Argentinian Agriculture: Climate, Soil, and Key Factors
Agricultural Processes Explained
Agricultural processes involve ordered, integrated steps taken to achieve a final product related to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and livestock. This planning should aim for profitability and sustainability.
Stages of Agricultural Processes
- Production
- Distribution and use of agricultural resources (inputs)
- Collection, storage, preservation, packaging, and distribution of the primary product
- Industrial processing
- Storage, distribution, and marketing of the final product
INTA: Argentina’s Agricultural Institute
INTA (National Agricultural Technology Institute) is an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture of Argentina. Created in 1956 and historically funded partly by a levy on imports (e.g., 0.5%), it operates 44 agricultural experiment stations.
Key INTA Activities
- Generates information and technology
- Conducts genetic improvement of cereals and oilseeds
- Manages pests, weeds, and diseases
- And more.
Defining Climate
Climate represents the set of average atmospheric conditions that characterize a region. These average values are obtained by collecting weather data over a considerably long period. Key elements include temperature, pressure, and precipitation.
Barometers and Air Pressure
Air pressure is the force exerted by the air on the Earth’s surface. Cold air descends, causing pressure to increase and leading to atmospheric stability. Conversely, warm air rises, causing pressure to drop and leading to instability.
Air pressure is measured using an instrument called a mercury barometer.
Notable Argentinian Winds
Several distinct wind patterns affect Argentina:
- Zonda: A warm, dry wind originating east of the pre-Andes in La Rioja, San Juan, and Mendoza, typically occurring between May and October.
- Sudestada: A high-moisture, cold wind originating on the Pampa coast, often during summer.
- Pampero: A cold and dry wind coming from the southwest, mostly occurring in summer after several days of increased temperatures.
Understanding Acid Rain Formation
Acid rain forms when moisture in the air combines with nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants are emitted by factories and vehicles burning fossil fuels. In interaction with water vapor, these gases form sulfuric and nitric acids. These chemicals then fall to Earth mixed with precipitation (rain, snow, fog, etc.).
Argentina’s Climate Characteristics
Argentina exhibits several key climatic features:
- Predominance of Arid/Semiarid Climates: Approximately 75% of its territory falls within the arid diagonal of Latin America.
- Wide Range of Climates: Due to its significant latitudinal extent.
- Influence of Air Masses: Different air masses impact the territory. Warm air masses generate rainfall and originate warm, unstable fronts.
Wind Circulation Patterns
Air mass movements significantly influence weather:
- Northwest Origin: Continental subtropical air masses (warm and dry).
- Southwest Origin: Maritime subtropical air masses from the Pacific.
- Axis of 60° South Latitude: Subpolar air masses originating cyclonic cells that move from West to East.
- Northeast Origin: Maritime subtropical air masses from the Atlantic (warm and humid).
Pressure Centers
- Cyclonic Centers: Areas of low pressure coinciding with warm air masses, generating updrafts.
- Anticyclonic Centers: Areas of high pressure coinciding with cold air masses, generating downdrafts (descending currents).
Soil: Definition and Formation
Soil is a dynamic, complex medium possessing its own atmosphere, water economy, and specific flora and fauna. It originates from a parent material through the combined action of climate, living matter (organisms), relief (topography), and time. Soil undergoes continuous evolution—it originates, grows, and can even degrade (e.g., through internal erosion)—with changes occurring constantly.
Key Factors in Soil Formation
Soil Parent Material
This is the mass formed by the weathering of parent rock, from which the soil develops.
Climate’s Role in Soil Formation
Climate acts primarily through temperature, precipitation, wind, and light intensity.
Organic Matter in Soil
This consists of vegetation, microorganisms, and macro- and meso-fauna. Living matter is crucial for developing soil structure and maintaining fertility.