SOILS OF THE EQUATOR: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES, USES - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The soils of Ecuador are distinguished by their great diversity. The Republic of Ecuador is made up of a continental zone and an insular zone made up of the Galapagos Islands.

It has borders with Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. The line of the equator (zero parallel) segments both the continental and insular territory into two portions.

Wind erosion and overgrazing in the sandy páramos of Chimborazo, Ecuador

Likewise, the Andes mountain range, which crosses the country from south to north, divides its continental zone into three different regions: the coastal plain, the highlands and the Amazon.

Each of them is a complex and diverse system of climates, soils, biodiversity and landscapes present due to the combination of the equatorial character of the area and its altitude.

Main characteristics of the soils of Ecuador

In general, the soils of Ecuador are among the most diverse on Earth. According to their components, these are grouped into: alluvial soils (areas close to rivers, easily flooded), soils on volcanic ash and soils on other materials (ancient rocks).

For its part, volcanic activity in the highest areas of the Andes has resulted in the formation of fertile volcanic soils and grasslands with dark surface layers rich in organic matter.

On the coast, the alluvial plains have accumulated fertile upland sediments. These coastal soils are highly fertile. So much so that in the Amazon basin, the soils appear to be diverse, but they have not been fully studied and mapped.

Soil types of Ecuador

Soils of the coastal plane

These lands range from the coastline to the western slope of the Andean mountain range. They occupy about 46 thousand km² of the country's extension.

They owe their high fertility to the presence of andosols soils (formed on volcanic ash and glass) and molisols (high concentration of organic matter and nutrients).

Highland soils

They are found in the western and eastern Andean mountains. They have an area of ​​around 47 thousand km². This area is rich in andosol soils, therefore rich in ash and mineral components

Soils of the Amazon

The Amazon region extends from the foot of the eastern slope of the Andes. This region occupies about 26 thousand km².

These soils benefit from the erosive action of the Andean highlands that deposit volcanic ash and mineral components on their slopes. At the same time, due to its jungle configuration it receives a high organic component.

Soils of the Galapagos Islands

The Insular region consists of 5 main islands, 14 islets and 68 islets or ancient rocks located all in the Pacific Ocean. All these formations are due to successive eruptions of submarine volcanoes that formed them.

Applications

9.9% of rural areas are occupied by both permanent and temporary crops. In these areas, bananas, potatoes, corn, sugar cane, African palm, rice, coffee and cocoa are grown, among other items.

Regarding soils destined to pastures, they correspond to 19.4% of the Ecuadorian territory. They are used for raising cattle, pigs, poultry and, to a lesser extent, other live species. In addition, 17.3% are dedicated to logging

The rest, 53.5% of the soils of Ecuador, is occupied by urban areas.

References

1. Moreno, J.; Bernal, G. and Espinosa, J. (editors) (2017). The soils of Ecuador. Cham: Springer.
2. Knapp, GW et al. (2017, November 30). Ecuador. Retrieved on December 29, 2017, from britannica.com.
3. National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Ecuador) (2012). Survey of Area and Continuous Agricultural Production. Retrieved on December 29, 2017, from ecuadorencifras.gob.ec.
4. Ministry of Foreign Relations and Human Mobility. (s / f). Welcome to Ecuador - Geography. Retrieved on December 29, 2017, from cancilleria.gob.ec.
5. Ibáñez; JJ (2008, March 02). Soils of Peru and Ecuador. Retrieved on December 29, 2017, from madrimasd.org.