Tropical Rainforest Characteristics Soil
A thin layer of fertile soil is found at the surface where the dead leaves decompose.
Tropical rainforest characteristics soil. The last layer of soil is made up of rock and this makes up the majority of the soils content almost half. Only about 20 of tropical soils are suitable for agriculture. Because of the lack of seasonal differences due to the geographical location of the forests and the high humidity level the vegetation is luxuriant here.
During the 100 million years rain wash the minerals of the soil out which make the soil acidic and poor in nutrients. The forests are located in the tropical wet humid regions with an average annual rainfall of around 200-225 cm. The tropical rainforest biome has four main characteristics.
Bacteria and fungi then break down most of the organic matter. 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. The type of clay particles present in tropical rainforest soil has a poor ability to trap nutrients and stop them from washing away.
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. In the soil in a tropical rainforest there is usually a low level of minerals nutrients and organic matter present. Soils remained slightly alkaline pH 7475 with higher concentrations of calcium magnesium and potassium than in acid soils of older rainforests.
This high rate of decomposition is the result of phosphorus levels in the soils precipitation high temperatures and the extensive microorganism communities. 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. The roots of plants rely on an acidity difference between the roots and the soil in order to absorb nutrients.
High animal and vegetal biodiversity. Millions of years of weathering have washed most of the nutrients out of the soil. Characteristics of the tropical forest.