Soil great group
Calciacuol
Of the Acuol suborder; it has a calcic horizon: calcium carbonate buildup.
What the name says
Soil Taxonomy names are built from parts, and each part says something about the soil. From general to specific:
| Taxonomic order | Molisol | Soil 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. |
|---|---|---|
| Suborder | Acuol | Molisol with excess water: saturated near the surface for part of the year, with redox depletions (gray, mottles) in the profile. |
| Great group | Calciacuol | Within the Acuol suborder, it has a calcic horizon: calcium carbonate buildup. |
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 clay loam
- Most common drainage
- Imperfectly drain
- Typical effective depth
- 69 cm
Where it is found
According to the 1:500.000 national map, it covers about 173.468 ha, spread over 11 districts.
Loading map…
National map units that list it. The scale is 1:500.000: good for seeing the region, not a single property.
| Province | Area |
|---|---|
| Río Negro | 64.818 ha |
| Córdoba | 40.723 ha |
| Chubut | 33.826 ha |
| Buenos Aires | 30.973 ha |
| Corrientes | 3.127 ha |
Districts where it is most common
Subgroups on the maps
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
- Soil Survey Staff. (2014). Claves para la Taxonomía de Suelos, 12.ª edición. USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service. · Dominio público (USDA)
- INTA · Dominio público (carta 1:500.000)