So which method of agriculture is kinder to environments comparable to the Central Maya Lowlands?
By conducting this comparative study of agriculture methods, slash-and-burn and wetland agriculture, used by the Central Lowland Maya,we have identified a compatible form of agriculture for the tropical environment of the Central Lowlands of the Peten.
We have found slash and burn agriculture proves that deforestation impacts the composition of soil nutrients by interrupting natural nutrient deposits. In this case the tree canopies are a key contributor of nutrients depositing to the forest soil. Long extended use of slash and burn agriculture practices accelerates deforestation rate, thereby limiting the amount of precipitation captured by the tree canopies. The regular introduction of precipitation in a tropical forest is necessary for the continuing deposit of phosphorous, which make for a fertile forest soil. Wetland agriculture exhibits a stasis of natural and anthropogenic activity (upland run-off etc.). While there are numerous types of divers wetland ecosystems there are areas that demonstrate to have a compatible landscape to sustain agricultural activity. Other areas that pose challenges, such as high water table levels and poorly mineralized soil, have capable solutions that the Central Lowland Maya seem to have overcome, demonstrated by soil analysis that reflects patterns of use and disuse of wetland fields. |
Currently there have not been enough studies conducted in the Central Maya Lowlands to prove that the practice of slash and burn agriculture harmed the surrounding environment more than the practice of wetland agriculture. Hypotheses and arguments have been made for potential negative impacts of wetland agriculture. Water erosion is a potential negative impact of wetland agriculture. The canals used as drainage would have transported soil runoff from raised fields; however, there is not enough evidence in our readings that convey this as a negative aspect. Therefore more research and surveys would have to be conducted in order to determine that wetland agriculture has negative impacts upon the natural environment.
What is evident in our analysis is that within their individual environments slash-and-burn agriculture, as a long term farming method, contributed to accelerated deforestation which exposed forest soil to erosion and nutrient deficiency. Wetland agriculture, however, worked in conjunction with already poor conditions. While wetland agriculture is an intensive form of agriculture and requires constant maintenance and long-term management, its use does not seem to impede on the natural ecosystem. In fact, it is evident that nature imposes the limits of long term utility of farming rather than farming intruding on the cycle of wetland ecosystems. There are currently ongoing studies that are gathering data in the Central Mayan Lowlands to aid in the prevention of deforestation. “The arguments against the viability of slash-and-burn agriculture as an ecologically sustainable form of crop production have pointed to the degradative effects on soil productivity.”[1] It would be premature to say that there are definitive negative impacts of wetland agriculture as more studies are needed to determine what these impacts would be. However, based on our research it is evident that the negative impacts of slash-and-burn are significant and visibly damaging to tropical forest soil, while wetland agriculture demonstrates to have few if any negative impacts. Thank you for visiting, The Research Team A copy our research report is available through our Research Team tab |