A new hypothesis for the origin of Amazonian Dark Earths.

Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are unusually fertile soils characterised by elevated concentrations of microscopic charcoal particles, which confer their distinctive colouration. Frequent occurrences of pre-Columbian artefacts at ADE sites led to their ubiquitous classification as Anthrosols (soils of anthropic origin). However, it remains unclear how indigenous peoples created areas of high fertility in one of the most nutrient-impoverished environments on Earth. Here, we report new data from a well-studied ADE site in the Brazilian Amazon, which compel us to reconsider its anthropic origin. The amounts of phosphorus and calcium-two of the least abundant macronutrients in the region-are orders of magnitude higher in ADE profiles than in the surrounding soil. The elevated levels of phosphorus and calcium, which are often interpreted as evidence of human activity at other sites, correlate spatially with trace elements that indicate exogenous mineral sources rather than in situ deposition. Stable isotope ratios of neodymium, strontium, and radiocarbon activity of microcharcoal particles also indicate exogenous inputs from alluvial deposition of carbon and mineral elements to ADE profiles,  beginning several thousands of years before the earliest evidence of soil management for plant cultivation in the region. Our data suggest that indigenous peoples harnessed natural processes of landscape formation, which led to the unique properties of ADEs, but were not responsible for their genesis. If corroborated elsewhere, this hypothesis would transform our understanding of human influence in Amazonia, opening new frontiers for the sustainable use of tropical landscapes going forward.

Variability and spatial correlation of aggregates and organic carbon in indian dark earth in Apuí region, AM / Variabilidade e correlação espacial de agregados e carbono orgânico em terra preta de índio na região do Apuí, AM

Having in mind the importance of knowing the variability and spatial correlation of soil properties in Indian Dark Earth (IDE), we evaluated in this study the variability and the spatial correlation of aggregates and carbon in an Ultisol under coffee cultivation in southern Amazonas. It was established a 48 x 88 m sampling grid spaced 06 x 08 m, totalling 88 sampling points. Then soil samples were collected at: 0.0-.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.20 m layers. The spatial variability of the Mean Weighted Diameter (MWD) attributes, aggregates > 2 mm, < 2 mm, bulk density (BD) and organic carbon (OC) was analyzed by adjusting the simple semivariograms, while spatial correlations of the OC with aggregates and BD were analyzed by cross-semivariogram. We could conclude that there was spatial dependence in the variables, wherein the largest ones were observed at 0.0-0.05 m, except for Mean Weighted Diameter (MWD) and aggregates greater than 2.00 mm with larger range of values in depth from 0.05-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m. The mean weight diameter and aggregate class attributes greater than 2.00 mm had negative spatial correlation with organic carbon at 0.0-0.05 m, while the smaller aggregates than 2.00 mm classes and bulk density correlated positively with organic carbon at 0.0-0.05 m and 0.10-0.20 m.

Considerando a importância do conhecimento da variabilidade e correlação espacial dos atributos do solo em Terra Preta de Índio (TPIs), avaliou-se neste trabalho a variabilidade e a correlação espacial de agregados e carbono em um Argissolo Amarelo eutrófico sob cultivo de café na região sul do Amazonas. Foi estabelecido um grid amostral com dimensões de 48 x 88 m e espaçamentos de 06 x 08 m, totalizando 88 pontos amostrais. Em seguida, foram coletadas amostras de solos nas profundidades: 0,0-0,05, 0,05-0,10, e 0,10-0,20 m. A variabilidade espacial dos atributos diâmetro médio ponderado (DMP), agregados > 2 mm, < 2 mm, densidade do solo (Ds) e carbono orgânico (CO) foi analisada ajustando os semivariogramas simples, enquanto as correlações espaciais do CO com agregados e Ds foram analisadas por semivariogramas cruzados. Concluiu-se que as variáveis apresentaram dependência espacial, e os maiores alcances são constatados na profundidade 0,0-0,05 m, exceto para DMP e agregados maiores que 2,00 mm com maiores valores de alcance na profundidade 0,05-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m. Os atributos diâmetro médio ponderado e classes de agregados maior que 2,00 mm apresentam correlação espacial negativa com carbono orgânico na profundidade 0,0-0,05 m, enquanto a classes de agregados menor que 2,00 mm e densidade do solo apresentam correlação positiva com carbono orgânico nas profundidades 0,0-0,05 m e 0,10-0,20 m.

Rooting and acclimatization of micropropagated marubakaido apple rootstock using Adesmia latifolia rhizobia.

In vitro rooting and the acclimatization of micropropagated rootstocks of apple trees is essential for plant development in the field. The aim of this work was to assess the use of rhizobia of Adesmia latifolia to promote rooting and acclimatization in micropropagated Marubakaido apple rootstock. An experiment involving in vitro rooting and acclimatization was performed with four strains of rhizobium and two controls, one with and the other without the addition of synthetic indoleacetic acid. The inoculated treatments involved the use of sterile inoculum and inoculum containing live rhizobia. The most significant effects on the rooting rate, primary-root length, number of roots, root length, fresh-shoot biomass, and fresh-root biomass were obtained by inoculation with strain EEL16010B and with synthetic indole acetic acid. However, there was no difference in the growth of apple explants in the acclimatization experiments. Strain EEL16010B can be used to induce in vitro rooting of the Marubakaido rootstock and can replace the use of synthetic indoleacetic acid in the rooting of this cultivar.