Reference soil Colombia 07: Acrisol
Acrisols occur dominantly in the wetter parts of the tropics and subtropics and the warm temperate regions in relatively young landscapes.
Characteristics
Soils having an argic horizon (a subsurface horizon with distinct higher clay content than the overlying horizon), which has a cation exchange capacity of less than 24 cmolc per kg in some part, either starting within 100 cm from the soil surface, or within 200 cm from the soil surface if the argic horizon is overlain by loamy sand or coarser textures throughout. They have a base saturation (total amount of Ca, Mg, K and Na with respect to the cation exchange capacity) of less than 50 percent in the major part between 25 and 100 cm from the soil surface
Reference soil CO007: Acrisols
LOCATION: Las Penas Experimental site. PHYSIOGRAPHY: Local relief: 1 m. CLIMATE: Available climatic data of the Araracuara area are incomplete. The rainfall is estimated between 3000-3500 mm/year (closer to 3000) with a minimum in January between 150-200 mm (closer to 150 mm). A maximum is recorded in July between 200-250 mm (closer to 250). The evaporation is estimated to be about half of the precipitation, e.g. about 1600 mm/year. The relative humidity is more than 75% with a maximum in January and February. VEGETATION AND LAND USE: The forest is classified as "bosque humido tropical". At an associated area (20 m apart from site) some undergrowth has been removed for cacao experiments. After one year of growth the plants seem well established but 4 additional years are needed to asses the value. The introduction of cacao in the forest environment is aimed at a better utilisation of the forest without complete destruction of the natural vegetation. ADDITIONAL NOTES ON PROFILE DESCRIPTION: Ah & AB: also many coarse roots;