Intentional creation of carbon-rich dark earth soils in the Amazon.

Fertile soil known as Amazonian dark earth is central to the debate over the size and ecological impact of ancient human populations in the Amazon. Dark earth is typically associated with human occupation, but it is uncertain whether it was created intentionally. Dark earth may also be a substantial carbon sink, but its spatial extent and carbon inventory are unknown. We demonstrate spatial and compositional similarities between ancient and modern dark earth and document modern Indigenous practices that enrich soil, which we use to propose a model for the formation of ancient dark earth. This comparison suggests that ancient Amazonians managed soil to improve fertility and increase crop productivity. These practices also sequestered and stored carbon in the soil for centuries, and we show that some ancient sites contain as much carbon as the above-ground rainforest biomass. Our results demonstrate the intentional creation of dark earth and highlight the value of Indigenous knowledge for sustainable rainforest management.

Soil type determines the magnitude of soil fertility changes by forest-to-pasture conversion in Western Amazonia.

The deforestation of tropical forests raises environmental concerns worldwide. Removing the pristine forest impacts the soil, consequently affecting the environmental services it provides. Within this context, the main goal of this study was to determine how the conversion of the tropical rainforest to pasture affects soil fertility across an extended range of soil heterogeneity, including different soil types. We sampled 13 sites, among forests, recent pastures (≤7-year-old), and old pastures (≥10-year-old), on Acrisols, Ferralsols, Plinthosols, and Luvisols, across a ± 800 km geographical range in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Soils were classified taxonomically, and their superficial layer's chemical and physical properties (0-10 cm) were analyzed. Furthermore, we tested the sensibility of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria to detect changes in these soil properties based on their ecological habitat. An inter-regional gradient of soil fertility was observed, and the sampling sites were clustered mostly by soil type and associated land use than by spatial distance. The Sum of bases, Ca + Mg, base saturation, Al saturation, and pH were consistently affected by land use, increasing after conversion to pasture, at different degrees and with a more pronounced effect on oxidic soils. The Sum of bases was the only property that increased significantly among the study sites (Radj = 0.860, p < 0.001), being able to detect the effect of anthropic land use on a larger coverage of soil types. Finally, the Actinobacteria:Proteobacteria ratio was also sensitive to the impact of forest-to-pasture conversion, with a higher ratio observed in pasture systems, and it was positively correlated with soil pH (rho = 0.469, p < 0.001). Our results consistently show that the forest-to-pasture conversion leads to strong alterations in the soil environment, with varying intensities depending on soil type.

A "Dirty" Footprint: Macroinvertebrate diversity in Amazonian Anthropic Soils.

Amazonian rainforests, once thought to be pristine wilderness, are increasingly known to have been widely inhabited, modified, and managed prior to European arrival, by human populations with diverse cultural backgrounds. Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are fertile soils found throughout the Amazon Basin, created by pre-Columbian societies with sedentary habits. Much is known about the chemistry of these soils, yet their zoology has been neglected. Hence, we characterized soil fertility, macroinvertebrate communities, and their activity at nine archeological sites in three Amazonian regions in ADEs and adjacent reference soils under native forest (young and old) and agricultural systems. We found 673 morphospecies and, despite similar richness in ADEs (385 spp.) and reference soils (399 spp.), we identified a tenacious pre-Columbian footprint, with 49% of morphospecies found exclusively in ADEs. Termite and total macroinvertebrate abundance were higher in reference soils, while soil fertility and macroinvertebrate activity were higher in the ADEs, and associated with larger earthworm quantities and biomass. We show that ADE habitats have a unique pool of species, but that modern land use of ADEs decreases their populations, diversity, and contributions to soil functioning. These findings support the idea that humans created and sustained high-fertility ecosystems that persist today, altering biodiversity patterns in Amazonia.

Systematic review of soil ecosystem services in tropical regions.

Soil ecosystem service (SES) approaches evidence the importance of soil for human well-being, contribute to improving dialogue between science and decision-making and encourage the translation of scientific results into public policies. Herein, through systematic review, we assess the state of the art of SES approaches in tropical regions. Through this review, 41 publications were identified; while most of these studies considered SES, a lack of a consistent framework to define SES was apparent. Most studies measured soil natural capital and processes, while only three studies undertook monetary valuation. Although the number of publications increased (from 1 to 41), between 2001 and 2019, the total number of publications for tropical regions is still small. Countries with the largest number of publications were Brazil (n = 8), Colombia (n = 6) and Mexico (n = 4). This observation emphasizes an important knowledge gap pertaining to SES approaches and their link to tropical regions. With global momentum behind SES approaches, there is an opportunity to integrate SES approaches into policy and practice in tropical regions. The use of SES evaluation tools in tropical regions could transform how land use decisions are informed, mitigating soil degradation and protecting the ecosystems that soil underpins.

Land-Use System and Forest Floor Explain Prokaryotic Metacommunity Structuring and Spatial Turnover in Amazonian Forest-to-Pasture Conversion Areas.

Advancing extensive cattle production is a major threat to biodiversity conservation in Amazonia. The dominant vegetation cover has a drastic impact on soil microbial communities, affecting their composition, structure, and ecological services. Herein, we explored relationships between land-use, soil types, and forest floor compartments on the prokaryotic metacommunity structuring in Western Amazonia. Soil samples were taken in sites under high anthropogenic pressure and distributed along a ±800 km gradient. Additionally, the litter and a root layer, characteristic of the forest environment, were sampled. DNA was extracted, and metacommunity composition and structure were assessed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Prokaryotic metacommunities in the bulk soil were strongly affected by pH, base and aluminum saturation, Ca + Mg concentration, the sum of bases, and silt percentage, due to land-use management and natural differences among the soil types. Higher alpha, beta, and gamma diversities were observed in sites with higher soil pH and fertility, such as pasture soils or fertile soils of the state of Acre. When taking litter and root layer communities into account, the beta diversity was significantly higher in the forest floor than in pasture bulk soil for all study regions. Our results show that the forest floor's prokaryotic metacommunity performs a spatial turnover hitherto underestimated to the regional scale of diversity.

Pedogenetic processes in anthrosols with pretic horizon (Amazonian Dark Earth) in Central Amazon, Brazil.

Anthrosols known as Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE) have borne witness to the intensification of sedentary patterns and the demographic increase in Central Amazon. As a result, a recurring pattern has been observed of mounds with ADE arising from domestic activities and the disposal of waste. The objective of this research was to demonstrate the relationship of these anthropic activities with pedogenetic formation processes of ADE in the municipality of Iranduba, Brazil. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from two areas of ADE (pretic horizon) and from a non-anthropic pedon. Physical, chemical, micromorphological and SEM-EDS analyses were performed. The coarse material of the pretic horizons consisted predominantly of quartz, iron nodules, ceramics and charcoal fragments, and the fine material is organo-mineral. There was a direct relationship between the color of pretic horizons and the number of charcoal fragments. The thickness of the ADE results from the redistribution of charcoal at depth through bioturbation, transforming subsurface horizons into anthropic horizons. ADE presents granular microaggregates of geochemical and zoogenetic origin. Degradation of iron nodules is intensified in pretic horizons, promoting a reverse pedogenic process contributing to the xanthization process. Surprisingly the anthropic activities also favor clay dispersion and argilluviation; clay coatings on the ceramic fragments and in the pores demonstrate that this is a current process. Processes identified as contributing to ADE genesis included: i) addition of organic residues and ceramic artifacts (cumulization) with the use of fire; ii) mechanical action of humans, roots and macrofauna (bioturbation); iii) melanization of deeper horizons as a result of bioturbation; iv) argilluviation and degradation of iron nodules. This study offers new support to archaeological research in respect to ADE formation processes in Central Amazon and confirmed the hypothesis that ancient anthropic activities may trigger and/or accelerate pedogenetic processes previously credited only to natural causes.

Commodity production as restoration driver in the Brazilian Amazon? Pasture re-agro-forestation with cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in southern Pará.

