• Laterite soil types are reddish subtropical soils.cracked soil image by Ana de Sousa from Fotolia.com
  
  Laterite soils are reddish subsoils found in tropical regions that are formed by the rock layer breaking down and leaching through the soil. They are rich in minerals such as iron oxides and aluminum, and most don't support plant life or vegetation well because they dry hard and compact, and lack organic matter. Laterite deposits can be a few inches or hundreds of feet thick and are normally horizontal. When very wet, laterite soils can be cut into bricks for building.
  
  

Nitisols

• Nitosol soils are found in eastern Africa, along the coast of India, in Central America, and on tropical islands such as Java, the Phillipines and Cuba. More than half of all nitisol soils are found in the tropical highlands of Africa in Ethiopia, Kenya, Zaire and Cameroon. They are more fertile than other laterite soils because of their higher nutrient content, texture and ability to hold water, due to insect activity in the top soil layers. Nitisols are about 30 percent clay, have low phosphorus levels, and are dark red in color. They support tropical rain forest and savannah growth and are resistant to erosion because of their good drainage and stable soil structure that encourage deep rooting. Nitisol soils are planted with cocoa, rubber, pineapple and food crops.
  
  

Acrisols

• Acrisol soils are found in humid, tropical areas like Brazil, southeast Asia, west Africa and the southeastern United States. Woodland and tree savannah growth are found on acrisol laterite soil. This laterite soil type is very acidic and is characterized by extensive leaching, excess aluminum, and high erosion, yet it supports acid-tolerant plants and crops. Acrisol soils have a thin brown top layer and yellowish subsurface layer. They are highly susceptible to erosion and surface crusting with weak structure, making them undesirable for planting crops other than pineapple, cashew or palm.
  
  

Luvisols

• Luvisol soils are found in flat or gently sloped temperate regions such as western and central Russia, central Europe, the Mediterranean and southern Australia. This laterite soil type has a dark brown surface and greyish to reddish brown subsurface. Their surface layers are crumbly and not compacted as other laterite soil types. Luvisol laterite soils are good for agricultural uses because of their ability to absorb water, their texture and their ability to filter clay particles throughout, dispersing the clay instead of letting it compact. Small grains, sugar beets, fodder, wheat and tree crops are grown in luvisol laterite soils.