Soil

According to the Soil Science Society of America, the soil found in tropical rainforests is typically nutrient-poor and they are low in organic matter. This is due to the weathering of soils over time because of the climate. These soils are formed in areas that have high temperatures and precipitation levels annually contributing to the weathering of the soils. With yearly to daily rainfall, the soil loses most of its nutrients. Many of these soils are Oxisols and Ultisols, which are types of soil that are low in organic matter and have been exposed to strong weathering. Both of these soil types have weathered for thousands of years leading to the creation of the yellow and red pigmentation of the soil. For Oxisols, all the clay in the soil has been extracted, leaving aluminum oxide. Ultisols in comparison still contain clays. These soils can be found in Southeast Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa.