Reference soil Brazil 12: Anthrosol

Black, very deep, well drained clay soil. The soil is strongly determined by past human influences shown by accumulation of organic matter and the many pot sherds in the A1 horizon ('man made soil' or Anthrosol). The soil has been occupied by indian settlements during centuries, who practized fertilization of the soil with household waste. The first 5 cm from the surface are slightly compacted. The BA horizon (89-124 cm) is characterized by many pockets (5-10 cm diameter) and channels (1-2 cm diameter) filled with darker coloured soil from the overlying horizons. Many channels (1-10 cm diameter), made by different animals and filled with darker topsoil, occur from 170 cm depth.The walls of the bigger channels are covered with a compact, smooth, clay layer of 0.5 to 1 cm thickness. Land use: old rubber estate interspaced with mango trees and vegetable plots. At present the rubber exploitation is extensive. *) Brazilian classification: Latossolo Amarelo com A antropico. Classification in FAO (1975) is not satisfactory, because there is no provision for the Anthropogenic A-horizon. USDA classification: Plaggept with oxic horizon is difficult to classify. Local classification: Terra Preta dos Indios. *) Brazilian classification: Latossolo Amarelo com A antropico.