1. Terra Preta

   • 1.1     Term of TP
     • 1.1.1     Terra Preta as soil type
     • 1.1.2     Definition of 'Terra Preta'
     • 1.1.3     Terra Preta terms to reject
     • 1.1.4     Terra Preta as research approach
   • 1.2     Status of research
     • 1.2.1     Earlier research
     • 1.2.2     Research by archaeologists and ethnologists
     • 1.2.3     Current, especially Brazilian research
   • 1.3     Models of development
   • 1.4     Terra Preta occurrencies
     • 1.4.1     Terra Preta sites in Amapá
     • 1.4.2     Terra Preta sites in State of Pará (N of Amazon)
     • 1.4.3     Terra Preta sites in State of Pará (S of Amazon)
     • 1.4.4     Terra Preta sites in State of Pará (N of Amazon)
     • 1.4.5     Terra Preta sites in State of Pará (S of Amazon)
   • 1.5     Age of Terra Preta
     • 1.5.1     Dating based on field work
     • 1.5.2     ¹⁴C dating
   • 1.6     Archeology
   
   

2. Natural conditions of the Amazon region and in particular the study area

   • 2.1      Geology and morphogenesis
     • 2.1.1      Precambrian and Paleozoic
     • 2.1.2      Mesozoic
     • 2.1.3      Tertiary with Barreiras series and Belterra clay
     • 2.1.4      Quarternary with Pleistocene and Holocene
   • 2.2      Geomorphology
   • 2.3      Climate
     • 2.3.1      Amazonia
     • 2.3.2      Belterra
   • 2.4      Hydrology
     • 2.4.1      River typology
     • 2.4.2      Suspended matter and nutrient balance
   • 2.5      Vegetation
     • 2.5.1      Characteristics
     • 2.5.2      Production and mineralization of organic matter
     • 2.5.3      Nutrient cycle
     • 2.5.4      Anthropogenic use
     • 2.5.5      Region around Santarém
   • 2.6      Soil science: An overview of the tropical soils of Amazonia
     • 2.6.1      FAO classification system and mapping
     • 2.6.2      7^thSoil Approximation and their use in the definition
     • 2.6.3      Brazilian soil classification and mapping
     • 2.6.4      Other soil classifications
     • 2.6.5      Summary description of latosol
     • 2.6.6      Other soil types of Amazonia
   • 2.7      Population and settlement projects in Amazonia
   
   

3. Field work

   • 3.1     Preparations
   • 3.2     Working conditions
   • 3.3     Selection of study area
   • 3.4     Location description of Belterra
     • 3.4.1     Morphology
     • 3.4.2     Plantation
   • 3.5     Survey of Terra Preta sites
     • 3.5.1     Prospection
     • 3.5.2     Description of 19 surveyed sites
     • 3.5.3     Regular observations
   • 3.6     Extension of Belterra's TP ccomplex
   • 3.7     Selection and principle of sample sites
     • 3.7.1     'Chico Alfredo'
     • 3.7.2     'Centre'
     • 3.7.3     Latosol comparison sites
   • 3.8     Sample site 'Chico Alfredo' and creation of profiless
   • 3.9     Examined profiless
   • 3.10     Sampling
     • 3.10.1     Analysis samples
     • 3.10.2     Volume samples
     • 3.10.3     Organic topsoil
   • 3.11     Pre-treatment and drying of samples
   
   

4. Investigation methods

   • 4.1      Preparation of samples
   • 4.2      Determination of volumetric weight
   • 4.3      Determination of maximum water capacity
   • 4.4      Determination of particle sizes
   • 4.5      Determination of acidity
   • 4.6      Outcrop
     • 4.6.1      Choice of method
     • 4.6.2      Na₂CO₃ outcrop
   • 4.7      Atomic absorption spectroscopy
     • 4.7.1      Principle
     • 4.7.2      Interference phenomena
     • 4.7.3      Measurement
     • 4.7.4      Si_t measurement
     • 4.7.5      Al_t measurement
     • 4.7.6      Fe_t measurement
     • 4.7.7      Mn_t measurement
     • 4.7.8      Ti_t measurement
     • 4.7.9      Ca_t measurement
     • 4.7.10      Mg_t measurement
     • 4.7.11      K_t measurement
   • 4.8      Dithionit extraction and measurement
   • 4.9      Oxalat extraction and measurement
   • 4.10      Color analysis
   • 4.11      ¹⁴C dating
   • 4.12      Mineral analysis
   
