Soil subgroup
Calciacuol típico
It is the central concept of the great group: it has its features and none that brings it closer to another group.
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. |
| Subgroup | típico | It is the central concept of the great group: it has its features and none that brings it closer to another group. |
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.
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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.
| 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
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
- 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)