Land Unit Master

Land Unit Information Sheet

Land system name: Longton

Land unit: LN4

General description This land unit represents the creeks and major drainage depressions, which also extend back into land units LN1, 2 and 3 but are too narrow to delineate at the current map scale. The soils are extremely variable, given the different rates of erosion and deposition experienced along the length of the drainage depression, with no one soil type showing dominance. Mid-high woodlands of Eucalyptus brownii (Reid River box) are most common, with the density and height increasing where better moisture conditions exist. Minor occurrences of E. melanophloia (narrow-leaved ironbark), Corymbia dallachiana (ghost gum) and C. polycarpa (long-fruited bloodwood) add to the diversity of the land unit. Regional ecosystem 10.3.6 is predominant.

Site characteristics Landform element Average slope Drainage depression 1 -2% Site drainage Soil permeability Poorly drained Variable Flooding risk Inundation risk High Low Potential recharge to groundwater Soil depth L Variable Present land use Grazing, stock water.

Susceptibility to land degradation processes

Sheet erosion Gully erosion Wind erosion Salting Low Moderate Low Low

This information has been generated from the Desert Uplands Land Resource Database. The Environmental Protection Agency accepts no liability for any decisions or actions taken on the basis of this information. State of Queensland. Environmental Protection Agency 2004.

7/12/2005 Land Unit LN4 - page 1 Representative site number: 5643

Soil classification Australian Soil Classification Principle Profile Form DE AB AH BA - C E M O X Gn3.35 - 4/0/050

General soil description A gradational-textured profile with a thick, dark brown clay loam topsoil merging into a dark yellowish brown light clay at depth

Soil profile morphology

Horizon Horizon no Depth Description A1 1 0.00 - 0.05 Brown (10YR4/3-Moist); Light clay; Moderate grade of structure, 2-5 mm, Lenticular; Smooth-ped fabric; Dry; Firm consistence; Field pH 6 (Raupach, 0.05); Abrupt change to - 2A11b 2 0.05 - 0.20 Dark brown (10YR3/3-Moist); Sandy clay loam; Massive grade of structure; Earthy fabric; Dry; Weak consistence; Field pH 6 (Raupach, 0.15); Gradual change to - 2A12b 3 0.20 - 0.35 Dark brown (10YR3/3-Moist); Clay loam, sandy; Massive grade of structure; Earthy fabric; Dry; Weak consistence; Field pH 6 (Raupach, 0.3); Clear change to - 2A2e 4 0.35 - 0.50 Dark brown (10YR3/3-Moist); Clay loam, sandy; Massive grade of structure; Earthy fabric; Dry; Strong consistence; Field pH 6 (Raupach, 0.4); Clear change to - 2B2b 5 0.50 - 0.70 Dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4-Moist); Fine sandy light clay; Weak grade of structure; Field pH 8.5 (Raupach, 0.55);

Field sites within this land unit (see technical report for original site nos.) Site code Site type 5624 Dalrymple 5643 Dalrymple 5683 Dalrymple 5685 Dalrymple 5754 Dalrymple

Summary of plant species within this land unit

Species Common name Acacia argyrodendron blackwood*, black gidgee* Acacia sp. - Aristida sp. three-awn speargrass*, wiregrass Bothriochloa ewartiana desert bluegrass*, desert Mitchell grass, Tableland Mitchell grass, lagoon Carissa ovata currant bush*, blackberry*, kunkerberry*, baroom bush, burrum bush Carissa sp. currant bush Corymbia dallachiana (Eucalyptus ghost gum papuana)

7/12/2005 Land Unit LN4 - page 2 Species Common name Corymbia polycarpa (Eucalyptus long-fruited bloodwood* polycarpa) Cymbopogon bombycinus silky-top grass*, silky oilgrass, citronella grass, native lemon grass Cymbopogon refractus barbed-wire grass*, kangaroo grass, turpentine grass Dichanthium sericeum Queensland bluegrass*, silky bluegrass Eragrostis sp. lovegrass Eremophila mitchellii sandalbox*, bastard sandalwood*, budda, false sandalwood, sandalwood Eucalyptus brownii Reid River box*, Brown's box* Grevillea striata beefwood* Lysiphyllum carronii ebony tree*, red bauhinia*, small-leaved bauhinia*, northern bean tree, bauhinia, pegunny, Queensland ebony Melaleuca sp. tea-tree, paperbark Triodia mitchellii buck spinifex*, spinifex, soft spinifex

1. Introduced plant 2. Consider for protection 3. Pending registration 4. Rare plant 5. Environmental weed 6. Endangered plant 7. Vulnerable plant 8. Agricultural pest * Wildnet preferred common name; Species in brackets refer to previously known name

Special features Implications for land use These areas are an important habitat for native fauna Seasonal flooding is common. because of the prolific growth and variety of vegetation Despite the gentle gradient of one percent or less surface resulting from a better moisture supply and longer water flow can be rapid and substantial. (It is not unusual to growing season than that of most other units in the have a volume of water 150m wide and 0.5m deep flowing bioregion. along these depressions after heavy rain). Clearly, the position Box woodlands support the greatest diversity of animal and design of fences, roads, buildings, stockyards, etc. in, or species of any habitat in the bioregion and are particularly adjacent to, these locations require careful consideration. significant for many woodland bird species that are In general, the gradient is not steep enough for channel-flow declining in numbers in other parts of Australia, as well as and associated gully erosion to occur, but the subsoils are granivorous birds, bats, terrestrial and arboreal mammals sodic and susceptible to gully erosion. The risk is increased if and some restricted reptiles. any excavation work leaves the soil profile exposed. Overgrazing reduces competition by pasture species and provides weed species with an opportunity to become established and a potential problem, both on site and further downstream. This land unit is included in Land Management Unit 6.

7/12/2005 Land Unit LN4 - page 3