The soil in the tundra is not very fertile.
Tundra is derived from the Finnish word "tunturi," which means treeless plain. This is due to the fact that there are hardly any trees in the tundra biome. The tundra is divided into two major types, the Arctic tundra and the Alpine tundra. Both have similar characteristics and factors contributing to the scarcity of trees in the tundra biome.
Cold
The tundra biome is the coldest biome in the world. The Arctic tundra is situated in the northern hemisphere where the average winter temperature can drop to -30 degrees Fahrenheit. The average summer temperature in this region is between 35 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit. The alpine tundra is located at high elevations, like the tops of mountains all over the world. Temperatures in these regions usually drop to below freezing at night. This extreme cold is one of the reasons why trees do not grow in the tundra. Low temperatures slow down photosynthesis, leading to poor plant growth. The Arctic tundra does not support the growth of any kind of trees. Some dwarf trees and small-leafed shrubs can be found in the alpine tundra.
Short Growing Season
The season for plant growth and reproduction is short in the tundra. The growing season in the Arctic tundra is between 50 to 60 days. The growing season in the alpine tundra is about 180 days. This is hardly enough to allow for proper tree growth. In contrast, the rainforest biome has an abundant array of tree species. Trees in the rainforests grow all year round. The plants in the tundra have adapted to the harsh conditions by developing simple vegetative structures and shallow root systems. Such plants include liverworts, lichen, mosses, sedges and grasses.
Low Nutrients and Poor Drainage
The subsoil in the Arctic tundra is composed of permafrost. This is a layer of permanently frozen soil made up of fine particles of soil and gravel. The main nutrients in the soil are phosphorus and nitrogen. Additional nutrients may be derived from dead organic material. This is not enough to support proper tree growth. The presence of the permafrost means that any melting snow in the short summer season cannot drain to the bottom. Instead, it will form little ponds and bogs.
Rainfall
The tundra is a cold desert. A desert is any location with very low precipitation. The Sahara is a hot desert. Any precipitation that falls in the Arctic tundra is in the form of snow. The level of rainfall varies in the different regions of the tundra. However, the common theme is the low level of rainfall, a factor which affects tree growth in the tundra biome.
Tags: Arctic tundra, tundra biome, alpine tundra, tree growth, degrees Fahrenheit, derived from