Soils of Entre Ríos

The Entre Rios Province is a transitional territory between Argentina’s fertile Pampean plains and the core of the Mesopotamian region. An unprecedented expansion of cropland toward marginal areas during the past 50 years has affected the soil resources and overall soil quality of the area. Vertisols, Mollisols, Alfisols, Entisols, and Inceptisols, in decreasing order of dominance, are the major soil orders. Their morphological and physico-chemical properties, taxonomic characteristics, soil associations as well as their drainage and erosion conditions are described in this chapter. Most Vertisols and Mollisols are located on undulating relief upon which morphogenetic (landscape-forming) processes predominate over pedogenetic (soil-forming) processes. The sloping topography, the presence of relatively impermeable argillic horizons and concentrated rainfall between October and March are responsible for the occurrence of “overland flow” runoff, causing soil water erosion of extensive areas in a degree and type ranging from slight sheet erosion to severe gully erosion. Dominant Vertisols require careful management to minimize the impact of monoculture on soil degradation through water erosion, organic matter depletion, and nutrient loss.