Using proximal soil sensors and fuzzy classification for mapping Amazonian Dark Earths

Abstract

We tested if hand-carried field proximal soil sensing (PSS) can be used to map the distribution of anthropogenic Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE). ADE soils are rich in archaeological artefacts, nutrients, organic matter and carbon in the very stable form of pyrogenic carbon, also referred to as black carbon or biochar. To test the capacity of PSS to detect signature ADE properties we measured electrical conductivity (ECa), magnetic susceptibility (MSa) and gamma ray data by transect sampling and compared these readings, using fuzzy classification, with datasets on chemical soil properties from a 28 ha large study area located on the Belterra Plateau of the Lower Amazon in northern Brazil. Results indicate that ECa and MSa measurements were good indicators of ADE signatures, but that the gamma radiation sensor was less useful in the strongly weathered soils. PSS and fuzzy classification can be used for rapid field mapping of ADE for both agricultural and archaeological purposes.

Published in

Agricultural and Food Science
2013, volume: 22, number: 4, pages: 380-389

SLU Authors

• Söderström, Mats

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Eriksson, Jan

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Romeiro Araujo, Suzana

  • University of Sao Paulo

UKÄ Subject classification

Archaeology
Soil Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.8195

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/51143