Various adverse soils, such as peat, acid sulfate, sandy podzolic, and saline
soils, are present in the tropical lowlands of southeast Asia. These soil properties
vary widely among different soil types. When field crops are cultivated in
or introduced into these adverse soils, they will suffer from serious nutritional
problems. Nevertheless, some native plants grow well under these adverse
soil conditions, and it is important to discern how these plants manage to
develop mechanisms for adaptation or tolerance.