Hydraulic Agriculture in the American Tropics: Forms, Measures, and Recent Research

摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the hydraulic agriculture in American tropics. The known indigenous alternatives to rain-fed swidden tropical America are orchards, house gardens, mounding, terracing, playa and levee cultivation, irrigation, ditching, raised fields. Hydraulic agriculture, broadest sense, can refer any intentional manipulation of water improve growing conditions for cultivated crops. Mounds narrow ridges may serve minimize upper-soil waterlogging. They also other functions, including soil aeration, weed control, fertility addition. do not survive well tropics, a little is about them, but they probably were However, there no environmental limitations development only cultural limitations. Agricultural potential phenomenon; it something inherent nature that be measured, exists independent culture. At present, with available technology, carried out anywhere on earth. Whether or given habitat dependent whether culture involved has necessary technology perceived need relation costs involved. current makes possible control temperature, move water, make soil.