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Classification, Properties, and Management of Aridisols

The Argid Suborder

Aridisols Slide 31

Durargids were Argids that had a duripan whose upper boundary is within one meter of the surface. These soils now are classified in the new Suborder Durids. These rock hard duripans restrict root growth and water movement through the soil. When found at shallow depths, they present formidable constraints for agricultural development. These soils are best suited for use as rangelands.

Aridisols Slide 32

Natrargids are Argids with natric horizons. Normally the upper boundary of the natric horizon lies within a few centimeters of the surface. The agricultural use of Natrargids is limited chiefly by the low permeability of the natric horizon.

Aridisols Slide 33

Some soils have both a duripan and a natric horizon. These soils were classified as Nadurargids, but are now classified in the new Suborder Durids. The combination of the duripan's density and the natric horizon's low permeability makes these soils especially difficult to manage for crop production.

Aridisols Slide 35

Paleargids are old Argids. The formative element "pale" is derived from the Greek word paleos meaning old. Paleargids have argillic horizons that are thick and red or have an abrupt upper boundary. Under the 1975 edition of Soil Taxonomy, Paleargids were soils with more than 35 per cent clay in some part of the argillic horizon and also with an abrupt textural change in the upper part of the profile. The soil shown here has an abrupt textural change at the boundary of the ochric epipedon and the argillic horizon.

Aridisols Slide 34

Petroargid is a new Great Group that was classified as Paleargid, a soil with a petrocalcic horizon within 100 cm of the soil surface. Petroargids have duripans, petrocalcic, or petrogypsic horizons within 150 cm of the soil surface.

Aridisols Slide 36

Haplargids are Argids that have weakly to moderately developed argilic horizons. The "hapl" adjective is derived from the Greek haplous meaning "simple." Haplargids lack gypsic, salic, and cemented horizons. Consequently, these soils normally have a high potential for agricultural development.

Introduction to Aridic Soils | Soil Taxonomy | Introduction to Soil Horizons | The Horizons | Suborders and Great Groups | Argid Suborder | Orthid Suborder | Subgroups | Families | Non-Aridisols | Irrigation | Saline Soils | Sodic and Saline-Sodic Soils | Final Considerations

URL:http://cals.arizona.edu/OALS/soils/aridsoils/argid.html
Last revised: 29 August 2001
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