Amazonian Dark Earths

by Lehmann, Johannes; Kern, Dirse C.; Glaser, Bruno; Woods, William I.

• ISBN13: 9781402018398
• ISBN10: 1402018398
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

List of Authors	xi
Preface	xv
Foreword	xix
DISCOVERING AMAZONIAN DARK EARTHS
Chapter 1: Development of Anthrosol Research	3	(12)
W.I. Woods
Chapter 2: Historical Perspectives on Amazonian Dark Earths	15	(14)
T.P. Myers, W.M. Denevan, A. Winklerprins, A. Porro
Chapter 3: Historical and Socio-cultural Origins of Amazonian Dark Earths	29	(22)
E.G. Neves, J.B. Petersen, R.N. Bartone, C.A. da Silva
Chapter 4: Distribution of Amazonian Dark Earths in the Brazilian Amazon	51	(26)
D.C. Kern, G. D'Aquino, T.E. Rodrigues, F.J.L. Frazao, W. Sombroek, T.P. Myers, E.G. Neves
Chapter 5: Classification of Amazonian Dark Earths and other Ancient Anthropic Soils	77	(28)
N. Kampf, W.I. Woods, W. Sombroek, D.C. Kern, T.J.F. Cunha
PROPERTIES OF AMAZONIAN DARK EARTHS
Chapter 6: Soil Fertility and Production Potential	105	(20)
J. Lehmann, D.C. Kern, L.A. German, J. McCann, G.C. Martins, A. Moreira
Chapter 7: Amazonian Dark Earths as Carbon Stores and Sinks	125	(16)
W. Sombroek, M.L. Ruivo, P.M. Fearnside, B. Glaser, J. Lehmann
Chapter 8: Soil Organic Matter Stability in Amazonian Dark Earths	141	(18)
B. Glaser, G. Guggenberger, W. Zech, M.L. Ruivo
Chapter 9: Agrobiodiversity in Amazonia and its Relationship with Dark Earths	159	(20)
C.R. Clement, J.M. McCann, N.J.H. Smith
Chapter 10: Ethnoscientific Understandings of Amazonian Dark Earths	179	(26)
L. German
METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF AMAZONIAN DARK EARTHS
Chapter 11: Archaeobotanical Methods for the Study of Amazonian Dark Earths	205	(22)
S. Mora
Chapter 12: Organic Chemistry Studies on Amazonian Dark Earths	227	(16)
B. Glaser, G. Guggenberger, W. Zech
Chapter 13: The Use of Micromorphology for the Study of the Formation and Properties of Amazonian Dark Earths	243	(12)
M.L.P. Ruivo, M.A. Arroyo-Kalin, C.E.R. Schaefer, H.T. Costi, S.H.S. Arcanjo, H.N. Lima, M.M. Pulleman, D. Creutzberg
Chapter 14: Determining Nutrient Bioavailability of Amazonian Dark Earth Soils - Methodological Challenges	255	(16)
N.P.S. Falcao, N. Comerford, J. Lehmann
Chapter 15: Soil Physical Characterization	271	(16)
W.G. Teixeira, G.C. Martins
Chapter 16: Amazonian Dark Earths: Biological Measurements	287	(46)
J. Thies, K. Suzuki
Chapter 17: Pedogeochemical and Mineralogical Analyses of Amazonian Dark Earths	333	(22)
M.L. da Costa, D.C. Kern, N. Kampf
AMAZONIAN DARK EARTH MANAGEMENT
Chapter 18: Indigenous Soil Management and the Creation of Amazonian Dark Earths: Implications of Kayapo Practices	355	(18)
S.B. Hecht
Chapter 19: Cultural Behaviors of Indigenous Populations and the Formation of the Archaeological Record in Amazonian Dark Earth: the Asurini Do Xfngu Case Study	373	(14)
F.A. Silva
Chapter 20: Contemporary Use and Management of Amazonian Dark Earths	387	(20)
M. Hiraoka, S. Yamamoto, E. Matsumoto, S. Nakamura, I.C. Falesi, A.R.C. Baena
Chapter 21: The Effect of Management on the Fertility of Amazonian Dark Earth Soils	407	(26)
B. Madan, V.de M. Benites, T.J.F. Cunha
Chapter 22: Weed Population Dynamics and Management on Amazonian Dark Earth	433	(22)
J. Major, A. DiTommaso, L.A. German, J.M. McCann
Chapter 23: Historical Ecology and Future Explorations	455	(46)
C. Erickson
ANNEX
Picture Annex	501	(2)
Index	503