Amazonian Dark Earths: Origin Properties Management [Hardcover]

Dark Earths are a testament to vanished civilizations of the Amazon Basin, but may also answer how large societies could sustain intensive agriculture in an environment of infertile soils. This book examines their origin, properties, and management. Questions remain: were they intentionally produced or a by-product of habitation. Additional new and multidisciplinary perspectives by leading experts may pave the way for the next revolution in soil management in the humid tropics.

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.Discovering Amazonian Dark Earths.- Development of Anthrosol Research.- Historical Perspectives on Amazonian Dark Earths.- Historical and Socio-cultural Origins of Amazonian Dark Earth.- Distribution of Amazonian Dark Earths in the Brazilian Amazon.- Classification of Amazonian Dark Earths and Other Ancient Anthropic Soils.- Properties of Amazonian Dark Earths.- Soil Fertility and Production Potential.- Amazonian Dark Earths as Carbon Stores and Sinks.- Soil Organic Matter Stability in Amazonian Dark Earths.- Agrobiodiversity in Amaz?nia and Its Relationship with Dark Earths.- Ethl#Ä