Soil subgroup
Haplustalf tapto árgico
It has a buried clay horizon (argillic): an old soil was covered by newer sediments, and the current soil formed on top.
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 | Alfisol | Soil with a clay accumulation horizon (argillic or natric) and good base saturation, but without the thick, dark surface of a Molisol. |
|---|---|---|
| Suborder | Ustalf | Alfisol from subhumid to semi-arid climate (ustic moisture regime). |
| Great group | Haplustalf | Within the Ustalf suborder, it It is the simplest of the suborder: it does not have a clay horizon or any other feature that places it in a more specific group.. |
| Subgroup | tapto árgico | It has a buried clay horizon (argillic): an old soil was covered by newer sediments, and the current soil formed on top. |
What it means for farming
Acceptable fertility, but the surface layer is thinner and poor in organic matter. In the Pampas region many Alfisoles are sodic or floodable (Natracualfes) and are left for livestock.
Where it is found
It does not appear on the national map; on the detailed maps it adds up to about 996 ha, across 2 districts.
Districts where it is most common
It also appears on the detailed maps of: Salta.
How productive it is
Where it is the main soil of the map unit, the productivity index has a median of 44 (average); half of the units fall between 38 and 44.
Land capability
class II: 62% · class III: 38%
Taken from the maps that include this data. A map unit with several soils has a single index, and it is only attributed to the dominant soil.
Other Haplustalf 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
- 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)