They cover most clay textures. Dalmore soils or brownish grey clay geology and geomorphology of the of Phillip Island and have good crumb structure, loams or light clays. Bass Coast region. This resource outcrop on French Island. are high in organic matter These soils carry cattle informs readers how the area was They are either sown to and used for market on improved pastures. formed and as a consequence how the improved pastures for gardening and improved dairy and beef production pasture. When wet, soil different soils were formed. The soils are prone to or used for more intensive compaction can be an issue, pugging in wet conditions The DEPI Victorian Resources Online horticulture such as through over cultivation and, on drying, result in Gateway also provides a Land Classing vegetable crops and cut or trafficking with heavy hard setting surfaces. They kit which explains how to identify and flowers. They have a equipment, which impacts are acid soils around pH classify landscapes which can assist moderate pH (6.1). on root penetration and (4.5). water logging. The soils landowners with their whole farm are generally very acid pH planning to ensure appropriate (4.7). sustainable land use for their property. A comprehensive soil survey titled, “Soil Survey Strzelecki: (Sz) Nyora (Ny) Western Port Catchment by I.J Sargeant, Report These soils occur to the Most of these soils have No. 52, 1975 can be found at : West of Kilcunda and grey or dark grey loamy http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au embrace the southern end sand surfaces with low to Regional Guide to Victorian Geology of the Strzelecki Ranges moderate amounts of http://vic.gsa.org.au/Victorian_Geology/Gu around the Woolamai area. organic matter. ides/Regionalsmall.pdf The surface soils are dark A significant bleached greyish brown or brown zone occurs at about 30cm clay loams with moderate with a coffee rock layer organic matter levels which from 90cm. grade into yellowish grey- brown clay loams or light These soils have low clays at about 35 cm. fertility and require The Cretaceous geology phosphorus, potash and influences the texture of the trace elements to establish This project is supported by Bass Coast soil and can be either sandy pastures They are strongly Landcare Network through funding from the or a clay rich loams. They acid with a pH of (4.7). Australian Government’s National Landcare have a moderate pH (5.9). Programme. Recently vegetable For general information contact: Where the major landuse is production has started to grazing (beef or dairy cattle) be introduced on these soils. Bass Coast Landcare Network the soils are moderately [email protected] Generalised geology of the South fertile. However, they are Gippsland region including Phillip www.basscoastlandcare.org.au low in phosphorus, sulphur, Island and French Island molybdenum and copper. Disclaimer: Bass Coast Landcare Network (BCLN) All effort has been made to give true representation, provide accurate information and apply comprehensive knowledge to this document. However, BCLN does not guarantee the accuracy nor the conclusions drawn from this information and therefore should not be relied upon solely for decision making purposes..

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