A diversidade florística nos quintais em terra preta de índio e solos menos antrópicos em ambientes de paleovárzea e terra firme, médio Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil

Abstract

This study examined the effect of anthropogenic soils (Indio Black Earths - TPI) of pre-Columbian origin and less anthropogenic soils (SMA) of more recent origin on the floristic diversity of homegardens in uplands and paleo-várzea areas along the middle Solimões River, Amazonas, Brazil. In the Brazilian Amazon homegardens have been studied because of their social importance and relationship to TPI. Homegardens in TPI have shown a tendency to concentrate a greater numer of useful species as compared to homegardens in other soil types. Floristic inventories were performed in 43 homegardens in twelve communities in near the Amanã (paleo-várzea) and Tefé lakes (uplands) in the middle Solimões region, state of Amazonas, Brasil. In Lake Amanã site 10 homegardens were studied in soils with TPI and 9 in SMA; at the Lake Tefé site, 14 homegardens were in soils with TPI and 10 in SMA. Samples of soil, age and size of homegardens, age and gender of the informants were recorded; species were classified according to their geographical origin (native to the Amazon, native to the Americas outside the Amazon and Old World), likely degree of domestication of most derived population and category of use. The chemical compositions of TPI soils in paleo-várzea areas showed a similar pattern to TPI soils in upland environments, as expected for this type of soil. One hundred and forty four species were recorded from 65 families, of which 112 were upland TPI soils, 91 in TPI in paleo-várzea, 70 in SMA the leo-várzea and 66 in SMA in the uplands. The richness of useful species tended to be higher in TPI soils than in SMA, and higher for upland environments than for paleo-várzea environments. In general, the richness of useful species of different origins was higher in TPI soils than in SMA. The native species of the Amazon were the most abundant in TPI soils followed by Old World species. The categories of food and medicinal use were higher in homegardens in TPI than on SMA; homegardens under the care women had a greater diversity of uses. Our results corroborate the results of other studies that show that TPI homegardens concentrate greater floristic diversity in relation to other region of the soil, as well as natural and dynamic spaces.