Tropical Rainforest Characteristics Soil

There are major concerns about deforestation of it and the consequent damage to the soil.

Tropical rainforest characteristics soil. Due to heavy rainfall. There are 4 layers of soil in the tropical rain forest. Very high annual rainfall high average temperatures nutrient-poor soil and high levels of biodiversity species richness.

This article addresses the climate and biodiversity of one of Earths most diverse and iconic biomes. The tropical rainforest is often in the news for various reasons. The tropical rainforest biome has four main characteristics.

High animal and vegetal biodiversity. Ground level - contains less vegetation due to the dark damp conditions a thick layer of decomposing leavesand the. Soils remained slightly alkaline pH 7475 with higher concentrations of calcium magnesium and potassium than in acid soils of older rainforests.

Climatic conditions in tropical rainforests have an average of 27 degrees annually and an average rainfall of approximately 200cm with a permanently high humidity. Most of the soil is not very fertile. Soil - Many tropical rainforest soils are very poor and infertile.

The second level which in also semi small is called the Topsoil this layer of soil is semi poor in nutrients because of plants growing above them taking in all the nutrients as it is produced. 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. The top layer is made up of a thin layer of mulch like substance layered in organic matter from animals above it.

Only about 20 of tropical soils are suitable for agriculture. During the 100 million years rain wash the minerals of the soil out which make the soil acidic and poor in nutrients. Bacteria and fungi then break down most of the organic matter.