Overview
The regenerative qualities identified in prehistoric, anthropogenic Amazonian dark earths suggest that notoriously infertile tropical soils can be greatly improved. Soil enhancement practices by ancient Amerindians allowed them to intensively cultivate the land, without needing to continually clear new fields from forest. As increasing populations place ever greater pressure on tropical forests, this legacy of rich, ""living"" soils warrants further study in the search for high-yield, land intensive, yet sustainable forms of management. This volume's international group of contributors provides a variety of stances centering on aspects of the origin, distribution, variability, persistence, and use of Amazonian dark earths.
Full Product Details
Author: Bruno Glaser ,
William I. Woods
Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
Imprint: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K
Edition: Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2004
Dimensions:
Width: 15.50cm
, Height: 1.50cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 0.367kg
ISBN: 9783642056406
ISBN 10: 3642056407
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 30 November 2010
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Out of stock
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Reviews
From the reviews: Concern for the environmental health of Amazonia is at the forefront of current international environmental issues. ... Even more uncommonly discussed is the existence of 'dark earths,, the subject of this book. ... Coverage ranges from a review of the literature to discussion of appropriate methodology. ... the book is well written and an excellent resource on this topic. ... it will be valuable for all academic libraries and useful to a wide range of readers in natural resources and even in anthropology. Summing Up: Recommended. (M.G. Messina, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (5), January, 2005)
From the reviews: Concern for the environmental health of Amazonia is at the forefront of current international environmental issues. ... Even more uncommonly discussed is the existence of 'dark earths,' the subject of this book. ... Coverage ranges from a review of the literature to discussion of appropriate methodology. ... the book is well written and an excellent resource on this topic. ... it will be valuable for all academic libraries and useful to a wide range of readers in natural resources and even in anthropology. Summing Up: Recommended. (M.G. Messina, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (5), January, 2005)
From the reviews: Concern for the environmental health of Amazonia is at the forefront of current international environmental issues. ! Even more uncommonly discussed is the existence of 'dark earths,' the subject of this book. ! Coverage ranges from a review of the literature to discussion of appropriate methodology. ! the book is well written and an excellent resource on this topic. ! it will be valuable for all academic libraries and useful to a wide range of readers in natural resources and even in anthropology. Summing Up: Recommended. (M.G. Messina, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (5), January, 2005)
"From the reviews: ""Concern for the environmental health of Amazonia is at the forefront of current international environmental issues. … Even more uncommonly discussed is the existence of ‘dark earths,’ the subject of this book. … Coverage ranges from a review of the literature to discussion of appropriate methodology. … the book is well written and an excellent resource on this topic. … it will be valuable for all academic libraries and useful to a wide range of readers in natural resources and even in anthropology. Summing Up: Recommended."" (M.G. Messina, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (5), January, 2005)"
Author Information
Dr. Bruno Glaser is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography at the University of Bayreuth. For over seven years he has been conducting Amazonian dark earth research from a soil science perspective including soil fertility, sustainability, and archaeology aspects. Dr. William Woods is Professor in the Department of Geography and Director of the Archaeology Program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. For over thirty years he has been conducting prehistoric and historic settlement-subsistence research in the eastern United States, Latin America, and Europe.
