What is the geology of the tropical rainforest?

February 10, 2010 - 2:15 am 2 Comments

Also, what are some facts about the soil of the tropical rainforest?

And besides that, it is usually very poor and weak soil for growing any sustainable crops. Many jungle farmers use the "slash and burn" method of farming to get some additional nutrients from the vegetation they cut down and then burn on the ground. They mix the ash with the dirt, then plant. Very wasteful, but when you are starving….
They then move to another area and repeat.. now you see why rainforest is going bye-bye.

2 Responses to “What is the geology of the tropical rainforest?”

  1. jim z Says:

    Google laterite. Jungle soils are typically leached of most minerals and form what are called laterites. They can be used as iron ore for example because nearly everything else gets leached.
    References :

  2. josephus Says:

    And besides that, it is usually very poor and weak soil for growing any sustainable crops. Many jungle farmers use the "slash and burn" method of farming to get some additional nutrients from the vegetation they cut down and then burn on the ground. They mix the ash with the dirt, then plant. Very wasteful, but when you are starving….
    They then move to another area and repeat.. now you see why rainforest is going bye-bye.
    References :

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