Soil subgroup
Natrustol éntico
It has minimal development: under the dark surface there is no marked B horizon. It is usually sandier and retains less water than the typical one.
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 | Ustol | Molisol from subhumid to semi-arid climate (ustic moisture regime): water is enough in the growing season but there are long dry periods. |
| Great group | Natrustol | Within the Ustol 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. |
| Subgroup | éntico | It has minimal development: under the dark surface there is no marked B horizon. It is usually sandier and retains less water than the typical one. |
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 27.743 ha, spread over 5 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 |
|---|---|
| Tucumán | 21.025 ha |
| Santiago del Estero | 6.718 ha |
Districts where it is most common
Other Natrustol 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)