Potential of Brazilian Amazon soils for food and fiber production.
2008
MOREIRA, A. | FAGERIA, N. K. | Adônis Moreira, CPPSE; NAND KUMAR FAGERIA, CNPAF.
The Amazon region has the world's largest tropical forest. Its conservation is of high importance to maintain the balance of climatic conditions and the diversity of the flora and fauna of this still largely unexploitoo region. In view of the increasing concern for the environment and growing world demand for food and fiber, and since this regions represents one afilie last agricultural frontiers, there is a need for sustainable management to produce food and fiber. The objective of this review is to discuss the region's potential and the problems related to the use of these areas caused by anthropogenic activities. Brazilian environmentallaws perrnit the use of Amazon up to 20% of its total tenitory. The Amazon region contains extensive savanna areas, with eutrophic soils, and 6.0 million hectares flood plains. However, the majority of soils are characterized by high acidity and low nutrient availability (0.4 billion ha -86% of the area), and in the primary forest the dynarnic of organic matter is responsible for recycling nutrients. Unfavorable climate conditions in the hurnid tropical part, with periods of intense rainfall and flooding, restricting cultivation of annual crops, is another problem of the region. In the more elevated upland regions, where the climate is more favorable, the planting of exotic and native tropical fruit species in combination or monoculture has great productive potential.
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