The increasing demand for agricultural commodities is a major cause of tropical deforestation. However, pressure is increasing for greater sustainability of commodity value chains. This includes the demand to establish new crop plantations and pasture areas on already deforested land so that new forest clearing for agriculture is minimized. Where tree crops are planted as part of agroforestry systems on deforested land, this amounts to a form of re-agro-forestation which can generate environmental benefits in addition to crop production. Here, we discuss a case where agroforestry systems based on cocoa (Theobroma cacao) are being established on crop and pasture land in the south of Pará state, Brazilian Amazon. The adoption of cocoa by farmers and ranchers of the region is stimulated by the coincidence of (1) favorable prospects for cocoa on the national and international markets including the expectation of a global cocoa supply gap; (2) environmental policies obliging land owners to reforest excess cleared land with native trees, with agroforests based on the native cocoa tree being an economically attractive option; and (3) biophysical conditions (especially soil fertility) favorable for growing cocoa in part of the region. We show that in the state of Pará at least 1.26 million hectares of naturally high-fertility soils in deforested areas outside legally protected and indigenous lands are potentially suitable for cocoa production with low agrochemical inputs, sufficient to make a significant contribution to closing the predicted supply gap. Their actual suitability depends on their state of degradation after years of pasture use and the availability of technologies and finance to convert them into tree crop agroforests. We discuss the significant environmental benefits of pasture re-agro-forestation with cocoa-based systems, including reduced emissions of up to 135 Mg of carbon per hectare compared to the historically common scenario of planting cocoa after forest clearing. We identify important research questions related to the scaling up of this practice and the maximization of its environmental benefits. We conclude that the coincidence of the afore-mentioned factors could drive a re-agro-forestation frontier in this part of the Amazon, with potential for positive outcomes in terms of commodity production while generating social and environmental benefits.

The domestication of Amazonia before European conquest.

During the twentieth century, Amazonia was widely regarded as relatively pristine nature, little impacted by human history. This view remains popular despite mounting evidence of substantial human influence over millennial scales across the region. Here, we review the evidence of an anthropogenic Amazonia in response to claims of sparse populations across broad portions of the region. Amazonia was a major centre of crop domestication, with at least 83 native species containing populations domesticated to some degree. Plant domestication occurs in domesticated landscapes, including highly modified Amazonian dark earths (ADEs) associated with large settled populations and that may cover greater than 0.1% of the region. Populations and food production expanded rapidly within land management systems in the mid-Holocene, and complex societies expanded in resource-rich areas creating domesticated landscapes with profound impacts on local and regional ecology. ADE food production projections support estimates of at least eight million people in 1492. By this time, highly diverse regional systems had developed across Amazonia where subsistence resources were created with plant and landscape domestication, including earthworks. This review argues that the Amazonian anthrome was no less socio-culturally diverse or populous than other tropical forested areas of the world prior to European conquest.

Amazonian dark Earth and plant species from the Amazon region contribute to shape rhizosphere bacterial communities.

Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) or Terra Preta de Índio formed in the past by pre-Columbian populations are highly sustained fertile soils supported by microbial communities that differ from those extant in adjacent soils. These soils are found in the Amazon region and are considered as a model soil when compared to the surrounding and background soils. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ADE and its surrounding soil on the rhizosphere bacterial communities of two leguminous plant species that frequently occur in the Amazon region in forest sites (Mimosa debilis) and open areas (Senna alata). Bacterial community structure was evaluated using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and bacterial community composition by V4 16S rRNA gene region pyrosequencing. T-RFLP analysis showed effect of soil types and plant species on rhizosphere bacterial community structure. Differential abundance of bacterial phyla, such as Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Firmicutes, revealed that soil type contributes to shape the bacterial communities. Furthermore, bacterial phyla such as Firmicutes and Nitrospira were mostly influenced by plant species. Plant roots influenced several soil chemical properties, especially when plants were grown in ADE. These results showed that differences observed in rhizosphere bacterial community structure and composition can be influenced by plant species and soil fertility due to variation in soil attributes.

Bacterial community composition of anthropogenic biochar and Amazonian anthrosols assessed by 16S rRNA gene 454 pyrosequencing.

Biochar (BC) is a common minor constituent of soils and is usually derived from the burning of wood materials. In the case of Amazonian dark earth (ADE) soils, the increased amount of this material is believed to be due to anthropogenic action by ancient indigenous populations. In this study, we use 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing to assess the bacterial diversity observed in the BC found in ADEs as well as in the dark earth itself and the adjacent Acrisol. Samples were taken from two sites, one cultivated with manioc and one with secondary forest cover. Analyses revealed that the community structure found in each sample had unique features. At a coarse phylogenetic resolution, the most abundant phyla in all sequence libraries were Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria that were present in similar relative abundance across all samples. However, the class composition varied between them highlighting the difference between the Acrisol and the remaining samples. This result was also corroborated by the comparison of the OTU composition (at 97 % identity). Also, soil coverage has shown an effect over the community structure observed in all samples. This pattern was found to be significant through unweighted UniFrac as well as P tests. These results indicate that, although the ADEs are found in patches within the Acrisols, the contrasting characteristics found between them led to the development of significantly different communities.

Atributos químicos, físico-hídricos e mineralogia da fração argila em solos do Baixo Amazonas: Serra de Parintins / Chemical, physical and hydric attributes and mineralogy of clay fractions in soils of lower Amazon: Serra de Parintins

Estudos sobre os atributos dos solos amazônicos geram informações para compor um levantamento atual sobre suas condições frente às várias formas de alterações que estão sujeitos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever e avaliar a evolução química, físico-hídrica, bem como a mineralogia de Latossolos no Baixo Amazonas como forma de entender as variações desses atributos em diferentes coberturas vegetais. Coletaram-se amostras deformadas e indeformadas para análises físicas, químicas, mineralógicas e hídricas, em dois pontos de uma topossequência na Serra de Parintins: platô e vertente, sendo três perfis de solo em cada posição. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a floresta predominante sobre os perfis do topo e vertente promove condições físicas e hídricas adequadas para uma boa agregação, maior intensidade de poros grandes, maior condutividade hidráulica saturada (Ko) e melhor retenção hídrica dos solos. Fato semelhante ocorrendo com as áreas de capoeira, apresentando boa permeabilidade, porosidade e retenção de água no solo. O acúmulo de carbono é maior dos perfis da vertente, decrescendo em profundidade, relacionando-se diretamente com Ko e com o sistema radicular. A análise mineralógica da fração argila indicou a caulinita como argilomineral predominante, seguido pelos minerais gibbsita, goethita, quartzo e anatásio, não havendo variações ao longo da paisagem. A Serra de Parintins possui um solo pobre em nutrientes, ácido, com textura média a muito argilosa com acúmulo de plintita nos horizontes subsuperficiais, evitando o fenômeno de terras caídas. Um gradiente elevado de umidade volumétrica é observado nos horizontes subsuperficiais, havendo mais água retida, quando comparado com horizontes superficiais.

The latest studies of attributes of soil of the Amazonian ecosystems provide information to make up a survey on these soil conditions in the face of several forms of changes they are submitted. This work aimed to describe and evaluate physical and hydric evolution as well oxisol mineralogy in lower Amazon in order to comprehend variations of these attributes in different vegetative covers. Deformed and non-deformed samples were collected for physical, chemical, hydric and mineralogical analyses, respectively in two points of a topographic sequence in Serra de Parintins: plateau and watershed, being showed three profiles of soil in each position. The results showed that predominant forest of the plateau and watershed profiles provide proper physical and hydric conditions for a good aggregation, higher intensity of large pores, larger saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ko) and better hydric retention of soils. Similar fact occurs in secondary forest, presenting such areas good permeability, porosity and water retention in soil. Carbon accumulation is higher in watershed profiles, decreasing in depth and relating directly with Ko and root system. Mineralogical analysis of clay fraction points kaolinite as predominant followed by gypsum, goethita, quartzo and anatásio, showing no variations along landscape. Serra de Parintins has poor acid clay soil of medium texture accumulating plintita on subsurface horizons, avoiding the phenomenon of terras caídas. A high gradient of volumetric humidity is observed on subsurface horizons, showing water retention when compared to surface horizons.

