Definition O Latin word: acris- very acid. O One of the 30 soil groups in the classification system of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Definition O Defined by the presence of a subsurface layer of accumulated kaolinitic clays where less than half of the ions available to plants are calcium, magnesium, sodium, or potassium and also by the lack of an extensively leached layer below the surface horizon (uppermost layer). Definition O Clay-rich. O Have poor chemical properties, low levels of plant nutrients, high levels of aluminium and high susceptibility to erosion. O Form on old landscapes that have an undulating topography and a humid tropical climate. Definition O Their natural vegetation is woodland, which in some areas has given way to tree savannah maintained by seasonal burning. O They occupy just under 8 percent of the continental land surface on Earth, covering areas throughout central and northern Latin America, Southeast Asia, and West Africa. Definition O Internationally known as: O Brazil = Podzolicos vermelho-amarello distroficos a argila de ativitade baixa. O Soil Taxonomy (USA) = Oxic subgroups of Alfisols and Ultisols. O France = Sols ferralitiques fortement ou moyenment desatures. O SE-Asia= Red-Yellow Podzols. Physical Characteristics O Low structural stability. O Most Acrisols have weak microstructure and massive macrostructure, especially in the surface and shallow subsurface soil that have become depleted of sesquioxides. O Bonding between sesquioxides and negatively charged low activity clays is less strong than in Ferralsols. Chemical Characteristics O Acrisols and Arenosols have low nutrient levels and are characterized by permeability/ leaching, which, being problematic for agriculture, necessitate careful/ special management. O Levels of plant nutrients are low and aluminium toxicity and P-sorption (Phosphorus sorption) are strong limitations. O As biological activity is low in Acrisols, natural regeneration, e.g. of surface soil that was degraded by mechanical operations, is very slow. Occurrence, Uses, and Compatibilities O A general paucity of plant nutrients. O Aluminum toxicity. O Strong phosphorus sorption. Occurrence, Uses, and Compatibilities O Slaking/crusting. O High susceptibility to erosion imposes severe restrictions on arable land uses. O Large areas of Acrisols are used for subsistence farming, partly in a system of shifting cultivation. Occurrence, Uses, and Compatibilities O By and large, Acrisols are not very productive soils. O They perform best under undemanding, acidity-tolerant crops such as pineapple, cashew, oil palm or rubber. Other Distinct Characteristics O Mineralogical characteristics O Acrisols have little weatherable minerals left. O The contents of Fe-, Al- and Ti- oxides are comparable to those of Ferralsols or somewhat lower. O The SiO2/Al2O3 ratio is 2 or less. O The clay fraction consists almost entirely of well-crystallized kaolinite and some gibbsite. Other Distinct Characteristics O Hydrological characteristics O Under a protective forest cover, have porous surface soils. O Many Acrisols in low landscape positions show signs of periodic water saturation. Their surface horizons are almost black whereas matrix colors are close to white in the eluvial albic horizon. Morphology O Most Acrisols have a thin, brown, ochric surface horizon, particularly in regions with pronounced dry seasons. O Darker colors are found where (periodic) waterlogging retards mineralization of soil organic matter. Morphology O The underlying albic subsurface horizon has weakly developed structure elements and may even be massive. O It is normally whitish to yellow and overlies a stronger colored yellow to red argic subsurface horizon. Morphology O The structure of this sesquioxide-rich illuviation horizon is more stable than that of the eluviation horizon. O Gleyic soil properties and/or plinthite are common in Acrisols in low terrain positions. Geography Geography O Worldwide are about 1 billion hectares of Acrisols. O They are most extensive in Southeast Asia, the Southern fringes of the Amazon Basin, the Southeastern USA and in both East and West Africa. References O http://www.isric.org/isric/webdocs/docs/major_soils_of_the_ world/set6/ac/acrisol.pdf O https://www.bodenkunde-projekte.hu- berlin.de/tropics/pcboku10.agrar.hu- berlin.de/cocoon/tropen/acrisolsda3f.html?section=14 O https://ees.kuleuven.be/africa-in-profile/dig-deeper/profile- database/Reference%20soil%20Nigeria%2015.pdf O http://www.tankonyvtar.hu/hu/tartalom/tamop425/0032_tal ajtan/ch12.html O https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrisol O https://www.britannica.com/science/Acrisol Submitted by: O Henorio, Lyka Jamille O Nuguid, Christine O Diaz, Candelaria O Arances, Jaya O Ver, Ian Timothy