Organic Soils: Formation, Classification and Environmental Changes Records in the Highlands of Southeastern Brazil

Soils constitute the largest terrestrial carbon (C) pool, representing more than the sum of carbon contained in the atmosphere and vegetation. In this context, organic soils stand out, storing 21% of the global soil organic C stock in only 3% of the Earth’s land surface. Moreover, these soils are a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSustainability Vol. 15; no. 4; p. 3416
Main Authors Silva Neto, Eduardo Carvalho, Coelho-Junior, Marcondes Geraldo, Horák-Terra, Ingrid, Gonçalves, Thamyres Sabrina, Anjos, Lúcia Helena Cunha, Pereira, Marcos Gervasio
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2023
Subjects
Analysis
Biodiversity
Carbon
Carbon content
Classification
Climate change
Climate system
Climatic changes
Cold
Decomposition
Drainage
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Environmental aspects
Environmental changes
Highlands
Hydrologic cycle
Hydrology
Identification and classification
Influence
Lithic
Mountains
Organic soils
Peatlands
Soil classification
Soil sciences
Soils
Sustainability
Taxonomy
Vegetation
Wetlands
Brazil
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Summary:Soils constitute the largest terrestrial carbon (C) pool, representing more than the sum of carbon contained in the atmosphere and vegetation. In this context, organic soils stand out, storing 21% of the global soil organic C stock in only 3% of the Earth’s land surface. Moreover, these soils are a key component in our climate system, biodiversity, water cycle and records of environmental changes. Organic soils require specific attention as they provide a large variety of ecosystem services, but also because of their vulnerability to climate change. In this paper, we present a review of terms and concepts related to organic soils, their formation, pedoenvironments, and taxonomic classification. We also present a synthesis of studies in the highlands of southeastern Brazil using these soils as records of environmental change.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su15043416