Produção e distribuição de fitomassa no guaranazeiro (Paullinia cupana H.B.K. var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke) / Production and distribution of phytomass in guarana plants

Apesar da importância econômica do guaranazeiro (Paullinia cupana H.B.K. var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke) em algumas regiões do Brasil, existem poucas informações sobre sua caracterização fenológica. Assim, realizou-se um estudo cujo objetivo foi de quantificar a produção de fitomassa e sua distribuição, em uma população de guaranazeiros, originadas de propagação sexuada. Foram avaliadas cinco plantas adultas, que lançaram mais de 100 ramos por planta ano-1, dos quais apenas 50 por cento produziram frutos. As plantas lançaram entre 445 e 1294 inflorescências por ano, porém, de 67 por cento a 98 por cento produziram apenas um fruto. A produção de matéria seca total foi estimada em 15,8 kg por planta ao ano, o que corresponde 6350 kg ha ano-1. Nas plantas, o maior acúmulo de matéria seca apresentou a seguinte ordem: folhas>ramos>sementes>ráquis>casca dos frutos+arilo> pecíolos.

The commerce of guarana seeds (Paullinia cupana H.B.K. var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke) is economically important in some regions of Brazil. However, few studies are found about its phenological characteristics. The aim of this paper was to study the production and distribution of organic matter in adult plants of guarana. Five individuals, which had more than 100 branches per plant/year, were evaluated. One found out that only 50 percent of the branches had fruits. The guarana plants had between 445 and 1294 inflorescences but of these, 67 percent to 98 percent had only one fruit. The total organic matter was evaluated in 15.8 kg per plant year-1 which means around 6350 kg ha year-1. The organic matter storage in guarana plant had the following sequence: leaves>branches>seeds>rachis> fruit peel+aril> petiole.

Avaliação da condutividade hidraulica do solo saturada utilizando dois métodos de laboratório numa topossequência com diferentes coberturas vegetais no Baixo Amazonas / Evaluation of the saturated hydraulic conductivity using two laboratory methods in a topossequence with different vegetation cover in the lower Amazon

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar dois métodos de laboratório para a determinação da condutividade hidráulica do solo saturada (Ko) conhecidos como Permeâmetro de carga constante (PCC) e Permeâmetro de carga decrescente (PCD), com o intuito de verificar sua aplicabilidade e variabilidade em solos amazônicos. Coletaram-se 125 amostras de solo com estrutura indeformada, através de amostrador tipo Uhland, com anéis volumétricos, de 0,072 m de altura e 0,069 m de diâmetro, devido à variabilidade apresentada pelas determinações de tal parâmetro. Nos mesmos pontos de amostragens da Ko, procedeu-se coleta de anéis volumétricos para a determinação da porosidade do solo. Ainda nesses pontos foram coletadas amostras com estrutura deformada para análises físicas e químicas. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o método do PCC foi o mais apropriado para a classe dos Latossolos estudados, apresentando os menores coeficientes de variação e desvio padrão ao longo da topossequência. Os valores de Ko estiveram distribuídos entre P1(2,65 à 3,34 cm dia-1), P2(2,85 à 3,38 cm dia-1), P3(2,86 à 3,63 cm dia-1), P4(2,75 à 3,49 cm dia-1), P5(2,38 à 3,83 cm dia-1) e P6 (2,47 à 3,52 cm dia-1); havendo uma tendência para maiores valores de Ko na superficie. A utilização de Ko como parâmetro de análise hídrica em solos porosos na superfície e muito argilosos em profundidade, como os amazônicos, necessita ser realizada com precaução, evitando a interrupção da continuidade dos poros e compactação da amostra. Mudanças na condutividade hidráulica saturada estiveram mais relacionadas a alterações nas propriedades físicas do solo e posição no relevo do que nas alterações das coberturas vegetais ao longo da topossequência.

