Soils - Overview - TAS

Summary of Soil Survey and Land resource Assessment in Tasmania

Introduction

The Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania, maintains a range of datasets relevant to soils and land evaluation.

Land Systems

Land systems information, captured at 1:100 000 scale and published at 1:200 000 scale, is available for the entire State. The maps and reports identify areas of land with a recognizable and repeating pattern of topography, geology, soils and vegetation. Map units are briefly described in terms of their climate, topography, vegetation, geology, soils and land use. Seven volumes cover the State.

Land Capability

The DPIWE uses the Land Capability Classification System (LCCS) to assess, classify and map land, at a scale of 1:100 000, according to its ability to support a range of crops on a long term sustainable basis. The evaluation is based on the degree of limitation imposed on that land by a variety of physical factors which include erosion, soils, wetness and climate.

Land is evaluated on the basis of the range of potential crops, productivity, ease of management and risk of degradation. Only broadacre agricultural crops and pastoral activities are considered, and only where they occur on private freehold and leased Crown land.

Seven classes of land are identified with class 1 being the most versatile and with the least degree of risk. Class 7 considered to have the highest risk and be unsuitable for any agricultural purpose. Class 4 land is considered marginal cropping country and is suited to only a narrow range of crops or has high risks for production.

1:100 00 Land Capability maps available for agricultural areas of Tasmania

Soils

The DPIWE retains much of the publicly available soil information for the State. Forestry Tasmania, private forest groups and the University of Tasmania have also undertaken soil surveys in recent years. The main sources of information on soils and soil properties for the state include:

soil surveys at a range of scales undertaken by CSIRO Division of Soils during 1940-67 which form the basis of current knowledge and understanding of the distribution and types of soils within Tasmania. Many of the reconnaissance scale maps and reports have been recently updated to establish a consistent legend and terminology. The maps can be viewed on the Land information System Tasmania web site (www.thelist.tas.gov.au). In addition a CD is available for use with Arcview which outlines the areas mapped and provides links to profile descriptions photographs and chemical information for many of the major soil types identified.Additional information can be found by following the Land and Water links on the department's web site at www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au.
a small number of more recent detailed and reconnaissance soil surveys undertaken by DPIWE staff.

Overview of hierarchical land resource mapping in Victoria.

Other

DPIWE has a wide range of interests in soil management issues in the State, including

salinity
Landcare
integrated catchment management
on-farm property planning
soil specific cropping management
managing wet soils on dairy farms
management of soil erosion and structural decline on the rich red basaltic soils of northern Tasmania.

DPIWE has specialist staff including Regional Land Management Officers, Regional Landcare Officers, Land Resource Assessment Officers and a Salinity Officer, supported by experts in Spatial Information Systems and GIS.

Contact Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania