- Title Pages
- In Memory of Dr. Luis Diego Gómez Pignataro (1944–2009)
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Presentation
- Preface
-
Chapter 1 Costa Rica’s Ecosystems: Setting the Stage -
Chapter 2 Climate of Costa Rica -
Chapter 3 Geology, Tectonics, and Geomorphology of Costa Rica: A Natural History Approach -
Chapter 4 Soils of Costa Rica: An Agroecological Approach -
Chapter 5 The Pacific Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 6 The Gulf of Nicoya Estuarine Ecosystem -
Chapter 7 Isla del Coco: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 8 Isla del Coco: Terrestrial Ecosystems -
Chapter 9 The Northern Pacific Lowland Seasonal Dry Forests of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula -
Chapter 10 Biodiversity Conservation History and Future in Costa Rica: The Case of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) -
Chapter 11 The Central Pacific Seasonal Forests of Puntarenas and the Central Valley -
Chapter 12 The Southern Pacific Lowland Evergreen Moist Forest of the Osa Region -
Chapter 13 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Volcanic Cordilleras -
Chapter 14 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca -
Chapter 15 The Páramo Ecosystem of Costa Rica’s Highlands -
Chapter 16 The Caribbean Lowland Evergreen Moist and Wet Forests -
Chapter 17 The Caribbean Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 18 Rivers of Costa Rica -
Chapter 19 Lakes of Costa Rica -
Chapter 20 Bogs, Marshes, and Swamps of Costa Rica -
Chapter 21 Costa Rican Ecosystems: A Brief Summary - Acronyms
- Subject Index
- Systematic Index of Common Names
- Systematic Index of Scientific Names
Soils of Costa Rica: An Agroecological Approach
Soils of Costa Rica: An Agroecological Approach
- Chapter:
- (p.64) Chapter 4 Soils of Costa Rica: An Agroecological Approach
- Source:
- Costa Rican Ecosystems
- Author(s):
Alfredo Alvarado
Rafael Mata
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
The variability of the soils of Costa Rica is almost as large as the number of different agroecosystems developed to match with the varied ecological niches. This chapter presents an analysis of each of these soil types, as well as the relationships that plants, animals, and human activity have with Costa Rican soil. The chapter first provides a history of national and international study of Costa Rican soil, and then continues to summarize the types of areas occupied by each major soil type. This discussion includes the mineralogical, physical, and nutritional characteristics and geographical distribution of each type of soil, as well as its relation to humans, such as the crops that planted in it and the practices that could be applied to best use it to its productive potential. The chapter further documents the effects of the mutual environmental relationships between soils and the many different types of organisms that live in and around them, which naturally leave imprints in soil formation, nutrient recycling, and environmental biodegradation of organic residues.
Keywords: Costa Rica, soil, erosion, nutrient availability, agroecosystems, soil science, agriculture
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- Title Pages
- In Memory of Dr. Luis Diego Gómez Pignataro (1944–2009)
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Presentation
- Preface
-
Chapter 1 Costa Rica’s Ecosystems: Setting the Stage -
Chapter 2 Climate of Costa Rica -
Chapter 3 Geology, Tectonics, and Geomorphology of Costa Rica: A Natural History Approach -
Chapter 4 Soils of Costa Rica: An Agroecological Approach -
Chapter 5 The Pacific Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 6 The Gulf of Nicoya Estuarine Ecosystem -
Chapter 7 Isla del Coco: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 8 Isla del Coco: Terrestrial Ecosystems -
Chapter 9 The Northern Pacific Lowland Seasonal Dry Forests of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula -
Chapter 10 Biodiversity Conservation History and Future in Costa Rica: The Case of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) -
Chapter 11 The Central Pacific Seasonal Forests of Puntarenas and the Central Valley -
Chapter 12 The Southern Pacific Lowland Evergreen Moist Forest of the Osa Region -
Chapter 13 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Volcanic Cordilleras -
Chapter 14 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca -
Chapter 15 The Páramo Ecosystem of Costa Rica’s Highlands -
Chapter 16 The Caribbean Lowland Evergreen Moist and Wet Forests -
Chapter 17 The Caribbean Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 18 Rivers of Costa Rica -
Chapter 19 Lakes of Costa Rica -
Chapter 20 Bogs, Marshes, and Swamps of Costa Rica -
Chapter 21 Costa Rican Ecosystems: A Brief Summary - Acronyms
- Subject Index
- Systematic Index of Common Names
- Systematic Index of Scientific Names
