Management Properties of Ferralsols

Table of Contents

by A. van Wambeke

FAO SOILS BULLETIN 23

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome 1974

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

M-53
ISBN 92-5-100754-3

The copyright in this book is vested in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, by any method or process, without written permission from the copyright holder. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction desired, should be addressed to the Director, Publications Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.

© FAO 1979

Cover photograph: Humid tropical forest on ferralsols.
(FAO photo)

This electronic document has been scanned using optical character recognition (OCR) software and careful manual recorrection. Even if the quality of digitalisation is high, the FAO declines all responsibility for any discrepancies that may exist between the present document and its original printed version.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

PART 1 FERRALSOLS

1.1 Diagnostic properties

1.1.1 Differentiating characteristics and definition
1.1.2 Modal concept
1.1.3 Accidental characteristics

1.2 Related geographic distribution

1.2.1 Climatic regimes
1.2.2 Landforms
1.2.3 Vegetation

1.3 Kinds of ferralsols

1.3.1 Main subdivisions
1.3.2 Correlation with order classifications
1.3.3 Description and analysis of typical profiles

PART 2 MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES OF FERRALSOLS

2.1 Physical properties

2.1.1 Structure

i. Formation of structure
ii. Soil structure data

2.1.2 Soil water relationships

i. Permanent wilting point
ii. Field capacity
iii. Available water
iv. Infiltration, water movement

2.2 Physico-chemical properties

2.2.1 Ion exchange reactions
2.2.2 Base saturation

2.3 Chemical properties

2.3.1 Nitrogen and organic matter levels

i. Nitrogen and organic matter levels
ii. Organic matter changes and nitrogen supply

2.3.2 Phosphorus

i. Forms of phosphorus
ii. Phosphorus adsorption, fixation and residual effects

2.3.3 Potassium
2.3.4 Calcium, aluminum, pH and liming

i. Calcium deficiencies
ii. Exchangeable aluminum, aluminum in solution
iii. pH and liming

2.3.5 Sulphur and minor elements

i. Sulphur
ii. Minor elements

PART 3 SOIL MANAGEMENT

3.1 Tillage practices for seedbed-rootbed preparation
3.2 Fallows

3.2.1 Restoration of chemical fertility

i. Fallows in rainforest regions
ii. Fallows in savanna regions
iii. Fallows in cool tropical regions

3.2.2 Restoration of physical properties
3.2.3 Soil and water conservation by fallows

3.3 Fertilizer and lime requirements

3.3.1 Nitrogen fertilization (BARTHOLOMEW, 1972)

i. Crop use requirements (N_M)
ii. Natural supply of nitrogen (N_S)
iii. Use efficiency of fertilizers

3.3.2 Phosphorus fertilization
3.3.3 Potassium fertilization
3.3.4 Lime requirements

3.4 Irrigation of ferralsols

REFERENCES

THE FAO SOILS BULLETINS: