Geomorphic category Land system Terrain Quartz sandstone QhMe Hilly dissected Hilly to rolling QuA part Gently undulating Quartzose sandstone QuA part, QrCp Rolling to gently undulating I d % > Soils Vegetation Land units Skeletal soils, Ga (Ee); extensive outcrop Mixed eucalypt or narrow-leaved ironbark woodland (sandstone forest) 1,2,3 Shallow uniform sandy soils, Fc (Fe) Mixed eucalyptrusty gum woodland 4 Deep uniform sandy soils, Fe (Fd, Fc) Rusty gum woodland and/or silver-leaved ironbark, tumbledown gum, budgeroo cypress pine woodland 5 6 Deep uniform sandy soils, Fe,Fc Bloodwood, silver-leaved ironbark, budgeroo woodland 7 Uniform sandy soils, Fe, Fd, Fc Cypress pine forest with emergent silverand/or narrowleaved ironbark, tumble-down gum, or bloodwood 8 Sandy duplex soils, Dg (Df, Dd, De) Cypress pine, box, silver-leaved ironbark, tumbledown gum woodland ro I I 2! O d > i d in < W Fig. 6. Distribution of land units on quartzose sediments.
30 R. W. GALLOWAY ET AL. LAND UNIT 5 (1800 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Wide valleys in sandstone country, open-woodland of rusty gum or budgeroo with cypress pine understorey, sandy soils. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 360-480 mm. May-Oct.: 160-220 mm. Material. Sandy colluvium, minor quartz sandstone. Relief. Wide valley floors in dissected sandstone hills; mainly undulating, some rolling; slopes 2-5%. Position on Slope. Mainly colluvial aprons, minor lower slopes. Soil. Uniform sandy soils: mainly > 150 cm deep, yellowish brown to brown, Fe (Uc4.2, 5.11); less commonly red, Fd (Ucl.23); occasionally shallow, Fc (Ucl.21). Vegetation. Open-woodland of Angophora costata, occasionally with Eucalyptus melanophloia, E. dealbata, and rarely in the north E. bloxsomei, E. punctata, E. trachyphloia, and E. phaeotricha; with dense lower tree layer of Callitris columellaris or open Lysicarpus angustifolius; shrub layer rich and varied, dense when taller layers are open, mainly Xanthorrhoea spp., Acaciagnidium, A. macradenia, Leucopogon biflorus, L. mitchellii, Aotus subglabra, Ricinocarpos bowmanii, and Dodonaea spp.; ground cover usually open Triodia mitchellii and/or Aristida muricata, A. jerichoensis, Chrysopogon fallax, Eragrostis lacunaria, Panicum effusum, and in the north-west Eremochloa bimaculata. Land Capability. IVm4, C3-4. No. of Observations. 9.
LAND UNITS, MAPPING UNITS, AND LAND SYSTEMS 31 LAND UNIT 6 (175 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Undulating sandy country, bloodwood and silverleaved ironbark woodland, sandy soils. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 400-550 mm. May-Oct.: 170-200 mm. Material. Quartz sand. Relief. Undulating sandy colluvial aprons; slopes probably 0-5-2%. Position on Slope. Probably crests and upper slopes. Soil. Uniform sandy soils: medium sands 75-150 cm deep, slightly to medium acid, Fe and Fc (Uc5.11). Vegetation. Open-woodland of Eucalyptus trachyphloia with a high proportion of E. melanophloia, Xylomelum pyriforme, Lysicarpus angustifolius, and occasional Acacia longispicata and Callitris columellaris; varied shrub layer often very dense of Grevttlea parallela, Acacia leptostachya, Calytrix tetragotia, Dodonaea spp.. Cassinia laevis, and Xanthorrhoea sp.; sparse ground cover of Triodia mitchellii, Aristida echinata, A. muricata, and Eriachne mucronata. Land Capability.!Vni4, C3-4. No. of Observations. 2.
