The soils in the tropical rain forest are mineral poor because most of the nutrients remain in the fast growing above ground plants or leached from the soils by heavy rains. The soil is red in color due to the presence of iron and the lack of humus due to rapid decomposition. Also these soils are hard due to large amounts of clay. Tropical rainforest soils are called laterite soils. Study Behavioral Objective 24.

Activity: Explain the "slash and burn" procedure and how it effects the ecology of an area.

What is the likely fate of tropical rain forests after they are harvested and converted to pasture lands for cattle:

a. Lush, productive pasture land

b. Second-growth rain forest

c. Tropical savanna

d. Unproductive moist soil

e. Desert