How fertile is the Amazon River basin?
The Amazon River basin has tropical rainforests, making people think it's great for farming. But that's not true. The soil there isn't good for farming, especially in the hilly areas.
However, researchers found something interesting. They discovered black and fertile soil in many places in the Amazon. This "dark earth" was made by farmers a long time ago to help their crops grow better.
What do we know about the ‘dark earth’ soil?
The "dark earth," also called terra preta, was made by indigenous people who lived in this place for a very long time. We know this because terra preta contains charcoal, food remains (animal and fish bones), and ancient artefacts (pottery pieces). In fact, the people living there today are still making terra preta.
The terra preta is much darker (black or dark brown), more fertile, and contains more organic carbon compared to most of the area's soils. It also has rich nutrients, making it good for growing crops. It can also absorb harmful greenhouse gases from the air.
How is terra preta created in modern times?
The researchers observed the locals gathering fish and cassava waste in rubbish heaps. The nutrients from the decaying materials slowly soak into the soil. After a few years, they use this soil to grow crops.
The researchers also saw that the farmers from the native tribe spread things like organic ash, charcoal, and cassava waste in their fields, creating dark earth (also called eegepe by the local tribes). This makes the land better for farming.
Can this dark earth be used for forest restoration?
A study conducted a few months back showed that Amazonian dark earth can help regrow trees in deforested areas. Thus, we can undo the effects of deforestation and save our environment with the help of ‘dark earth’ soil.