   

5. Statistical evaluation

   • 5.1      Further calculation
   • 5.2      Possibility to test the analysis process
   • 5.3      Mean value calculation according to depth gradations
   • 5.4      Error possibilities and outlier tests
   • 5.5      Analysis of variance
   • 5.6      Correlation analysis
   
   

6. Presentation of results and discussion

   • 6.1      Volumetric weight
     • 6.1.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.1.2      Results of TP
     • 6.1.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.1.4      Explanation of values
     • 6.1.5      Inhomogeneity of TP
     • 6.1.6      Calculation of supply quantity
     • 6.1.7      Substance and pore volume
     • 6.1.8      Air analysis
     • 6.1.9      Consistency
     • 6.1.10      Total volumetric weight
   • 6.2      Soil water
     • 6.2.1      Pore distribution and water tension
     • 6.2.2      Ecological relevance
   • 6.3      Particle size
     • 6.3.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.3.2      Results of TP
     • 6.3.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.3.4      Silt : clay ratio
     • 6.3.5      Explanation of high clay content
     • 6.3.6      Explanation of higher sand content in topsoil
     • 6.3.7      Explanation of higher silt content, especially at depth of 70 cm
     • 6.3.8      Explanation of (quantitative) difference
     • 6.3.9      Mass loss due to clay leaching
     • 6.3.10      Ecological relevance
   • 6.4      Mineral finding
   • 6.5      Acidity
     • 6.5.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.5.2      Results of TP
     • 6.5.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.5.4      Difference in organic topsoil
     • 6.5.5      Explanation of (low) pH of latosol
     • 6.5.6      Explanation of (increased) pH of the TP
     • 6.5.7      Conclusions and interactions with other soil properties
     • 6.5.8      Ecological relevance
     • 6.5.9      Melioration approaches
   • 6.6      Si content
     • 6.6.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.6.2      Results of TP
     • 6.6.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.6.4      Binding in minerals and solution
     • 6.6.5      Silica solubility
     • 6.6.6      Explanation of values and their differences
     • 6.6.7      Desilication and its quantification
     • 6.6.8      SiO₂ : Al₂O₃ ratio
     • 6.6.9      SiO₂ : R₂O₃ ratio
     • 6.6.10      Ecological relevance
   • 6.7      Al content
     • 6.7.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.7.2      Results of TP
     • 6.7.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.7.4      Binding in minerals, solution and new formations
     • 6.7.5      Al hydroxide
     • 6.7.6      Al⁺⁺⁺ ions
     • 6.7.7      Solubility and resistance to weathering
     • 6.7.8      Explanation of values
     • 6.7.9      Dithionit soluble Al
     • 6.7.10      Oxalat soluble Al
     • 6.7.11      Ecological relevance
   • 6.8      Fe content
     • 6.8.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.8.2      Results of TP
     • 6.8.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.8.4      Binding in minerals, solution and new formations
     • 6.8.5      Fe oxides and hydroxides
     • 6.8.6      Solubility
     • 6.8.7      Influence of organic matter
     • 6.8.8      Explanation of values
     • 6.8.9      Dithionit soluble Fe
     • 6.8.10      Oxalat soluble Fe
     • 6.8.11      Al₂O₃ : Fe₂O₃ ratio
     • 6.8.12      Ecological relevance
   • 6.9      Mn content
     • 6.9.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.9.2      Results of TP
     • 6.9.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.9.4      Formation in minerals, solution and Mn oxides
     • 6.9.5      Solubility
     • 6.9.6      Influence of organic matter
     • 6.9.7      Explanation of values
     • 6.9.8      Dithionit and Oxalat soluble Mn
     • 6.9.9      Ecological relevance
   • 6.10      Ca content
     • 6.10.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.10.2      Results of TP
     • 6.10.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.10.4      Weathering
     • 6.10.5      Relation to exchangeable Ca
   • 6.11      Mg content
     • 6.11.1      Results of Latosol
     • 6.11.2      Results of TP
     • 6.11.3      Comparison Latosol - TP
     • 6.11.4      Binding forms
     • 6.11.5      Relation to exchangeable Mg
   • 6.12      K content
     • 6.12.1      Result
     • 6.12.2      Relation to exchangeable K
   
