In the Caribbean, valleys of the Andes, Oriental Plains and Andean region of Columbia, there is a great diversity of soils, soil quality and ways and hazards of soil degradation caused by large variations in parent materials, climatic conditions, biodiversity and the physiographic position of the land. Soil and environmental characteristics, soil use and soil degradation in Columbia are specified. There are also opportunities for increased agricultural production. The high degree of soil diversity provides ecological niches for the successful cultivation of modern crop varieties. Alternative cropping practices are suggested. To promote sustainable effects in Colombian soils, a reduction of and change in soil cultivation practices are proposed. Sugarcane fields planted in Alfisols, Vertisols or Mollisols support production levels of >14 t ha−1 month−1 with high sugar production. In Andean or Caribbean soils, tropical fruit production can be maintained at >40 t ha−1 year−1. Oil palm fruit can reach production levels of 33–35 t ha−1. Combining practices results in an improvement in physical, chemical and biological soil properties, maintaining high production levels in soils of low, medium or high fertility. It is concluded that the productivity of Colombian tropical soils is a function of soil quality and management.