Latosols, also known astropical red earth, are soils found undertropical rainforests which have a relatively high content ofiron andaluminium oxides. They are typically classified asoxisols (USDA soil taxonomy) orferralsols (World Reference Base for Soil Resources).[1] Latosols are tropical soils, but not all soils in the tropics are latosolic.[2] Latosols are red or yellowish-red in colour throughout and they do not have distincthorizons like apodsol. The red colour comes from theiron oxides in the soil. They are deep soils, often extending 20–30 m (66–98 ft) deep whereas podsols are 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) deep.
The soil generally contains a thin but very fertile layer ofhumus dropped from plants and animals in the forest above, followed by an infertile second layer due to rapidleaching caused by high rainfall. The third level,weatheredbedrock, is common to almost all soil types.
The latosol is completely reliant on the rainforest to maintain fertility, as all nutrients leach away quickly when the forest is felled and the layer of humus is no longer being replaced.