The objective of this work was to evaluate two different laboratory methods for determining the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ko), namely, the constant head permeameter method (PCC) and the falling decreasing head permeameter method (PCD) and their applicability and variability to Amazon soils. 125 undisturbed soil samples were collected with an Uhland soil sampler using volumetric rings of 0,072 m height and 0,069 m in diameter. Soil porosity was also estimated by volumetric ring samples collected at the same spots where Ko was evaluated. Disturbed soil samples were also collected for chemical and particle size analysis at the same spots. The results showed that the PCC method was more appropriate for the studied soils Oxisols, leading to the lowest coefficient of variation and standard deviation throughout the topographic sequence. The Ko values were distributed among P1(2,65 to 3,34 cm day-1), P2(2,85 to 3,38 cm day-1), P3(2,86 to 3,63 cm day-1), P4(2,75 to 3,49 cm day-1), P5(2,38 to 3,83 cm day-1) and P6 (2,47 to 3,52 cm day-1); having a tendency to show higher Ko values at soil surface. The use of Ko as a parameter for hydraulic analysis in soils with high porosity in the surface layer and high clay content in the subsoil, as is the case in the Amazon, must be undertaken with caution to avoid compacting the sample and porous discontinuities. Throughout the studied topographic sequence, changes of saturated hydraulic conductivity were more related to changes in soil physical properties than to changes in vegetation cover throughout the studied topographic sequence.

Avaliação da condutividade hidraulica do solo saturada utilizando dois métodos de laboratório numa topossequência com diferentes coberturas vegetais no Baixo Amazonas

The objective of this work was to evaluate two different laboratory methods for determining the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ko), namely, the constant head permeameter method (PCC) and the falling decreasing head permeameter method (PCD) and their applicability and variability to Amazon soils. 125 undisturbed soil samples were collected with an Uhland soil sampler using volumetric rings of 0,072 m height and 0,069 m in diameter. Soil porosity was also estimated by volumetric ring samples collected at the same spots where Ko was evaluated. Disturbed soil samples were also collected for chemical and particle size analysis at the same spots. The results showed that the PCC method was more appropriate for the studied soils Oxisols, leading to the lowest coefficient of variation and standard deviation throughout the topographic sequence. The Ko values were distributed among P1(2,65 to 3,34 cm day-1), P2(2,85 to 3,38 cm day-1), P3(2,86 to 3,63 cm day-1), P4(2,75 to 3,49 cm day-1), P5(2,38 to 3,83 cm day-1) and P6 (2,47 to 3,52 cm day-1); having a tendency to show higher Ko values at soil surface. The use of Ko as a parameter for hydraulic analysis in soils with high porosity in the surface layer and high clay content in the subsoil, as is the case in the Amazon, must be undertaken with caution to avoid compacting the sample and porous discontinuities. Throughout the studied topographic sequence, changes of saturated hydraulic conductivity were more related to changes in soil physical properties than to changes in vegetation cover throughout the studied topographic sequence.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar dois métodos de laboratório para a determinação da condutividade hidráulica do solo saturada (Ko) conhecidos como Permeâmetro de carga constante (PCC) e Permeâmetro de carga decrescente (PCD), com o intuito de verificar sua aplicabilidade e variabilidade em solos amazônicos. Coletaram-se 125 amostras de solo com estrutura indeformada, através de amostrador tipo Uhland, com anéis volumétricos, de 0,072 m de altura e 0,069 m de diâmetro, devido à variabilidade apresentada pelas determinações de tal parâmetro. Nos mesmos pontos de amostragens da Ko, procedeu-se coleta de anéis volumétricos para a determinação da porosidade do solo. Ainda nesses pontos foram coletadas amostras com estrutura deformada para análises físicas e químicas. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o método do PCC foi o mais apropriado para a classe dos Latossolos estudados, apresentando os menores coeficientes de variação e desvio padrão ao longo da topossequência. Os valores de Ko estiveram distribuídos entre P1(2,65 à 3,34 cm dia-1), P2(2,85 à 3,38 cm dia-1), P3(2,86 à 3,63 cm dia-1), P4(2,75 à 3,49 cm dia-1), P5(2,38 à 3,83 cm dia-1) e P6 (2,47 à 3,52 cm dia-1); havendo uma tendência para maiores valores de Ko na superficie. A utilização de Ko como parâmetro de análise hídrica em solos porosos na superfície e muito argilosos em profundidade, como os amazônicos, necessita ser realizada com precaução, evitando a interrupção da continuidade dos poros e compactação da amostra. Mudanças na condutividade hidráulica saturada estiveram mais relacionadas a alterações nas propriedades físicas do solo e posição no relevo do que nas alterações das coberturas vegetais ao longo da topossequência.

