Cuba's Soil Composition

There is a tremendous variety of different soil compositions on Cuba, with four main categories that have been identified and several different soil classes.

Cuba's soil was initially described by its color with classification for red soil, brown soil, dark gray soil, and black soil. Later on these classification were distinguished by name with: Argillaceous soil (Suelos Arcillosos) or of a clay substance; Savanna soil (Suelos de Sabana) or a grassland area characterized by scattered trees; Gravelly or Sandy soil (Suelos Arenosos) or an area with much pebbles and pieces of rocks; Calcareous soil (Suelos Calcareos) or soil containing lime, calcium carbonate, or limestone; and other varied soil compositions. Within these categories there are over sixteen different types of soils that have been identified in Cuba.

The Argillaceous-red soil, in particular the Arcillosos Matanzas, is a highly fertile soil which is considered one of the most productive soils in the world. This soil is found in several areas of the island, but primarily in the Province of La Habana and Matanzas. There is also a large area of this type of soil in the Province of Camaguey. Conversely, these provinces are the most fertile and produce a major portion of Cuba's agricultural industry. The various Suelos Arcillosos types are Arcillosos Matanzas, Arcillosos Habana, Arcillosos Variados, Arcillosos Nipe and Arcillosos Bayamo. The Suelos Arcillosos are used to cultivate a diverse group of plants, vegetables, and fruits.

The Savanna-brown soil, is somewhat less fertile than the Argillaceous soil because of the extensive vegetation characteristic of this soil, and is primarily found in the Provinces of Las Villas, Camaguey and Oriente. The northern part of the Isla de Pinos also consists of this type of soil. There are four types of Suelos de Sabana, which are Sabanas Serpentinosas, Sabanas Arenosas, Sabanas Arcillosas and Sabanas de Gravas.

The Gravelly or Sandy-dark gray soil can primarily be found in the Provinces of Pinar del Rio. There are two types of Suelos Arenosos: Pinares and Arenosos-Arcillosos; and normally are covered by pine groves.
The Calcareous-black soil can primarily be found in the Province of Pinar del Rio and Las Villas, as well as on the southern part of the Isla de Pinos. This soils is predominant on the coastal areas of Cuba and is called on the island "diente de perro" (dogs teeth) because of their sharpened crests. There are three types of Suelos Calcareos, which are Diente de Perro, Mogotes Calizos and Calizo-Arenosos.