Ecological Profile
The ecological profile is more comprehensive which gives equal coverage to the physical, biological, socio-economic, cultural and built environments.
Geophysical Environment
Topography
The municipality of Aleosan has marked landscapes of flat terrain, rolling lands, scattered small hills and plateaus, which gradually rise to become small mountains. Intensive rice and corn production, vegetables and other crops are influenced by the presence of 7,379.50 hectares of flat, level and nearly level to very gently sloping lands. An estimated area of around 5,817 hectares is suited for pasture, gracing and forest lands. An approximate area of around three hundred ninety (390) hectares found in Pentil, New Leon and New Panay, is considered flood-prone and needs careful reforestation activities. Aleosan is also endowed with small rivers and creeks that criss-cross the area.
During heavy rains, overflow from these bodies of water serve as the natural drainage flow of the municipality’s agricultural and domestic water wastes. Construction of irrigation dams and canals to supply water for agricultural uses could be effected in places where rivers and creeks are found and to supply with the same sources areas where natural water sources are not found available due to high elevation or slopes. Development tends to concentrate in areas with generally flat lands and presently the Poblacion or San Mateo is the place where there is a relatively high density of urban development as compared to other barangays. Approximate area devoted to urban use is 2,918.3441 hectares.
Climate
Aleosan area belongs to the fourth type of climate or the intermediate “E” with no distinct dry season. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year with heavier rains from May to September. This type of climate conditions is suitable for the production of crops like rice, corn, mangoes, jackfruit, vegetables and root crops, which are considered seasonal crops and permanent crops like coconut, rubber, coffee, cacao and orchard crops.
The prevailing wind directions come from the south, the so-called southeast monsoon during summer and winds of varying degrees during wet/rainy season. Typhoon is very seldom felt in the area as Aleosan is located outside of the typhoon belt and is protected by small mountain ranges.
Soil Type
There are four types of soil in the area. The Kudarangan Series is a clay type of soil that comprising around 19,250 or 78.73% of the total area of Aleosan. Kabacan Series is of the alluvial type comprising around 1,520 hectares or 6.22% of the town’s total land area. This type is of clay loam surface. The other kind of soil is the Faraon Series, which is of limestone type, and is of clay to clay loam type making up 2,240 hectares or 9.16 % of the town’s total area. And the other type of soil is the Aroman Series, a clay loam type of soil which is 1,440 or 5.89% of the town’s total area. In areas where highly alluvial class of soil is found, cover crops like camote, peanuts, root crops and vegetables are suitable.
Slopes
A total of 11,770 hectares with slopes from 0-8% and 7,920 hectares of land with slopes 8-18 % are areas potential for agricultural production. In some parts within and beyond the Poblacion, the slope ranges from moderately to gently rolling slopes. Slope 18% and 30% above which has a total of 3,630 are considered potential for pasture and grazing lands. An approximate area of 1,130 hectares is considered as forestlands but only 888.42 hectares could be classified with potential forest cover.
Geology
Generally, the geological pattern of the strata of land existing in the area is not well defined. In some areas, the subsoil is composed of the de-integration of limestone mixed with clay. However, there are portions of Aleosan that are potentially rich with raw materials for quarrying and construction of roads. Presently, these deposits remain untapped. Also, there was no geologic survey conducted to determine the presence of materials, which are of high commercial value.
Soil Capability/Suitability
Almost 21,490 hectares or 87.59% of the total land area has good land capability. Most of the soil types of the plains and valleys are suited for agricultural production. Rice and corn and other similar crops that require abundant and continuous supply of moisture are also grown in some parts of the rolling areas where water sources are available. The remaining 2,960 hectares or 12.11% of the total area have soils best adapted to forestry, tree farming and pasture or grazing lands.