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Author Question: Explain the apparent discrepancy that lush tropical rainforests characteristically grow on very ... (Read 97 times)

strangeaffliction

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on: Jul 16, 2018
Explain the apparent discrepancy that lush tropical rainforests characteristically grow on very infertile soils.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Plants are important in producing soils. How do plants at the surface affect the B horizon?
 
  What will be an ideal response?


juicepod

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Reply #1 on: Jul 16, 2018
Answer to Question 1

The high temperatures and abundant rainfall in a tropical rainforest cause intense chemical weathering that leaches most of the nutrients from the soil, leaving behind a residue of iron and aluminum oxides and hydroxides. The abundance of vegetation does mean, however, that there is a thick accumulation of organic matter to form an A horizon over a very infertile B horizon. The lush vegetation survives off of nutrients in the thick O horizon.

Answer to Question 2

Plants and plant matter generate organic acids which aid in dissolution of minerals in the A and E horizons. The liberated ions are flushed to deeper layers (B), leading to precipitation.


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