Аннотация:Three soils were investigated at a coffee growing farm El Nueve, Sierra Sur de Oaxaca, Mexico: Skeletic Phaeozem (Typic Hapludoll), Umbric Rhodic Ferralsol (Inceptic Hapludox), and Epileptic Calcaric Phaeozem (Inceptic Haprendoll). The formation of these soils was regulated by the origin of parent material (Epileptic Calcaric Phaeozem formed on limestones), and by the age of the exposed surface (Skeletic Phaeozem was formed on the slope of a recently formed V-shaped valley, and Umbric Rhodic Ferralsol – on an ancient weathering crust, derived from the same gneiss). The three soils differed in their acidity, organic matter composition, clay mineralogical composition, and exchangeable complex characteristics. Umbric Rhodic Ferralsol differed from the two other soils by their lower cation exchange capacity and base saturation, mainly kaolinitic clay mineralogical composition, heavier texture, and higher acidity. Skeletic Phaeozem had finer texture, higher rock fragments content, and high percentage of light organic matter. Epileptic Calcaric Phaeozem had the highest base saturation, a combination of clayey texture with abundant rock fragments, and humic acids as the main component of soil humic substances. The diversity of soil properties resulted in the diversity of soil use and soil ecological functions. The diversity of soils of tropical mountainous areas is high due to the diversity of parent materials and the age of exposed surfaces.