Chemical properties and classification of soils cultivated with banana in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. Soils from 11 watersheds planted with banana in the alluvial valleys of the Caribbean zone of Costa Rica were chemically characterized and classified. Two major soil areas were identified based on their morphological and chemical properties and taxonomic criteria. One of the areas consisted mainly of Inceptisols formed from fluvio-volcanic materials with andic properties (Andic Eutrudepts, Aquandic Endoaquepts), dystric Inceptisols (Fluventic Dystrudepts) and Andisols (Typic Hapludands), most with good drainage, medium textures (sandy loam, loam, silty loam), sum of bases 10 to 19 cmol.l<span name="style_sup">-1</span>, CEC 13 to 28 cmol.l<span name="style_sup">-1</span> and clays with permanent charge. The adjacent zone consisted mainly of Inceptisols formed from alluvial sedimentary materials deposited by frequent river floods (Fluventic Endoaquepts, Dystric Fluventic Eutrudepts, Fluvaquentic Eutrudepts, Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts), with a sum of bases 18 to 46 cmol.l<span name="style_sup">-1</span>, CEC 19 to 46 cmol.l<span name="style_sup">-1</span>, without Andic properties, textures fine to medium (clay loam, silty clay loam, clay, silty clay) and in some case with poor drainage (Endoaquepts, Epiaquepts, Fluvaquentic). Geographically, the 2 zones were separated by the watersheds of Vueltas-Silencio-Parismina Rivers; the northwest area is highly influenced by volcanic ash deposits and has its medium fertility characteristics, while the southeast area is not influenced by volcanic ejecta and has high fertility characteristics., without Andic properties, textures fine to medium (clay loam, silty clay loam, clay, silty clay) and in some case with poor drainage (Endoaquepts, Epiaquepts, Fluvaquentic). Geographically, the 2 zones were separated by the watersheds of Vueltas-Silencio-Parismina Rivers; the northwest area is highly influenced by volcanic ash deposits and has its medium fertility characteristics, while the southeast area is not influenced by volcanic ejecta and has high fertility characteristics.

Soil taxonomy; Inceptisols; Andisols; soil chemistry; soil fertility; banana; Costa Rica