Abstract

RUBIO, Gerardo  and  TABOADA, Miguel A. Decision Tree For Diagnosing Soil Productive Capacity In The Pampas Region. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2013, vol.31, n.2, pp.235-243. ISSN 1850-2067.

Soils are a continuum across Earth's surface. Each specific combination of landscape, climate, parent material, weathering process, vegetation and management determines different soil units. In agricultural soils, the distinction among different soil units is often very complex and requires some field experience. In fact, many graduate students and professionals have difficulties to diagnose soil capacity for crop production. With the aim of facilitating the identification of different soil units, we have developed a decision tree with emphasis in soils of the Pampas region. This region is the most productive in terms of crop production in Argentina and many of its soils are among the most fertile on Earth. However, these soils are often intermingled with other less productive soils. The proposed decision tree was organized in two successive paths as follows:1= Landscape; and 2= Soil profile, which lead to the final path 3= Extensive cropping capability. Landscape analyses include ponding/flooding frequency, the occurrence of sandy soils and slope type. The analysis of soil profiles starts with the identification of the main soil limiting factors, such as salinity, sodicity, waterlogging, mechanical impediments, and surface horizon depth. This new tool, designed for graduate students and professionals, should be easier to use than traditional tools based on an extensive experience in soil surveys.

Keywords : Diagnosis; Hydromorphism; Halomorphism; Effective Soil Depth; Soil Textural Composition.

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