compare soil fertility

Question

compare soil fertility in temperature deciduous forests and tropical forests

 

A. which biome has very fertile soil? explain your answer.

 

B. which biome has soil that is not very fertile? explain your answer.

Answer 1

Temperate deciduous forests have more fertile soil, they have ideal weather conditions. Also, the leaves of deciduous trees fall off onto the soil every fall. These leaves decay thanks to FBI (fungus, bacteria, and invertebrates--decomposers) and return valuable nutrients to the soil so that they can be recycles. Many tree varieties found in such forests have high nutritional demands, so their presence indicated fertility.

The heat and humidity in tropical forests causes faster decay of organic matter so that it doesn't stay in the soil as long, the decayed organic matter is quickly soaked up by other organisms and does not remain in the soil. Additionally the rain is a problem. The water causes rapid and constant weathering that leaches organic matter and important nutrients out of the soil and carries them away, leaving it relatively devoid of fertility.