What is the "nutrient cycle"?
Answer:
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Rainforest water and nutrient cycles
Rainforest ecosystems are characterised by heavy convectional rainfall, high humidity and lushness of vegetation, and nutrient-rich but shallow soil. These factors give rise to a unique water cycle and nutrient cycle.
Rainforest water cycle
The rainforest climate is very humid. The vegetation is very lush as water is taken up by the roots and rain is intercepted as it falls - much of it at the canopy level. The next day, as the rainforest heats up, the water given off by the plants and trees evaporates into the atmosphere - where it forms into clouds to make the next day's rain. This is called convectional rainfall.
Rainforest nutrient cycle
Plenty of dead plant material and the hot, damp conditions on the forest floor allow rapid decomposition. This provides plentiful nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots. But because these nutrients are in very high demand from the rainforest's many fast-growing plants, they do not remain in the soil long, and remain close to the surface of the soil.
This means that if the rainforest is cleared for agriculture it will not make very good farm land as the soil is not rich in nutrients. Also once the trees (with their roots) are removed the soil can be easily washed away.
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