Amazonian Dark Earths

by Woods, William I.; Teixeira, Wenceslau G.; Lehmann, Johannes; Steiner, Christoph

• ISBN13: 9781402090301
• ISBN10: 1402090307
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-12-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Amazonian soils are almost universally thought of as extremely forbidding. However, it is now clear that complex societies with large, sedentary populations were present for over a millennium before European contact. Associated with these are tracts of anomalously fertile, dark soils termed 'terra preta' or dark earths. These soils are presently an important agricultural resource within Amazonia and provide a model for developing long-term future sustainability of food production in tropical environments. The late Dutch soil scientist Wim Sombroek (1934-2003) was instrumental in bringing the significance of these soils to the attention of the world over four decades ago.Wim saw not only the possibilities of improving the lives of small holders throughout the world with simple carbon based soil technologies, but was an early proponent of the positive synergies also achieved in regards to carbon sequestration and global climatic change abatement. Wim's vision was to form a multidisciplinary group whose members maintained the ideal of open collaboration toward the attainment of shared goals. Always encouraged and often shaped by Wim, this free association of international scholars termed the 'œTerra Preta Nova' Group came together in 2001 and has flourished. This effort has been defined by enormous productivity. Wim who is never far from any of our minds and hearts, would have loved to share the great experience of seeing the fruits of his vision as demonstrated in this volume.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Dedication

Thanks

Foreword - A Few Words about Wim Sombroek

Discovery and Study of Amazonian Dark Earths: The PreSombroek Period (1870-1959)

PreEuropean Continuity and Change in the Central Amazon

Phytoliths and Terra Preta: The Hatahara Site Example

Anthropogenic Dark Earths of the Central Amazon Region: Remarks on their Evolution and Polygenetic Composition

Steps Towards an Ecology of Landscape: The Pedo-Stratigraphy of Anthropogenic Dark Earths

An Assessment of the Cultural Practices Behind the Formation (Or Not) of Anthropogenic Dark Earth in Maraj+  Island Archaeological Sites

Kayapo Savanna Management: Fire, Soils, and Forest Islands in a Threatened Biome

AmerIndian Anthrosols: Amazonian Dark Earth Formation in the Upper Xingu

Indigenous Knowledge about Terra Preta Formation

Sweep and Char and the Creation of Amazonian Dark Earths in Homegardens

Pedology, Fertility, and Biology of Central Amazonian Dark Earths

Historical Ecology and Dark Earths in Whitewater and Blackwater Environments: Comparing the Middle Madeira and Lower Negro Rivers

Amazonian Dark Earths in Africa? J. Fairhead and M. Leach

The Microbial World of Terra Preta

Microbial Response to Charcoal Amendments and Fertilization of a Highly Weathered Tropical Soil

Effects of Charcoal as Slow Release Nutrient Carrier on N-P-K Dynamics and Soil Microbial Population: Pot Experiments with Ferralsol Substrate

Microbial Population and Biodiversity in Amazonian Dark Earth Soils

Spectroscopic Characterization of Humic Acids Isolated from Amazonian Dark Earth Soils (Terra Preta de ++ndio)

Soild-State 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Characterization of Humic Acids Extracted from Amazonian Dark Earths (Terra Preta de ++ndio)

Opening the Black Box: Deciphering Carbon and Nutrient Flows in Terra Preta

Locating Ancient Anthropogenic Soils Under Amazonian Tropical Forests Using MODIS Time-Series Analysis

Terra Preta Nova: The Dream of Wim Sombroek

Charcoal Making in the Brazilian Amazon: Economic Aspects of Production and Carbon Conversion Efficiencies of Kilns

The Effect of Charcoal in Banana (Musa sp.) Planting Holes: An On-Farm Study in Central Amazonia

Characterization of Char for Agricultural Use in the Soils of the Southeastern United States

Black Carbon in Rice-Based Systems: Characteristics and Opportunities

City to Soil: Returning Organics to Agriculture: A Circle of Sustainability

Terra Preta Nova G++ Where to from Here?

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.