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Chapter 1 - Introduction


Cuba is 1 250 km long and its width ranges from 32 km at its narrowest point, to 210 km at its widest. It is montainous in the southeast and south-central area, and flat or rolling elsewhere. Total land area is 110 922 km2. The country is divided into seven agro-ecological zones. A soil map of Cuba is given in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Dominant soil map of Cuba

Source: FAO/ISRIC/UNEP/CIP, 1988.

The agro-ecological zones of Cuba

Mountain zone

This zone is composed of five sub-areas. The establishment of plantations in the zone needs to take account especially of soil conservation considerations, in view of the level of rainfall and the topography.

Geology: aleurolite, shales, calcareous schists, quartz and marble
Soil types: Phaeozems, Acrisols, Nitisols and Regosols
Native vegetation: Pinus caribea and Pinus tropicalis, low altitude Mesophylls

Figure 2
Agro-ecological zones of Cuba

Rainfall: 1400-1600 mm
Evaporation: 1800-2000 mm
Temperature: 20-25 °C
Days with rainfall over one mm: 40 to >140

Highland zone

This zone is characterized by its geologic variability, resulting from pedological variations. Rainfall increases in general in the western areas of the country but the zone is not influenced by maritime winds. Temperature variations are less marked than elsewhere due to its position, mostly in the center of the island.

Geology: clays, calcareous loams
Soil types: Phaeozems, Cambisols, Nitisols, Plintisols, Ferralsols, Acrisols and Lixisols
Native vegetation: low altitude Mesophylls
Rainfall: 1200-1800 mm
Evaporation: 1800-2100 mm
Temperature: 23-26 °C
Days with rainfall over one mm: 40-140

North coastal plain zone

This zone is characterized by relatively low rainfall levels in the Coastal area of Moron-Gibara but with a generally good distribution during the year, especially in the more western regions. There is a substantial difference between day and night temperatures and the maritime winds have an influence. The geologic material is variable, with several soil types with gley characteristics. In certain areas there may be a risk of salinisation.

Geology: clays, calcilutite, loams, calcareous conglomerate, schists and tuff
Soil types: Vertisols, Gleysols, Phaeozems and Cambisols
Native vegetation: Pinus caribea and Pinus tropicalis, Mesophylls
Rainfall: 1000-1600 mm
Evaporation: 1800-2200 mm
Temperature: 23-27 °C
Days with rainfall over one mm: 1-100

South coastal plain zone

This zone, which excludes the marshlands, is characterized by the presence of alluvial soils and gleys, in some cases of marine origin or with antropic salinity, although loams prevail. The rainfall is relatively low, especially in the eastern region where it amounts to about 600 mm/year.

Geology: clays, sands, pebbles, and tuff
Soil types: Vertisols, Gleysols, Phaeozems, Cambisols and Fluvisols
Native vegetation: Pinus caribea and Pinus tropicalis, typical Mesophylls
Rainfall: 1000-1600 mm
Evaporation: 1800-2200 mm
Temperature: 23-27 °C
Days with rainfall over one mm: 1-80

Marsh and calcified plain zone

Geology: serpentines, aleurolite, shales, calcareous schists, quartz, marble and basalt
Soil types: Gleysols, Fluvisols, Regosols and Histosols
Native vegetation: Pinus caribea and Pinus tropicalis, low altitude Mesophylls
Rainfall:1400-1600 mm
Evaporation: 1800-2000 mm
Temperature: 20-25 °C
Days with rainfall over one mm: 1-80

Denuded interior plain zone

This zone extends over an interior fringe of the central part of the Island. It is characterized by relatively high rainfall, increasing to the east of the country, generally with a good distribution during the year. The temperature differences between day and night are not very marked. The maritime winds have little influence. The geological material is variable, with a predominance of red soils indicating good fertility. There is a large area of sugar cane, with a high degree of mechanization favoured by the topography.

Geology: serpentines, calcilutite, clays, aleurolite, shales, calcareous schists, quartz and marble
Soil types: Ferralsols, Nitisols, Cambisols and Luvisols,
Native vegetation: Pinus caribea and Pinus tropicalis, low altitude Mesophylls
Rainfall: 1400-1600 mm
Evaporation: 1800-2000 mm
Temperature: 20-25 °C
Days with rainfall over one mm: 40-140

Isle of Youth plain zone

Geology: schists, marble, volcanic, clays and carbonated sediments
Soil types: Ferralsols, Nitisols, Cambisols, Phaeozems and Arenosols
Native vegetation: Pinus caribea and Pinus tropicalis
Rainfall: >1600 mm
Evaporation: 1800-2100 mm
Temperature: 23-26 °C
Days with rainfall over one mm: 40-100


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