Terra Preta is defined as a type of very dark, fertile anthropogenic soil found in the Amazon Basin. The origin of this "Amazonian Dark Earth" or "Indian Black Earth" is discussed controversial. It seems to be a low-temperature charcoal process based on carbon containing plant material under the presence of micobial degradation. The formation of poly-condensed aromatic groups as well as carboxylic groups are discussed in the context of a cation exchange capacity of the soil.
Is there anybody who has more information about the biochemical reactions of carbon materials in the soil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta
There is plenty of literature on the fate of pyrolysed organic matter (black carbon, biochar) in the soil but less on other carbon materials such as hydrothermally carbonized material, plasma carbon, carbon fibers etc. For further information see attached literature reviews. If you have more specific questions, please contact me directly at [email protected]
Hi,
@ Haider Al-Ani, Terra Preta are not "Peat"; they are Pretric Anthrosols in WRB 2014.
Define by the Pretic horizon. Have a look in the WRB 2014.
Hello,
I would recommend You to contact two (german) researchers, who have worked with terra preta for many years:
- The "Terra preta Pioneer" Dr. Pabst: http://www.eije.de/ueber-uns/terra-preta-pionier-dr-pabst/
- Dr. Jürgen Reckin, Finowfurt, who gives really good lectures abou the reactions in the terra preta soils and started to produce "new terra preta" some decades ago - I kow him personally, he can tell You everything:) http://wikipreta.org/
There is plenty of literature on the fate of pyrolysed organic matter (black carbon, biochar) in the soil but less on other carbon materials such as hydrothermally carbonized material, plasma carbon, carbon fibers etc. For further information see attached literature reviews. If you have more specific questions, please contact me directly at [email protected]
Thanks Prof. Glaser, interesting topic...perhaps I'm looking for a revised equation and universal conversion relationship factor of SOM, SOC and TOC in complexity and heterogenous characteristics in tropical peat soils that mainly derived from woody materials.
Dr. Glaser (above) and J. Lehmann and company at Cornell are currently two of the primary researchers on terra preta. Terra preta is theorized to be the eventual product of amendment of the soil with charcoal. The production of charcoal, itself, is a process that is not so much "low-temperature" as it is low-oxygen. In fact, I believe one of the Cornell publications showed a peak CEC in charcoal produced at about 500 degrees C, if I remember correctly.
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