Soil infertility in the Amazonian rain forest

Irion, Georg

doi:10.1007/bf00439791

Cited by 169 publications

(92 citation statements)

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“…29 In most wells waters showed low electrical conductivity values with a median value of 64.6 and 84.7 mS cm -1 at the right and left margins, respectively, which results from the existence of a highly weathered environment, as is common for tropical rainy Amazon basin. 30 A study conducted by Silva in urban wells at the city of Ji-Paraná, Rondônia State, showed values much higher than those reported in the Urupá River basin, averaging, respectively, from 147.3 to 232.3 mS cm -1 in tubular and shallow wells. 31 The author also found high concentrations of nitrate, which was attributed to contamination from septic tanks.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Groundwater quality comparison between rural farms and riparian wells in the western Amazon, Brazil

et al. 2011

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Recebido em 28/10/09; aceito em 30/7/10; publicado na web em 17/11/10Groundwater quality of a riparian forest is compared to wells in surrounding rural areas at Urupá River basin. Groundwater types were calcium bicarbonated at left margin and sodium chloride at right, whereas riparian wells exhibited a combination of both (sodium bicarbonate). Groundwater was mostly solute-depleted with concentrations within permissible limits for human consumption, except for nitrate. Isotopic composition suggests that inorganic carbon in Urupá River is mostly supplied by runoff instead of riparian groundwater. Hence, large pasture areas in addition to narrow riparian forest width in this watershed may have an important contribution in the chemical composition of this river.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Groundwater quality comparison between rural farms and riparian wells in the western Amazon, Brazil

et al. 2011

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“…It is a general agreement that várzea forest soils contain much higher concentrations of soil macronutrients important to plants (N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg) than those of igapó and terra firme forest (Irion, 1978;Sombroek, 1984;Furch and Klinge, 1989;Furch, 1997Furch, , 2000. This conclusion is entirely consistent with findings reported in this study.…”

Section: Soilsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Floristic, edaphic and structural characteristics of flooded and unflooded forests in the lower Rio Purús region of central Amazonia, Brazil

2006

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Despite a natural history interest in the early 1900s, relatively little ecological research has been carried out in the Rio Purús basin of central Amazonia, Brazil. Here we describe a new study area in the region of Lago Uauaçú with an emphasis on the climate, forest structure and composition, and soil characteristics between adjacent unflooded (terra firme) and seasonally inundated forests; situated within both the white-water (várzea) and black-water (igapó) drainage systems that dominate the landscape. The climate was found to be typical of that of the central Amazon. Várzea forest soils had high concentrations of nutrients, while terra firme and igapó soils were comparatively nutrient-poor. Terra firme forests were the most floristically diverse forest type, whereas várzea was intermediate, and igapó the most species-poor. The Lecythidaceae was the most important family in terra firme while the Euphorbiaceae was the most important in both várzea and igapó. There were significant differences between forest types in terms of number of saplings, canopy cover and understorey density. In contrasting our results with other published information, we conclude that the Lago Uauaçú region consists of a typical central Amazonian forest macro-mosaic, but is a unique area with high conservation value due to the intimate juxtaposition of terra firme, várzea and igapó forests. KEY WORDS

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“…Amazonia comprises a vast and heterogeneous region, with many of these factors, especially parent materials; landforms, geology and geomorphologic history varying widely (Sombroek, 1966, Correspondence to: C. A. Quesada (quesada.beto@gmail.com) 2000; Irion, 1978). On the other hand, factors such as soil temperature and soil moisture regimes are common to many Amazonian soils (Sanchez, 1976;van Wambeke, 1978).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soils of Amazonia with particular reference to the RAINFOR sites

et al. 2011

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Abstract. The tropical forests of the Amazon Basin occur on a wide variety of different soil types reflecting a rich diversity of geologic origins and geomorphic processes. We here review the existing literature about the main soil groups of Amazonia, describing their genesis, geographical patterns and principal chemical, physical and morphologic characteristics. Original data is also presented, with profiles of exchangeable cations, carbon and particle size fraction illustrated for the principal soil types; also emphasizing the high diversity existing within the main soil groups when possible. Maps of geographic distribution of soils occurring under forest vegetation are also introduced, and to contextualize soils into an evolutionary framework, a scheme of soil development is presented having as its basis a chemical weathering index. We identify a continuum of soil evolution in Amazonia with soil properties varying predictably along this pedogenetic gradient.

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Soil infertility in the Amazonian rain forest

Cited by 169 publications

References 1 publication

Groundwater quality comparison between rural farms and riparian wells in the western Amazon, Brazil

Groundwater quality comparison between rural farms and riparian wells in the western Amazon, Brazil

Floristic, edaphic and structural characteristics of flooded and unflooded forests in the lower Rio Purús region of central Amazonia, Brazil

Soils of Amazonia with particular reference to the RAINFOR sites

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