Soil subgroup

Calciustol arídico

It is drier than the typical one of the group: it is on the border with the soils arid climate.

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.
SuborderUstolMolisol from subhumid to semi-arid climate (ustic moisture regime): water is enough in the growing season but there are long dry periods.
Great groupCalciustolWithin the Ustol suborder, it has a calcic horizon: calcium carbonate buildup.
SubgrouparídicoIt is drier than the typical one of the group: it is on the border with the soils arid climate.

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.

Where it is found

According to the 1:500.000 national map, it covers about 670.202 ha, spread over 8 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
Santa Cruz532.957 ha
La Pampa121.847 ha
Buenos Aires15.398 ha

Districts where it is most common

Other Calciustol subgroups

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