It will not make very good farmland
If the rainforest is cleared for agricultureit will not make very good farmland,as the soil will not be rich in nutrients. The forest floor receives only what little sunlight escapes through both the canopy and the understory,so not many plants grow here.

Why can’t we grow crops in tropical rainforest?

The high volume of rain in tropical rainforests washes nutrients out of the soil more quickly than in other climates. When farmers cut down tropical rainforests and use its soil to try to grow crops, they find little success because of the poor nature of the soil. The textbook quotes soil authority Robert Pendleton as saying,

Is the soil in tropical rainforests rich or poor?

Actually, the soil in tropical rainforests is very poor. You would think with all that vegetation, warmth, and moisture that the soil must be very rich. But the truth is otherwise, as people who live in these regions are well aware.

Why are nutrients not absorbed by soil in the tropical rainforest?

The type of clay particles present in tropical rainforest soil has a poor ability to trap nutrients and stop them from washing away. Even if humans artificially add nutrients to the soil, the nutrients mostly wash away and are not absorbed by the plants.

Can You farm in the Amazon rainforest?

Nevertheless, many commercial agricultural projects are still carried out on rainforest lands, although many of these revert to cattle pasture after soils are depleted. Some floodplain regions, like those of the lower Amazon (vrzea), are more suitable for commercial agriculture because annual floods replenish nutrient stores.

Why do tropical rainforests decompose?

The high temperature and moisture of tropical rainforests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose more quickly than in other climates , thus releasing and losing its nutrients rapidly. The high volume of rain in tropical rainforests washes nutrients out of the soil more quickly than in other climates.

What is the role of clay in tropical rainforest soil?

The type of clay particles present in tropical rainforest soil has a poor ability to trap nutrients and stop them from washing away. Even if humans artificially add nutrients to the soil, the nutrients mostly wash away and are not absorbed by the plants.

Why is soil acidic?

When the soil is acidic, there is little difference, and therefore little absorption of nutrients from the soil.

Is the soil in tropical rainforests poor?

Actually, the soil in tropical rainforests is very poor. You would think with all that vegetation, warmth, and moisture that the soil must be very rich. But the truth is otherwise, as people who live in these regions are well aware.

Where are nutrients washed in the rain forest?

Nutrients are washed by the heavy rains almost directly from the rotting surface material into the the trees without entering the soil much.

What are the two groups responsible for converting rainforests into farmland?

The two groups chiefly responsible for converting rainforest into farmland are poor farmers and corporations. Poor farmers in many parts of the world rely on clearing rainforest to feed their families.

Why do poor farmers use slash and burn?

Poor farmers in many parts of the world rely on clearing rainforest to feed their families. Without access to better agricultural lands , these people use slash-and-burn to clear patches of forest for short-term use.

Where is palm oil grown?

In Asia , especially Malaysia and Indonesia, large areas of rainforest are being cleared for oil palm plantations to produce palm oil, which is used widely in processed food, cosmetics, and soap. Today palm oil is found in some 50 percent of packaged snack foods, a proportion that is growing because palm oil is the cheapest type of vegetable oil.

Is the Amazon rainforest cleared?

Agricultural companies are clearing more rainforest than ever before, especially in the Amazon where large tracts of rainforest are being converted into cattle pasture and soybean farms. South America has an area of farmland that exceeds that of the American Midwest — much of this farmland has come at the expense of the Amazon rainforest.

Can you use Mongabay as a source?

May I use graphics from mongabay.com for my projects? Yes, you may provided that you don’t remove the mongabay label from the images. You may use information from the site for class projects and can cite mongabay as the source.

Is Mongabay credible?

Is this web site credible? Mongabay is the world’s most popular source for information on tropical forests. The site is highly acclaimed by a number of the world’s leading tropical scientists. See more answers at our frequently asked questions page.

How did soy affect the Amazon?

Soy production in the Amazon exploded in the early 1990s following the development of a new variety of soybean suitable to the soils and climate of the region. Most expansion occurred in the cerrado, a wooded grassland ecosystem, and the transition forests in the southern fringes in the Amazon basin, especially in states of Mato Grosso and Pará — direct conversion of rainforests for soy has been relatively limited. Instead, the impact of soy on rainforests is generally seen to be indirect. Soy expansion has driven up land prices, created impetus for infrastructure improvements that promote forest clearing, and displaced cattle ranchers to frontier areas, spurring deforestation.

How does soy affect the rainforest?

Instead, the impact of soy on rainforests is generally seen to be indirect. Soy expansion has driven up land prices, created impetus for infrastructure improvements that promote forest clearing, and displaced cattle ranchers to frontier areas, spurring deforestation.

How many acres of land do forest clearers burn?

Generally forest clearers use slash-and-burn techniques to clear land, but on a much larger scale than traditional practices. Instead of burning a mere 2-10 acres (1-4 ha), agriculturalists burn hundreds to thousands of hectares after felling a tract of forest and leaving it to dry.

Why is dry peat flammable?

The dry peat then becomes highly flammable, increasing the risk of large-scale fires when plantation developers use fire to clear land and burn agricultural waste. Greenhouse gas emissions also result when rainforest is cleared for oil palm plantations.

Why is agriculture a failure in the rainforest?

Agricultural use of some rainforest land proves to be a failure because of the nutrient-deficient, acidic soils of these forests. Nevertheless, many commercial agricultural projects are still carried out on rainforest lands, although many of these revert to cattle pasture after soils are depleted. Some floodplain regions, like those …

What is burning in a plant?

Burning releases nutrients locked up in vegetation and produces a layer of nutrient-rich material above the otherwise poor soil. The cleared area is quickly planted and supports vigorous growth for a few years, after which the nutrient stock is depleted and large amounts of fertilizer are required to keep the operation viable.

What are the crops that can be grown on the land?

When the land is suitable for agriculture, generally large single cash crops like rice, citrus fruits, oil palms, coffee, coca, opium, tea, soybeans, cacao, rubber, and bananas are cultivated. Some of these crops are better adapted to such conditions …