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Abstract
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The information presented in this paper has been collected by the Soil Conservation Authority of Victoria during a land system survey of the catchments of the Gcllibrand River, Barwon River downstream from Winchelsca, Thompsons Creek and the numerous smaller catchments on the south side of the ranges. The part of these catchments which lies inside the area of the Otway Region as defined for the Symposium forms the present area of study (Fig. 1). Work is still in progress on this survey and this paper presents an interim report on the soils.
Previous published discussions of the soils of the area are confined to two reports: by Skene (1957) and Walbran (1971). Generalised maps of the soils have been published by CSIRO (Northcote 1960, 1962).
The distribution of the major soil groups is described in terms of land zones (Fig. 2). Land zones are groups of similar land systems (Gibbons & Downes, 1964). For each land zone, the major soil groups identified in the field arc classified in descriptive terms and discussed according to their profile characteristics, possible genesis, indigenous vegetation and their significant attributes for land use (Table 1). Alternative soil classifications by Northcote (1974) and Stacc ct al. (1968) are included for comparison (Table 1).
There are also many soil groups of only minor occurrence. Three of these groups assume relatively high importance despite their restricted occurrence, because of their intensive use for agriculture and, in one case, for recreation. These three soil groups arc discussed briefly, according to their profile characteristics and land use (Table 1). |
