Tropical Latosols - Soils
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Latosols are tropical rainforest soils characterized by deep, red, heavily leached layers, and a short nutrient cycle, making them infertile unless vegetation is intact. Formation is influenced by factors such as climate, parent material, and living organisms, with high temperatures and rainfall leading to rapid leaching and chemical weathering. Despite their low nutrient content, latosols support rich vegetation, but deforestation quickly results in soil degradation and erosion.
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Tropical Latosols - Soils
- 1. Tropical Latosols Latosol – A Tropical Rainforest Soil
- 2. You may be asked the following: “Compare and contrast the characteristics of any two soil types which you have studied.” That is why you must know Irish Brown Earth Soils and Latosols (tropical rainforest soil). Exam Brief
- 3. • Typical Exam Questions: • Describe and explain the characteristics of any one soil type studied by you. • With reference to one soil type studied by you, examine how parent material, climate and organic matter influence the soil. • Examine the general composition of any one soil type that you have studied. Exam Brief
- 4. • Zonal soil type: developed in response to tropical and equatorial climates that are hot (average 27C), humid (88% humidity) and wet (up to 6,000mm per annum). • Latosols: • • • • • Red, heavily leached infertile zonal soils. Occupy 7.5% of total land area. Cover large areas of South America, Africa and Asia. Major obstacle to development of profitable agriculture. Fragile soils which can be easily damaged creating a useless laterite. Soil Type: Zonal
- 5. • Latosols: • Support the richest vegetation on the planet – the tropical rainforests. But how if latosols are not fertile? • The relationship between soil, climate and vegetation in tropical regions causes a short nutrient cycle. Plants grow rapidly, otherwise they will not get the nutrients before they are leached by the high rainfall. • If vegetation is removed the soils quickly become infertile and vulnerable to erosion. Soil Type: Zonal
- 6. O Horizon • Thin O Horizon (humus layer) due to intense bacterial activity which rapidly decomposes dead organic matter. • Contains aluminium and iron oxides. • Sometimes iron and aluminium compounds build up in a hard layer A Horizon down the profile. B Horizon C Horizon • Very deep. • Uniform in texture due to intense leaching in high temperatures. • Consists of parent rock. Soil Profile of a Latosol
- 7. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Climate Relief Parent material Living Organisms Time Factors affecting latosols
- 8. 1. Climate: • Latosols form in very hot, wet conditions in the tropics and equatorial regions. High rainfall, humidity and temperatures cause deep chemical weathering and rapid leaching of minerals down through the soil. • Average rainfall: 3,000mm. • Humidity: High – 88% • Average temperature: 27°C • Latosol soils are very deep – high temperatures and permeability of soil mean heat and moisture reach great depths and rot the parent material into a deep soil. Factors affecting latosols
- 9. 2. Relief • Latosols form under the rainforest on flat land and on slopes which allow tree growth: • Thicker on flat land. • Thinner and better drained where land is sloping. Factors affecting latosols
- 10. 3. Parent Material • Parent materials found under latosols in Brazil vary from metamorphic to sedimentary rocks. • These different parent materials cause the latosol to vary in colour from red to yellow. Factors affecting latosols
- 11. 4. Living Organisms • Hot and damp conditions of the forest floor are perfect for fungi and bacteria to thrive and cause rapid humification. This provides plentiful nutrients but these nutrients are in high demand so they do not remain in the soil for long. • This nutrient cycle in latosols is very short – a few days in some cases. Factors affecting latosols
- 12. 5. Time • Deep latosols result from the rapid weathering of parent material and the fast breakdown of organic material by fungi, bacteria and other living things. • Tropical regions were not affected by the last ice age and so have had many thousands of years to develop. Factors affecting latosols
- 13. Colour • Red or yellow – due to aluminium and iron compounds left over from leaching. Characteristics of Latosols
- 14. pH • Moderately acidic. • Rapid absorption of nutrients by vegetation growing in soil prevents latosol becoming more acidic. • Once forest is cleared, latosol acidity rises. Characteristics of Latosols
- 15. Humus Content • Low humus content. • Rapid breakdown of organic material but equally rapid uptake of humus by plants. • Any humus formed is quickly absorbed by plants. Characteristics of latosols
- 16. Structure • Latosols lack a clearly defined structure. • Structure is often poorly developed due to intense chemical weathering of mineral grains which prevents well shaped peds forming. • Where parent rock is granite, chemical weathering causes clay minerals to form giving the latosols a platy structure. Characteristics of latosols
- 17. Texture • May be any texture – loamy / clay / sandy. • This is due to a variety of parent material. • Latosols formed on metamorphic or igneous rock tend to have a more sandy texture. Characteristics of latosols
- 18. Water content • Wet due to high rainfall in tropical region. • Latosols are very permeable (water passes through easily). • But, if forest cover is removed, the soil dries out rapidly and becomes impermeable. Characteristics of latosols
- 19. 1. Laterisation 2. Humification Processes Affecting Latosol Formation
- 20. 1. Laterisation • Definition: A combination of deep leaching and chemical weathering by carbonation, oxidation and hydrolysis. • Dominant process in forming latosols. • Leaching and chemical weathering in the high temperatures of the tropics combine to dissolve all minerals except iron and aluminium oxides. These minerals give the soil its distinctive red colour. • Due to the constant high temperatures, these soilforming processes have reached deep ground and formed soils up to 40m deep. Processes Affecting Latosol Formation
- 21. 2. Humificaiton • Hot, damp conditions = rapid humification. • This provides plentiful nutrients easily absorbed by plant roots. • These nutrients stay close to the surface of the soil because they are quickly absorbed by the plants of the rainforest. Processes Affecting Latosol Formation