Tropical Rainforest Characteristics Soil
Due to heavy rainfall.
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. In the Amazon tropical rainforest the soil are mostly several metres deep. A tropical rainforest is made up of the following layers.
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. The tropical rainforest is often in the news for various reasons. Due to erosion over hundreds of millions of years white and sandy soils can be found in some parts of the Amazon River Basin.
Soils remained slightly alkaline pH 7475 with higher concentrations of calcium magnesium and potassium than in acid soils of older rainforests. Many of these soils are oxisols and ultisols. Ground level - contains less vegetation due to the dark damp conditions a thick layer of decomposing leavesand the.
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. Soils remained slightly alkaline pH 7475 with higher concentrations of calcium magnesium and potassium than in acid soils of older rainforests. 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.
This high rate of decomposition is the result of phosphorus levels in the soils precipitation high temperatures and the extensive microorganism communities. 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 top layer is made up of a thin layer of mulch like substance layered in organic matter from animals above it.
Tropical rainforests are characterized by rainfall and evergreen species. Soil - Many tropical rainforest soils are very poor and infertile. 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.