Enraizamento de estacas herbáceas de guaranazeiro em diferentes substratos / Survival rate of guarana herbaceous cuttings in different substrates

A utilização de sementes na propagação do guaranazeiro propicia alta variabilidade na produtividade e suscetibilidade a doenças, por isto, no Amazonas, recomenda-se a propagação do guaranazeiro por meio do enraizamento de estacas herbáceas de materiais selecionados. Objetivou-se com este trabalho, avaliar o enraizamento, em tubetes, de estacas herbáceas de doze clones de guaranazeiro submetidas a três diferentes substratos. Os clones avaliados foram o BRS 300, BRS 871, BRS 372, BRS 648, BRS 189, BRS 505, BRS 610, BRS 612, BRS 850, BRS 882, BRS 608, BRS 611. Os substratos testados foram uma mistura com base em volume de 50 por cento de solo + 50 por cento de esterco de galinha (v/v); 50 por cento de esterco de galinha + 50 por cento de carvão moído passado em peneira de 10 mm (v/v) e substrato comercial para hortaliças (Plantmax®). O substrato comercial e o esterco de galinha + carvão proporcionaram a maior porcentagem de enraizamento das estacas. O clone BRS Amazonas obteve o maior percentual de enraizamento (88,2 por cento), enquanto o clone BRS 372, o menor (15 por cento).

The propagation of the guarana plants using seeds is nowadays not recommended because the high variability in the productivity and susceptibility to diseases. The cuttings propagation of a select guarana plant clones is recommended for Amazonas State. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival rate of cuttings of twelve clones of guaraná in three substrates with three replicates. The evaluated clones were: BRS 300, BRS 871, BRS 372, BRS 648, BRS 189, BRS 505, BRS 610, BRS 612, BRS 850, BRS 882, BRS 608, BRS 611. The growing media tested were 50 percent of soil + 50 percent of chicken manure (v/v); 50 percent chicken manure + 50 percent sieved powdered charcoal (v/v) and a comercial growing media for vegetables (Plantmax®). The comercial growing media and the misture of chicken manure + sieved powdered charcoal substrate produced the higher cuttings survival rate. The clone BRS Amazonas showed the highest percentage of survival (88.2 percent) and clone BRS 372 the lowest (15 percent).

Estudo de parâmetros físicos, químicos e hídricos de um Latossolo Amarelo, na região Amazônica / Study of physical, chemical and hydric parameter of a xanthic ferralsol in the Amazon region

Estudou-se os atributos físicos, hídricos e químicos de um Latossolo sob sistema de agroflorestal na região Amazônica. O solo foi descrito morfologicamente e amostras com estrutura deformada foram coletadas para caracterização física e química. A análise das propriedades hidráulicas foi realizada a partir de amostras indeformadas coletadas a cada camada de 0,10 m até 1,00 m de profundidade com 5 repetições para determinação da condutividade hidráulica do solo saturado (Ko) pelo método do permeâmetro de carga decrescente e determinação das curvas de retenção (fim(teta)), utilizando as tensões de 1, 2 e 4 kPa (funis de placa porosa) e 10, 30, 50, 100, 500 e 1500 kPa (câmaras de pressão com placa porosa). As demais análises foram realizadas até 1,50 m de profundidade. Os valores de Ko nas camadas apresentaram grande homogeneidade estando compreendido entre 2,22 a 3,20 cm dia-1, sendo relacionados com variação da densidade do solo e porosidade. A retenção hídrica demonstra que o solo tem a capacidade de reter elevada quantidade de água, mesmo quando submetido a elevados potenciais, indicando uma baixa disponibilidade para as plantas. As curvas de retenção não apresentaram um bom ajuste pela equação de van Genuchten , sugerindo uma distribuição de poros bimodal.