Why aren't crops grown well where rainforest once were? (deforestation)?

Question

Why aren't crops grown well where rainforest once were? (deforestation)?

Answer 1

because the soil gets leeched when it rains etc. and gets washed of all nutrients. So it takes years to recover. Oh, if only life was that simple!

Answer 2

Rainforests help to sustain life in a cycle...the trees grow, they die, and decompose back into the soil, thus providing the right nutrients for more trees to grow in their place, from seeds etc. If the trees are taken away, the soil lacks the nutrients needed for healthy crops to grow back.

Also trees provide a canopy from harsh sunlight, without this protection young seedlings may perish in the intense climate that most rainforests exist in.

Rainforests are also home to thousands of species of animal. They help contribute to the fertility of the soil with their droppings. No rainforests, no animals, therefore no droppings to keep the soil rich.

All in all, without the right ecosystem (that is maintained by the rainfores'ts existence), new crops will simply not be able to withstand the environment.

Answer 3

Because the soil is crappy. Everything happens in the canopy.

Answer 4

due to poor soil. dont forget the warm atmosphere makes it rain in the rain forest. when it goes, the atmos goes with it. rain goes. soil drys up. and bang soil is undernutered and so on.

Answer 5

The soil is usually of a quality not up to the standard crops require. It also rains very heavily on a daily basis. This has two effects:

1. It dissolve nutrient and removes them (leaching)

2. Cuts up the soil in open area or areas that have recently been sown.

Answer 6

Rainforests have poor soil because nutrients get leached out. It takes several years before those nutrients are replenished.

Answer 7

The top soil comes off after a few years and there is only a red clay left . The natural forest will reclaim this in about 3 years.

Answer 8

jungles are almost always on fragile soils

only the topsoil has value ,this is only a few iches deep,but

Farmers slash and then burn all vegetation and  then plough ,this kills everything on the top like the micro organisms that make the soil.



then they use fertilizers and often pesticides and herbicides as well .within 3 year the soil has been destroyed

.

and ends up burned out ,DESERTIFICATION

Answer 9

Because as answered before the soil is not very rich.

By cutting down the trees the soil is easily destroyed without the trees roots holding the soil and its nutrients are lost