OXISOLS

CHARACTERISTICS

Found in tropical and subtropical regions

Areas with high temps and abundant precipitation

Climate causes high amounts of weathering

Results Soil low in nutrients Bright red/orange color … caused by the Fe

and AL oxides

ICE FREE LAND AREA

ICE FREE LAND AREA (CONT)

Oxisols cover 7.5% of the Earth’s ice free land surface.

Primarily in the southern hemisphere Majority in South America Significant amounts of oxisols are also

found in central Africa

U.S LAND SURFACE

Oxisols are not found in the continental U.S. in any abundance.

Only 0.02% of the U.S. has oxisols

Most oxisols are found in Hawaii. (not the big island)

OXISOL PROFILE

Very fine texture. High amounts of bioturbation

(lots of animal activity) Ap - shows topsoil with

plowing Bo1- subsoil with organic

material Bo2- subsoil with slightly

different color Oxisols are used for agriculture

when fertilizers are added Provide pineapple and

sugarcane farming Also support grazing and

pasture lands for livestock.

SOIL SUSTAINABILITY

Picture from Nigeria (corn field)

Crops such as corn are rotated on a yearly basis

Farmlands are then burned to release nutrients back into the soil

After 5-10 years land Is re-established as forest

OTHER FACTORS

Tropical areas with high elevation (over 1000M) contain more fertile Oxisols than lowlands.

These areas are used for low impact farming of peanuts, pineapple, and bananas.

CONSLUSION

Oxisols are found in warm wet climates They are generally infertile Highly permeable Very resistant to erosion Their color comes from insoluble Fe and

Al oxides