Abstract:

The objective of this article was to summarize and review critically the available information on soil heterogeneity at the regional scale. The result of this effort is a map at the suborder level and at an approximate scale of 1:10,000,000 were I pointed out the main inconsistencies between the local studies and the regional maps. I also provide a description of the main soil taxa and their distribution throughout the region and of the variability of the cartographic units. Considering the large map unit variability commonly found and the increasing use of soil properties for technical interpretations, soil survey development in Patagonia must be geared towards more quantification of map unit composition. Finally, an evaluation of both natural and human impact is provided.