A fast-growing population and the resulting need for more food is putting increasing stress on our land resources. One of the biggest pools in terms of potential agricultural land is found in the belt of the tropical rain forests.
The highly weathered, low CEC, acid Ulti- and Oxisols in the tropics can maintain a good forest vegetation, but lose rapidly their fertility when planted to arable food crops.
A management system is suggested that may significantly improve the continued productivity of many "problem soils" in the tropics.