Soil subgroup

Argiacuol abrúptico

It has an abrupt textural change: the clay increases a lot in a few centimeters when it passes into the subsoil. Stops water and roots.

What the name says

Soil Taxonomy names are built from parts, and each part says something about the soil. From general to specific:

Taxonomic orderMolisolSoil with a thick, dark surface horizon rich in organic matter (the mollic epipedon), with more than half of its exchange capacity occupied by calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. It forms under grassland.
SuborderAcuolMolisol with excess water: saturated near the surface for part of the year, with redox depletions (gray, mottles) in the profile.
Great groupArgiacuolWithin the Acuol suborder, it has a clay accumulation horizon (argillic): clay washed from the surface accumulated lower.
SubgroupabrúpticoIt has an abrupt textural change: the clay increases a lot in a few centimeters when it passes into the subsoil. Stops water and roots.

What it means for farming

They are the soils agricultural lands par excellence: the Pampas grassland formed them and most of Argentine agriculture is done on them. They retain water and nutrients; its limitation, when there is one, is below: clay, sodium, calcareous hardpan or drainage.

Most common surface texture
Silt loam
Most common drainage
Poor to imperfect
Typical effective depth
400 cm

Where it is found

According to the 1:500.000 national map, it covers about 297.324 ha, spread over 10 districts.

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National map units that list it. The scale is 1:500.000: good for seeing the region, not a single property.

ProvinceArea
Corrientes290.019 ha
Misiones7.305 ha

Districts where it is most common

It also appears on the detailed maps of: Buenos Aires.

Other Argiacuol subgroups

Soil series

Series are the specific soils, named after places, that detailed maps describe under this name. Two properties with the same series have the same soil.

Buenos Aires

Estacion Invernadas

Soils it shares map units with

Several soils share each map unit. These are the ones most often found alongside this one: on a property, you will likely find them in the nearby low ground or on the next rise.

The definitions are a plain-language summary of the USDA Keys to Soil Taxonomy. The formal definition includes thickness, color and percentage thresholds that are left out here.

Sources