32 R. W. GALLOWAY ET AL. LAND UNIT 7 (3455 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Undulating country, open-forest of cypress pine, uniform sandy soils. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 250-450 mm. May-Oct.: 150-220 mm. Material. Quartzose sandstone and siltstone, minor sandy colluvium. Relief. Undulating and rolling; slopes 1-5%. Position on Slope. Occurs on all parts of slopes. Soil. Uniform sandy soils: generally more than 120 cm deep; underlain by hard rock at 60-90 cm in places; reddish brown to yellowish brown sands to sandy loams, Fd, Fe, Fc (Uc5.11, 1.23, 1.21); medium acid to neutral reaction throughout. Vegetation. Usually open-forest of Callitris columellaris with scattered Eucalyptus dealbata, or less commonly E. melanophloia, E. polycarpa, E. tessellaris, or Angophora costata; sometimes woodland of E. melanophloia or E. drepanophylla (rarely E. populnea) with lower tree layer of Callitris columellaris, sometimes with some Casuarina luehmannii or Acacia burrowii; scattered low trees or shrubs of A. longispicata, A. cunninghamii, Alphitonia excelsa, Lysicarpus angustifolius, Geijera parviflora, or Monotoca scoparia; ground cover extremely open, mainly Aristida echinata, A.jerichoensis, A. ingrata, A. muricata, or A. caput-medusae with lesser Bothriochloa decipiens, Eriachne mucronata, Enneapogon spp., and (west of Westmar) Triodia mitchellii and Neurachne mitchelliana. Land Capability. IVrru, C3-4. No. of Observations. 22.
LAND UNITS, MAPPING UNITS, AND LAND SYSTEMS 33 LAND UNIT 8 (4310 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Undulating country, poplar box, ironbark, or tumbledown gum woodland with cypress pine understorey, deep texturecontrast soils. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 300-450 mm. May-Oct: 150-250 mm. Material. Quartzose sandstone and conglomerate, sublabile sandstone and siltstone. Relief. Mainly undulating and rolling lowlands; slopes 1-5-4-5%. Position on Slope. Occurs on all parts of slopes. Soil. Deep texture-contrast soils: thick (56 cm average) sandy surface horizons over neutral to acid, mainly yellow, mottled subsoils, Dg (Dy3.42, 3.82, 3.41); minor Df (Dy3.23, Dr3.23), Dd (Dy 3.23), and De (Dy3.41). Vegetation. Woodland of Eucalyptus populnea, or occasionally of E. melanophloia with E. dealbata often conspicuous, or (in the east) of E. drepanophylla, all with lower tree layer of Callitris columellaris sometimes with considerable Casuarina luehmannii and Acacia spp.; sometimes open-forest of Callitris columellaris with scattered eucalypts or Angophora costata; shrub layer absent or of scattered Eremophila mitchellii or Dodonaea spp.; ground cover sparse, variable in composition, mainly Aristida spp. {A. echinata, A. jerichoensis, A. muricata, and A, ingratd) with Cymbopogon refractus, Digitaria ammophila, Eragrostis lacunaria, and Panicum effusum. Land Capability. IVP3-4. ms^, C3-4. No. of Observations. 38.
52 R. W. GALLOWAY ET Ah. LAND UNIT 25 (2615 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Lowlands, ironbark, box, or apple woodland with cypress pine understorey, deep red earths. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 3OCM5O mm. May-Oct.: 150-250 mm. Material. Moderately resistant weathered fine-grained sediments; occasional ferruginous gravel. Relief. Undulating lowlands; slopes 0-5-2-5%. Position on Slope. Mainly upper slopes. Soil. Deep massive earths: mainly loamy red earths with varying content of fine gravel, Ea (Gn2.11, 2.12, 2.41); minor loamy yellow, sandy, and shallow massive earths, Ee (Gn2.41, 2.81), Ed (Gn2.12), andeg(gn2.11, 2.12). Vegetation. Woodland of Eucalyptus melanophloia or E. drepanophylla (in north-east) or less commonly E.populnea, or open woodland of Angophora costata; usually with dense but patchy and fire-affected lower layer of Callitris columellaris and sometimes Casuarina inophloia, occasionally with Heterodendrum oleifolum, Alphitonia excelsa, or Petalostigma pubescens; shrub layer occasional, moderate Eremophila mitchellii and/or Geijera parviflora, Canthium oleifolium, and lower Carissa ovata and Cassia nemophila, or low and open (with Angophora) of Eriostemon difformis and Monotoca scoparia; ground cover sparse, usually Aristida spp. (A. jerichoensis, A. echinata, A. caput-medusae, and less commonly A. ramosa and A. muricata) and Triodia mitchellii with occasional Bothriochloa decipiens, Chloris acicularis, Neurachne mitchelliana, and Tripogon loliiformis. Land Capability. IVr4, m<i, e4, C3-4. No. of Observations. 30.
56 R. W. GALLOWAY ET AL. LAND UNIT 29 (600 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Undulating country, box woodland with shrubs, texture-contrast soils with thick sandy surface horizons. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 320^50 mm. May-Oct.: 150-230 mm. Material. Quartzose sandstone, sublabile sandstone and siltstone. Relief. Undulating and rolling; slopes 1-5-4%. Position on Slope. Crests and upper slopes. Soil. Deep texture-contrast soils: thick (35-70 cm) sandy surface horizons over yellowish brown to yellowish red, generally mottled subsoils, mainly Dg (Dy3.42, Dbl.22, Dr3.21), minor Df (Dy3.43). Vegetation. Woodland of Eucalyptus populnea, sometimes with lower tree layer of Callitris columellaris though usually only shrub layer of Eremophila mitchellii and Geijera parviflora developed; ground cover sparse to moderate, mainly Aristida ramosa, A. jerichoensis, and less frequently Bothriochloa decipiens, Chloris ventricosa, Eragrostis lacunaria, and Tripogon loliiformis. Land Capability. IVP3-4, e3-4, C3-4. No. of Observations. 6.
LAND UNITS, MAPPING UNITS, AND LAND SYSTEMS 57 LAND UNIT 30 (940 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Undulating and rolling country, box or ironbark woodland with shrubs, texture-contrast soils with thin sandy surface horizons. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 320-450 mm. May-Oct.: 150-230 mm. Material. Moderately resistant weathered fine-grained sediments. Relief. Undulating with some rolling; slopes 1-5-5%. Position on Slope. On all parts of slopes. Soil. Deep texture-contrast soils: thin sandy or loamy surface horizons over strongly alkaline to acid subsoils; mainly Da (Dr2.23, 2.13) and Dc (Dy3.22, Dbl.31); minor Db (Dy 2.23); intergrading with columnar-structured soils, De (Dr2.42), in some occurrences. Vegetation. Predominantly woodland of Eucalyptus populnea, occasionally of E. melanophloia or E. drepanophylla, with lower tree layer, moderately dense and sometimes affected by fire, of Callitris columellaris, rarely with Casuarina luehmannii or Acacia burrowii; shrub layer of Eremophila mitchellii and Geijera parviflora or rarely Eriostemon difformis, but usually absent; ground cover very sparse, mainly Aristida spp. with Bothriochloa decipiens, Chloris acicularis, Neurachne mitchelliana, and Tripogon loliiformis. Land Capability. IVp3-4, e3-4, C3-4. No. of Observations. 16.
