Improving Farming Practices for Sustainable Soil Use in the Humid Tropics and Rainforest Ecosystem Health

This paper explores sustainable soil management in humid tropics, focusing on Brazil’s Amazon region, where slash-and-burn practices threaten forest and soil health. Due to low iron and carbon levels, mechanical tillage should be avoided as it leads to soil degradation. Instead, continuous mulching combined with gypsum is recommended to improve root growth and soil structure. The use of green manures and slow-release nutrients is preferred over soluble fertilizers, promoting local resource use to enhance nutrient efficiency and prevent long-term soil damage.