State of the scientific knowledge on properties and genesis of Anthropogenic Dark Earths in Central Amazonia (terra preta de Índio)

• Published in: Geochimica et cosmochimica acta Vol. 82; pp. 39 - 51
• Main Authors: Glaser, Bruno, Birk, Jago Jonathan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2012
• Subjects: Amazonia; bacteria; biochar; biodiversity; biomass; bones; carbon dioxide; deforestation; ecosystem services; Ferralsols; fish; fungi; humid tropics; humification; ingredients; soil nutrients; soil organic matter; sustainable agriculture; terra preta; terrestrial ecosystems; tropical rain forests; urine; wastes; Amazonia

Tropical rainforests are highly important for the global climate regulation and for global biodiversity. However, these ecosystems are characterized by nutrient-poor and highly weathered soils and by high turnover rates of organic matter. Thus, they are fragile ecosystems prone to loss of ecosystem...