Ebook: Amazonian Dark Earths: Origin Properties Management

Amazonian Dark Earths are not only a testament to the vanished civilizations of the Amazon Basin, but may provide the answer to how the large, sophisticated societies were able to sustain intensive agriculture in an environment with mostly infertile soils. Locally known as Terra Preta de Indio or Indian black earth, these anomalous soils are even today fertile and highly productive. Though clearly associated with pre-European settlements questions remain whether the Dark Earths were intentionally produced or merely a by-product of habitation activities. This publication provides a comprehensive review of our current understanding of these fascinating soils: their origin, properties, and management through time. These new and multidisciplinary perspectives by leading experts on Amazonian Dark Earths may pave the way for the next revolution of soil management in the humid tropics.

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Amazonian Dark Earths are not only a testament to the vanished civilizations of the Amazon Basin, but may provide the answer to how the large, sophisticated societies were able to sustain intensive agriculture in an environment with mostly infertile soils. Locally known as Terra Preta de Indio or Indian black earth, these anomalous soils are even today fertile and highly productive. Though clearly associated with pre-European settlements questions remain whether the Dark Earths were intentionally produced or merely a by-product of habitation activities. This publication provides a comprehensive review of our current understanding of these fascinating soils: their origin, properties, and management through time. These new and multidisciplinary perspectives by leading experts on Amazonian Dark Earths may pave the way for the next revolution of soil management in the humid tropics.

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Amazonian Dark Earths are not only a testament to the vanished civilizations of the Amazon Basin, but may provide the answer to how the large, sophisticated societies were able to sustain intensive agriculture in an environment with mostly infertile soils. Locally known as Terra Preta de Indio or Indian black earth, these anomalous soils are even today fertile and highly productive. Though clearly associated with pre-European settlements questions remain whether the Dark Earths were intentionally produced or merely a by-product of habitation activities. This publication provides a comprehensive review of our current understanding of these fascinating soils: their origin, properties, and management through time. These new and multidisciplinary perspectives by leading experts on Amazonian Dark Earths may pave the way for the next revolution of soil management in the humid tropics.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Development of Anthrosol Research....Pages 3-14
Historical Perspectives on Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 15-28
Historical and Socio-cultural Origins of Amazonian Dark Earth....Pages 29-50
Distribution of Amazonian Dark Earths in the Brazilian Amazon....Pages 51-75
Classification of Amazonian Dark Earths and Other Ancient Anthropic Soils....Pages 77-102
Front Matter....Pages 103-103
Soil Fertility and Production Potential....Pages 105-124
Amazonian Dark Earths as Carbon Stores and Sinks....Pages 125-139
Soil Organic Matter Stability in Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 141-158
Agrobiodiversity in Amazonia and Its Relationship with Dark Earths....Pages 159-178
Ethnoscientific Understandings of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 179-201
Front Matter....Pages 203-203
Archaeobotanical Methods for the Study of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 205-225
Organic Chemistry Studies on Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 227-241
The Use of Micromorphology for the Study of the Formation and Properties of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 243-254
Determining Nutrient Bioavailability of Amazonian Dark Earth Solis — Methodological Challenges....Pages 255-270
Soil Physical Characterization....Pages 271-286
Amazonian Dark Earths Biological Measurements....Pages 287-332
Pedogeochemical and Mineralogical Analyses of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 333-351
Front Matter....Pages 353-353
Indigenous Soil Management and the Creation of Amazonian Dark Earths: Implications of Kayapo Practice....Pages 355-372
Cultural Behaviors of Indigenous Populations and the Formation of the Archaeological Record in Amazonian Dark Earths: The Asurini do Xingu Case Study....Pages 373-385
Contemporary Use and Management of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 387-406
Front Matter....Pages 353-353
The Effect of Management of the Fertility of Amazonian Dark Earth Soils....Pages 407-432
Weed Population Dynamics and Management on Amazonian Dark Earth....Pages 433-454
Historical Ecology and Future Explorations....Pages 455-500
Back Matter....Pages 501-505

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Amazonian Dark Earths are not only a testament to the vanished civilizations of the Amazon Basin, but may provide the answer to how the large, sophisticated societies were able to sustain intensive agriculture in an environment with mostly infertile soils. Locally known as Terra Preta de Indio or Indian black earth, these anomalous soils are even today fertile and highly productive. Though clearly associated with pre-European settlements questions remain whether the Dark Earths were intentionally produced or merely a by-product of habitation activities. This publication provides a comprehensive review of our current understanding of these fascinating soils: their origin, properties, and management through time. These new and multidisciplinary perspectives by leading experts on Amazonian Dark Earths may pave the way for the next revolution of soil management in the humid tropics.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Development of Anthrosol Research....Pages 3-14
Historical Perspectives on Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 15-28
Historical and Socio-cultural Origins of Amazonian Dark Earth....Pages 29-50
Distribution of Amazonian Dark Earths in the Brazilian Amazon....Pages 51-75
Classification of Amazonian Dark Earths and Other Ancient Anthropic Soils....Pages 77-102
Front Matter....Pages 103-103
Soil Fertility and Production Potential....Pages 105-124
Amazonian Dark Earths as Carbon Stores and Sinks....Pages 125-139
Soil Organic Matter Stability in Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 141-158
Agrobiodiversity in Amazonia and Its Relationship with Dark Earths....Pages 159-178
Ethnoscientific Understandings of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 179-201
Front Matter....Pages 203-203
Archaeobotanical Methods for the Study of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 205-225
Organic Chemistry Studies on Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 227-241
The Use of Micromorphology for the Study of the Formation and Properties of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 243-254
Determining Nutrient Bioavailability of Amazonian Dark Earth Solis — Methodological Challenges....Pages 255-270
Soil Physical Characterization....Pages 271-286
Amazonian Dark Earths Biological Measurements....Pages 287-332
Pedogeochemical and Mineralogical Analyses of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 333-351
Front Matter....Pages 353-353
Indigenous Soil Management and the Creation of Amazonian Dark Earths: Implications of Kayapo Practice....Pages 355-372
Cultural Behaviors of Indigenous Populations and the Formation of the Archaeological Record in Amazonian Dark Earths: The Asurini do Xingu Case Study....Pages 373-385
Contemporary Use and Management of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 387-406
Front Matter....Pages 353-353
The Effect of Management of the Fertility of Amazonian Dark Earth Soils....Pages 407-432
Weed Population Dynamics and Management on Amazonian Dark Earth....Pages 433-454
Historical Ecology and Future Explorations....Pages 455-500
Back Matter....Pages 501-505
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