Soil types - CS Flashcards
(9 cards)
Where are latosols found
Found around the equator in the tropics
South/Central America
Characteristics of latosols
Rich in aluminium and iron oxides
30-40m deep
Low in nutrients
Lack of fertility
Why are tropical latosols poor for agriculture
Tropical latosols lack nutrients because humus is not retained, and minerals are leached. Clearing plants exposes soil to heavy rainfall, further leaching minerals needed for plant growth.
What is required for high-yield arable crops in latosol regions?
Fertilisers are necessary
What farming method allows soil recovery in latosol regions
Shifting cultivation - land is left for a few years to recover
What is slash and burn farming
Plants are cleared and burned, which prepare land and provide nutrients
What type of commercial farming is common in latosol regions
Pastoral farming as the land is used for grazing livestock
Where are Podzols found
cooler more temperate climates
Northern Hemisphere
