Soil subgroup

Natrustalf salortídico

It has soluble salts accumulated in the profile: it is close to Salortides.

What the name says

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

Taxonomic orderAlfisolSoil with a clay accumulation horizon (argillic or natric) and good base saturation, but without the thick, dark surface of a Molisol.
SuborderUstalfAlfisol from subhumid to semi-arid climate (ustic moisture regime).
Great groupNatrustalfWithin the Ustalf suborder, it has a natric horizon: accumulation of clay with a lot of exchangeable sodium, which disperses the clay and blocks the passage of water and roots.
SubgroupsalortídicoIt has soluble salts accumulated in the profile: it is close to Salortides.

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

According to the 1:500.000 national map, it covers about 77.215 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
Salta27.998 ha
Jujuy25.030 ha
Chaco24.187 ha

Districts where it is most common

Other Natrustalf 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