Tropical Rainforest Characteristics Soil
The soils of tropical rainforests are characterized by rapid recycling of fallen leaves and other organic matter due to the large biomass of the rainforest.
Tropical rainforest characteristics soil. The soil is highly acidic. Climatic conditions in tropical rainforests have an average of 27 degrees annually and an average rainfall of approximately 200cm with a permanently high humidity. The last layer of soil is made up of rock and this makes up the majority of the soils content almost half.
Runoff and soil erosion characteristics were investigated in three small catchments a virgin forest catchment C1 a 10-year-old line plantation catchment C2 and a 1-year-old line plantation catchment C3. Bacteria and fungi then break down most of the organic matter. A thin layer of fertile soil is found at the surface where the dead leaves decompose.
Soils remained slightly alkaline pH 7475 with higher concentrations of calcium magnesium and potassium than in acid soils of older rainforests. Characteristics of the tropical forest. Tropical rainforests are characterized by rainfall and evergreen species.
The soil is thin and poor in nutrients. This high rate of decomposition is the result of phosphorus levels in the soils precipitation high temperatures and the extensive microorganism communities. Only about 20 of tropical soils are suitable for agriculture.
Despite the amount of vegetation in the rainforest the soil contains less organic matter than that of temperate forests because the warm humid conditions encourage faster decay and recycling of nutrients back into living forest. Due to the high humid temperatures in tropical rainforests it speeds up and has a rapid fast growing. The recurring features of rainforests are basically the following.
Some tropical trees have developed huge buttress roots to absorb nutrients from the soil. From a soil point of view cutting down of the rainforest disturbs the natural soil-plant cycle and makes the soils extremely vulnerable to soil erosion and loss of this vital topsoil. Most of the soil is not very fertile.