Amazonian dark earths : explorations in space and time

The regenerative qualities identified in prehistoric, anthropogenic Amazonian dark earths suggest that notoriously infertile tropical soils can be greatly improved. Soil enhancement practices by ancient Amerindians allowed them to cultivate the land intensively, without needing to continually clear new fields from forest. As increasing populations place ever greater pressure on tropical forests, this legacy of rich, 'living' soils warrants further study in the search for high-yield, land-intensive, yet sustainable forms of management. The international group of contributors to this volume provides a variety of stances centering on aspects of the origin, distribution, variability, persistence, and use of Amazonian dark earths. Front Matter....Pages I-XIV Towards an Understanding of Amazonian Dark Earths....Pages 1-8 History, Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives of Geoecological Research Concerning the Origin of Amazonian Anthropogenic Dark Earths ( Terra Preta )....Pages 9-17 Evolution of the Scientific Knowledge Regarding Archaeological Black Earths of Amazonia....Pages 19-28 A Geographical Method for Anthrosol Characterization in Amazonia: Contributions to Method and Human Ecological Theory....Pages 29-51 Paleoriverine Features of the Amazon Lowlands: Human Use of the ‘Arena Negra’ Soils of Lake Charo, Northeastern Peru....Pages 53-65 Dark Earth in the Upper Amazon....Pages 67-94 Organic Matter in Archaeological Black Earths and Yellow Latosol in the Caxivanã, Amazonia, Brazil....Pages 95-111 Sequential P Fractionation of Relict Anthropogenic Dark Earths of Amazonia....Pages 113-123 The Timing of Terra Preta Formation in the Central Amazon: Archaeological Data from Three Sites....Pages 125-134 Semi-Intensive Pre-European Cultivation and the Origins of Anthropogenic Dark Earths in Amazonia....Pages 135-143 Identifying the Pre-Columbian Anthropogenic Input on Present Soil Properties of Amazonian Dark Earths ( Terra Preta )....Pages 145-158 Use of Space and Formation of Terra Preta : The Asurini do Xingu Case Study....Pages 159-167 Research on Anthropogenic Dark Earth Soils. Could It Be a Solution for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Amazon?....Pages 169-181 Slash and Char: An Alternative to Slash and Burn Practiced in the Amazon Basin....Pages 183-193 Microbial Response to Charcoal Amendments of Highly Weathered Soils and Amazonian Dark Earths in Central Amazonia — Preliminary Results....Pages 195-212 Back Matter....Pages 213-216