Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Let's evaluate the given statements about tropical rainforest soils: Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. This statement is incorrect. Despite the lush vegetation, the soils in tropical rainforests (such as Oxisols and Ultisols) are typically poor in nutrients. The high rainfall leads to rapid leaching of soluble nutrients from the soil. Most of the nutrients in a rainforest ecosystem are locked up in the living biomass (plants and animals) and the layer of decomposing organic matter on the forest floor, rather than being stored in the soil itself. Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. This statement is correct. The warm, humid conditions prevalent in tropical rainforests provide an ideal environment for decomposers like bacteria, fungi, and insects to rapidly break down dead organic matter (leaves, branches, dead animals). This quick decomposition means that nutrients are rapidly recycled back into the living vegetation, preventing their accumulation in the soil. Therefore, Statement-I is incorrect, and Statement-II is correct.