(ORDO News) — The Amazon rainforest is known for its vast and vibrant ecosystem, but beneath the lush vegetation lies infertile soil, making farming difficult. However, archaeologists have discovered dark and fertile areas of soil known as “dark soil” in various parts of the Amazon.
The origins of this super-rich soil have long been the subject of debate, but a recent study led by scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Florida and Brazil aims to settle the debate.
Deliberate soil modification
Based on soil analysis, ethnographic observations, and interviews with modern indigenous peoples, the researchers concluded that the ancient Amazonians intentionally created the dark earth to increase soil fertility and support large, complex societies. The study suggests that these communities modified the environment to create better living conditions for people.
Nutrient base for large settlements
The nutrient-poor soil of the Amazon creates problems for the existence of large settlements. Taylor Perron, the Cecile and Ida Green Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT, explains: “If you want to have large settlements, you need a nutrient base. But the soil in the Amazon is highly leached of nutrients and is naturally poor for growing most agricultural crops.” By intentionally cultivating dark soil, the early inhabitants of the Amazon were able to overcome these limitations and ensure thriving communities.
Benefits of Carbon Sequestration
In addition to increasing soil fertility, dark soil also stores significant amounts of carbon. Over many generations, ancient Amazonians enriched the soil with food waste, charcoal and garbage, causing it to accumulate carbon-rich detritus. This carbon was stored in the soil for hundreds or thousands of years. By creating the dark earth, the early Amazonians inadvertently created powerful soil that absorbed carbon.
Climate change mitigation potential
Carbon stored in dark soil could be used to mitigate climate change. Samuel Goldberg, co-author of the study and assistant professor at the University of Miami, explains: “The ancient Amazonians put a lot of carbon into the soil, and much of it is still stored today. This is exactly what we need to mitigate climate change.” The study suggests that applying ancient Amazonian strategies on a larger scale could promote long-term carbon storage in soils.
Implications for modern agriculture
The results of this study have implications for modern agriculture and sustainable land management practices. By learning from the ancient Amazonians, strategies can be developed to increase soil fertility and sequester carbon. This can contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainable food production.
Quotes and expert opinions
– Taylor Perron, MIT “We argue that humans played a role in creating the dark Earth and deliberately altered the ancient environment to make it more hospitable to human life.”
– Samuel Goldberg, University of Miami “Perhaps we could adapt some of their local strategies on a larger scale to fix carbon in the soil in a way that we now know will stay there for a long time.”
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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