Terra Preta

jowey · 07-11-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

"Terra Preta de Indio" (Amazonian Dark Earths, earlier also called “Terra Preta do Indio” or Indian Black Earth) is the local name for certain dark earths in the Brazilian Amazon region. These dark earths occur, however, in several countries in South America (Brazil, Ecuador and Peru) and possibly beyond. As ecologically rich as the rainforest may appear, the soil it stands in is unsuited to farming – largely a result of the incessant rain washing away all nutrients. But those pockets of soil that are Terra Preta, are suitable for farming and thus form an out of place patch of fertility in an otherwise harsh environment. In fact, it has the ability to maintain nutrient levels over hundreds of years. According to Bruno Glaser, a chemist at the University of Bayreuth, "If you read the textbooks, it shouldn't be there." According to a study led by Dirse Kern of the Museu Goeldi in Belem, Terra Preta is "not associated with a particular parent soil type or environmental condition", suggesting it was not produced by natural processes.

Think that I made a post on Terra Preta on the old Bill Maher forums, when I first heard about it. I can only hope that the knowledge of "alternate" techniques has reduced or stopped the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest - a whoa, European techniques do not work here, but this does and is sustainable. I doubt it.....

Terra Preta recipes
Terra Preta Web Site
Saving The Planet While Saving The Farm

Heretic · 07-11-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jowey

Think that I made a post on Terra Preta on the old Bill Maher forums, when I first heard about it. I can only hope that the knowledge of "alternate" techniques has reduced or stopped the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest - a whoa, European techniques do not work here, but this does and is sustainable. I doubt it.....

Terra Preta recipes
Terra Preta Web Site
Saving The Planet While Saving The Farm

Terra Preta is predominately bacteria [1491: History Before Columbus] and was utilized by Mayans and Aztec for farming. Arguably the Amazon Rain Forest exists because of those farming practices. That's why it has such a rapid renewal rate for nutrients.

jowey · 07-12-2008, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

Terra Preta is predominately bacteria [1491: History Before Columbus] and was utilized by Mayans and Aztec for farming. Arguably the Amazon Rain Forest exists because of those farming practices. That's why it has such a rapid renewal rate for nutrients.

Yeah.......
Those civilizations thrived because of their agricultural process where ours fails in the same environments. It could be created elsewhere and adapted to other environments. This is lost ancient knowledge......

Heretic · 07-12-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jowey

Yeah.......
Those civilizations thrived because of their agricultural process where ours fails in the same environments. It could be created elsewhere and adapted to other environments. This is lost ancient knowledge......

Now understand their practices are specifically suited to that environment. What works one place might well bring disaster elsewhere. Ancient agricultural prctices in Mes'O''potamia turned the whole region into a desert wasteland.

jowey · 07-12-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

Now understand their practices are specifically suited to that environment. What works one place might well bring disaster elsewhere. Ancient agricultural prctices in Mes'O''potamia turned the whole region into a desert wasteland.

Believe the Amazon is still being slashed and burned, the culture there allegedly failed because of the Pox....
Where the addition of charcoal and bio-matter to the native soil there, kept it from washing away, similar "composting" techniques might be effective in evolving other areas.....

Heretic · 07-12-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jowey

Believe the Amazon is still being slashed and burned, the culture there allegedly failed because of the Pox....
Where the addition of charcoal and bio-matter to the native soil there, kept it from washing away, similar "composting" techniques might be effective in evolving other areas.....

True, then again the destructive practices are a byproduct of fiscal quarter thinking. Without an individual mindset and social mindset geared toward long term it's only expected that resourses get depleated rather than managed.

jowey · 07-13-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

True, then again the destructive practices are a byproduct of fiscal quarter thinking. Without an individual mindset and social mindset geared toward long term it's only expected that resourses get depleated rather than managed.

That is the real problem.....

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