Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
to cultivate the property and Octavio and A´da use it for pasture for their animals. It is
difficult to get there, so they only go there every two weeks or so.
The soils are excellent in this area. The topsoil is about 1 m deep with a dark black
color, good organic matter content, and an ideal sandy loam texture. Even though the
fields have a slope of more than 30 percent, the practices of using small raised beds and
plantings of trees and shrubs reduce soil erosion and maintain soil fertility. Because the
soils are derived from relatively recent volcanic ash, they are rich in minerals and are
very fertile.
1.2.2 Farming Practices
The family tries not to use chemical inputs for their crops. They maintain a space for
earthworm composting (Fig. 1.22) where they recycle the leaves and stems of vegetables
produced for sale and kitchen scraps. In addition, they use manure from the animals
(chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and swine) to increase soil organic matter. The manure
is stockpiled and mixed with soil so that it can dry before being applied to the fields.
Purchased inputs are used for potatoes. Furadan, Maneb, 10 - 30 - 10 fertilizer and
Kristalon are purchased. Furadan is a systemic insecticide to control the Andean potato
weevil (Premnotrypes vorax). Maneb is a fungicide needed to prevent potato scab. The
10 - 30 - 10 is a granular fertilizer containing 10 percent nitrogen, 30 percent phosphate,
and 10 percent potash, while Kristalon is a foliar fertilizer. The potato crop is the only
one that receives chemical fertilizer.
The field closest to the house is used primarily for vegetables. This field is managed
by A´da since she is in charge of family nutrition. Octavio helps her when he is at home,
but A´da is the one who decides what crops to plant and whether to sell or use them.
Octavio is primarily responsible for the care of the animals when he is at home.
In the garden used for vegetables A´da and Octavio have prepared raised beds like
the one for lettuce shown in Figure 1.23. The vegetables are planted every 1 or 2 weeks
so as to have a continuous supply. This way they have each crop in various stages of
Figure 1.22. Octavio working on a compost pit.
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