   

7. Outlook: For and against melioration

Summary

Literature

Illustrations

1. TP sites of Rio Trombetas and Rio Jamunda
2. TP sites of Lago Grande do Curusi
3. TP sites in Brazil
4. Geological map of Amazonia
5. Geological N-S profile through the Amazon valley near Belterra
6. Geological profile of Belterra clay
7. Geological profile of Belterra clay in Belterra
8. Climate regions of Amazonia
9. Annual precipitation in Amazonia
10. Annual temperatures in Amazonia
11. Climate diagrams of Amazonia
12. Climate diagram of Belterra
13. Soil map of Amazonia
14. TP and Varzea near Santarem
15. Plateau laterit at escarpment
16. Formation of plateau laterit
17. TP sites near Belterra
18. Isocarbonale presentation of typical TP
19. Isocarbonale presentation of transition of TP locality 1 and 2
20. Alleged TP distribution in Belterra acc. to Sampaio
21. Sample site 'Chico Alfredo'
22. Water tension curves of Latosol and TP
23. Indicated substance and pore volumes of topsoil and subsoil in Latosol and TP
24. Solubility of various oxide compounds as function of pH
25. Depth distribution of Al_d : Al_t in Latosol and TP
26. Depth distribution of Al_o : Al_d in Latosol and TP
27. Stability diagram of Fe⁺⁺, Fe⁺⁺⁺, Goethit and amorph Fe molecules
28. Depth distribution of Fe_d : Fe_t in Latosol and TP
29. Depth distribution of Fe_o : Fe_d in Latosol and TP
30. Stability diagram of Mn⁺⁺ and Mn oxides
31. Depth distribution of Mn_d : Mn_t in Latosol and TP
32. Depth distribution of Mn_o : Mn_d in Latosol and TP

Tables

1. Climate data of Belterra
2. Comparison of FAO, 7th Approximation and ORSTOM Classification
3. TP sites of Belterra
4. Particle size distribution of TP profiles investigated in Brazil
5. Mol ratios of Fe and Al to organic matter
6. Comparison of total to exchangeable Ca
7. Comparison of total to exchangeable Mg
8. Comparison of total to exchangeable K

Data volume

1. Sample results of Latosol and Terra Preta

   • SP1
   • SP2
   • SP4
   • SP5
   • SP6
   • SP7
   • SP8
   • SP9
   • SP0
   • SL1
   • SL2
   • SL3
   • SL4
   • SL5
   • SL6
   • SL7
   
   

2. Static evaluation: Mean calculation, outlier test, analysis of variance, correlation analysis and graphical depth functions

   • C content
   • Fine earth volumetric weight
   • Total volumetric weight
   • Particle sizes (only profiles SP2 and SL5)
   • pH values
   • Si content
   • SiO₂ : Al₂O₃ ratios
   • SiO₂ : Al₂O₃ +Fe₂O₃ ratios
   • Al content
   • Al₂O₃ : Fe₂O₃ ratios
   • Pedogenic Al (only profiles SP4 and SP4)
   • Fe content
   • Pedogenic Fe (only profiles SP4 and SP4)
   • Mn content
   • Pedogenic Mn (only profiles SP4 and SP4)
   • Ti content (only profiles SP4 and SP1)
   • Ca content
   • Mg content
   • K content
   • P fractions (only profiles SP4 and SL4)
   
   

3. Depth functions of individual profiles

   • C content
   • Fine earth volumetric weight
   • pH values
   • Si content
   • Al content
   • Fe content
   • Mn content
   • Ca content
   • Mg content

Last updates: 2007/2022