Wellington-Blackwood land resources survey
Abstract
This report presents descriptions to accompany land resource maps of the Wellington- Blackwood district, east of Bunbury in the south-west of Western Australia. The maps cover an area of about 760,000 hectares and are presented as two map sheets at a scale of 1:100,000. Four different physiographic zones cover the survey area: • The Western Darling Range Zone occupies the major portion of the area and consists of a deeply dissected lateritic plateau overlying crystalline rocks. Three soil-landscape systems containing 24 subsystems have been identified and mapped within this zone. • The Eastern Darling Range Zone is in the south-east corner and consists of valley systems and lateritic plateau remnants overlying crystalline rocks and Eocene sedimentary deposits. Two soil-landscape systems containing nine subsystems have been identified and mapped. • The Donnybrook Sunkland Zone lies in the south-west of the survey area and consists of a low lying lateritic plateau overlying sedimentary rocks. Three soil-landscape systems containing 14 subsystems have been identified and mapped within this zone. • The Warren-Denmark Southland Zone occupies only a small portion to the south where it takes the form of a lateritic plateau overlying crystalline rocks. One system containing six subsystems has been identified and mapped. As well as the mapping units, 54 soil series have been identified and described. The land capability of each subsystem has been assessed for the following uses: • grazing • broadscale cropping • vegetable growing • orchards and vineyards • farm forestry • rural residential development. This report is intended as a source of land resource information and aid for land use planning. Note: The user needs to be aware that the maps have been prepared for use at the published scale (1:100,000) only. Any attempts to enlarge the line work to use the maps at more detailed scales may result in inaccuracies and misinterpretations. The land capability interpretations may be updated as knowledge of the land resources of the district and land use requirements improves.