•Soils Oxisoles

A) General:

They are senile mineral soils, in the final stage of chemical weathering, with a horizon-colored surface resting on a subsoil very thick yellowish red, deep, moderately structured, with high concentrations of iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al ), well-drained, highly acidic, with a high content of aluminum interchangeable, undulating to steep stressed, very low fertility, developed ultrabásicas rock (basalt or diabasa ultrabásico).

B) Location:

Located in the Department of San Juan River.

They are in the area of life very humid tropical forest, with an average rainfall of between 4000 to 6000 mm per year, the average annual temperature varies from 25 to 26 ° C.

C) Geomorphology and relief:

These soils are located in the Massif subprovince of the Cerro El Diablo, which is part of the Highlands physiographic province of the Interior. The relief is generally undulating to steep.

D) Drainage:

The internal drainage of these soils is good, the permeability is fast because of the high degree of porosity.

E) Morphological Characteristics:

They have a thin surface horizon (ócrico), clay, red and yellow structure with moderate and below ground presents a horizon óxico very thick (110 cm), clay, red yellow, with moderate to weak structure, which to sobreyace a horizon thick (> 60 cm), clay, red, brown to dark brown veteados no defined structure.

F) Chemical characteristics:

They have an organic matter content moderately high in the first horizon, moderated in the second horizon and low in the third horizon, the pH is very strongly acidic in the first two horizons and strongly acidic in the third horizon. The cation exchange capacity is low in the first horizon and very low in the rest of the profile, saturation base is very low in all horizons. The assimilable phosphorus and potassium are low in all horizons.

G) Use potencial:

The Oxisoles presented severe limitations for agricultural purposes. Any attempt to prove uneconomical improvement due to excessive washing of soil nutrients and the high risk of triggering erosion processes irreversible, so it is advisable to leave a forest reserve, for the purpose of conservation of flora and fauna and determining management appropriate.

•Soils Histosoles

A) General:

They are very deep organic soils with a horizon surface quarry, which contains more than 20% of organic matter, the high content of organic tissue; with poor internal drainage to very poor, depresional flat and marshy areas with low fertility High, developed from accumulation of organic deposits and lake and river sediments. Most of the year, the water table is at or above the soil surface.

B) Location:

They are located in the department of San Juan River.

C) Climate;

The climate of Histosoles understands the life zone moist tropical forest and its transition to dry with average annual rainfall ranging from 1800 to 2200 mm and average annual temperatures higher than 24 ° C.

D) Geomorphology and relief:

These soils are located in the province Nicaraguan Depression in depresionales plains with a slope of the terrain that varies in range 0-0.5%.

E) Morphological Characteristics:

The thickness of the organic horizon is highly variable (40-80 cm) of texture to French franc limoso limoso clay, black and without defined structure; the horizon subsurface remains almost always saturated with water, it is very thick (> 150 cm) frank limoso clay to clay limoso, black, without structure.

D) Chemical characteristics:

Organic matter content decreases with depth of very high to medium, with a pH that is very strongly acidic to strongly acidic, the cation exchange capacity is high, iron, aluminum and phosphorus are low potassium varies medium to low and the percentage of saturation of the bases is very high.

E) Use potencial:

Because they are flooded most of the year and permanently saturated humidity, are recommended for protection of wildlife.

Areas and percentages of taxonomic orders Soil Map of Nicaragua at 1:1000000.

Map of Soils level of order