60 R. W. GALLOWAY ET AL. LAND UNIT 33 (4485 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Undulating lowlands, box woodland with shrubs and minor belah or brigalow, texture-contrast soils with thin loamy surface horizons. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 300-450 mm. May-Oct.: 150-250 mm. Material. Moderately resistant fine-grained weathered sediments. Relief. Undulating; slopes 0-5-2-5%. Position on Slope. Predominantly lower slopes. Soil. Deep texture-contrast soils: thin sandy or loamy surface horizons over strongly alkaline to neutral clay subsoils, mainly Da (Dr2.23, 2.13, Dbl.23) but Db (Dy2.23, Dbl.13) and Dc (Dr2.12, Dy3.42) occur extensively; minor occurrences of soil with columnar structure, Dd (Dbl.23) and dark brown and grey-brown soils, Be (Uf6.31, 6.32) and Ba (Gn3.25, 3.11). Vegetation. Woodland of Eucalyptus populnea, rarely with occasional E. melanophloia or E. intertexta or with scattered lower Casuarina cristata or Acacia harpophylla; patchy, usually moderately dense shrub layer, rarely absent, predominantly Eremophila mitchellii, occasional Geijera parviflora, less common Canthium oleifolium, and Heterodendrum oleifolium, sometimes lower layer of Carissa ovata, Cassia nemophila, or Dodonaea attenuata; ground cover usually sparse, varied in composition, Chloris acicularis, Bothriochloa decipiens, and Aristida ramosa widespread and common, Aristida armata, A. jerichoensis, Eragrostis lacunaria, Chloris ventricosa, Paspalidium constrictum, P. gracile, Ancistrachne uncinulatum, Enneapogon pallidus, and Bassia birchii quite common in some localities. Land Capability. IV or VIP3-4, S3-4, e3-4, C3-6. No. of Observations. 56.
LAND UNITS, MAPPING UNITS, AND LAND SYSTEMS 79 LAND UNIT 51 (1880 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Plains, box and forest gum woodland with cypress pine or mulga understorey, texture-contrast soils. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 220-450 mm. May-Oct.: 140-200 mm. Material. Cainozoic mixed fine sediments; minor sandy colluvium. Relief. Plains. Position on Slope. On all parts of slope. Soil. Deep texture-contrast soils: mainly thick (>38 cm) sandy or loamy surface horizons over strongly alkaline subsoils, Df and Da (Dr2.23, 2.13); minor Dg and Dc (Dy3.42, 3.22). Vegetation. Woodland of Eucalyptus populnea (or E. intertexta) with lower tree layer of Callitris columellaris or Acacia aneura or both intermixed, sometimes considerably modified; shrub layer of Eremophila mitchellii and Cassia nemophila; ground cover open, mainly Aristidajerichoensis, Neurachne mitchelliana, Digitaria ammophila, Eragrostis lacunaria, and Tripogon loliiformis. Land Capability. IV or VIC4-6, nu, P3-4. No. of Observations. 10.
92 R. W. GALLOWAY ET AL. LAND UNIT 64 (6120 KM 2 ) Field Criteria. Alluvial plains, box woodland without cypress pine, texture-contrast soils. Median Rainfall. Nov.-Apr.: 220-380 mm. May-Oct.: 150-240 mm. Material. Mixed alluvial sand, silt, and clay. Relief. Back plains, levees, and terraces generally not flooded; slopes 0-2-0-5%. Position on Slope. Upper slopes. Soil. Deep texture-contrast soils: mainly thin sandy or loamy surface horizons over strongly alkaline subsoils, Dh (Dbl.23, Dr2.23) and Di (Dy3.23, Ddl.13); less extensive Dj (Dy3.42); minor dark brown and grey-brown soils, Be (Gn3.23, Uf6.33), and massive earths, Ef (Gn2.12, 2.42, 2.82). Vegetation. Woodland of Eucalyptus populnea, rarely of E. melanophloia, lower trees sporadic, Casuarina cristata, Heterodendrum oleifolium, or Bauhinia carronii; shrub layer patchy, sometimes dense, of Eremophila mitchellii, less commonly with Geijeraparviflora; ground cover usually moderately dense of Bothriochloa decipiens, Aristida ramosa, and Chloris acicularis with occasional Chloris ventricosa, Eragrostis lacunaria, Aristida jerichoensis, Paspalidium constrictum, and Tripogon loliiformis on scalded areas; sometimes woodland of Eucalyptus populnea without shrubs and similar ground cover or with Thellungia advena, Astrebla spp., and Dichanthium spp., sometimes in southwest of region, open-woodland of Eucalyptus populnea, with lower tree layer of Flindersia maculosa and Heterodendrum oleifolium or scattered Acacia pendula and sparse ground cover of Tripogon loliiformis, Sporobolus caroli, and Bassia spp. Land Capability. IV or VIp3-4, S3-4, C3-6. No. of Observations. 48.