Tropical Red Latosol.

• The equatorial climate belt supports the rainforest biome which supports half of all living organism on Earth. The zonal soil of this region- tropical red latosol is inherently fertile hence the inadvisability of forest clearance for agricultural use.
• The hot, wet and humid climate and promotes the perfect growing conditions for the world's most luxurious vegetation and unparalleled biodiversity in a region that is without seasons.
• Since it's a deciduous the rainforest trees shed their leaves any time they want leading to a constant supply of litter which decomposes with other biota into humus - supplying nutrients to support sustainable new growth very quickly.
• Rapid nutrient cycle means if the tropical rainforest is cleared, the supply of humus is halted and TRL becomes exhausted of nutrients - exposed to excessive leaching of nutrients and to erosion by gulling during heavy, daily convectional rainstorms.
• Reasons for deforestation:

  • land for settlement and associated infrastructure.
  • land fro ranching, cash-cropping and plantations.
  • hardwood timbers.
  • access for mineral exploitation.
• Diagram of TRL.