Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Water may be sprinkled on the burial ground to maintain a proper moisture-
temperature balance during spells of dry weather. Peppers are commonly stored
in sacks or on the bare floor after sun-drying.
Farming systems
The practices outlined above are embodied in various farming systems. Foremost
among the systems are essentially traditional biodiverse bush fallow and home
garden agroforestry (Table 6.2).
Bush fallow
The bush fallow system proceeds on a rotational basis in plots around fixed settle-
ments.Through any of the following practices, it conserves biodiversity:
•
controlled use of fire to clear vegetation on a selective basis
•
use of non-burnt vegetation for mulching
•
minimal tillage
•
use of environmentally low-impact tools
•
intercropping, often among trees left
in situ
.
A factor in the high crop diversity that often characterizes the system is
usage of varied edaphic conditions, breaks in canopies, and other ecological niches
within the farm. Table 6.2 summarizes the advantages of this and other manage-
ment regimes.
Home garden and non-home garden agroforestry
As discussed in some detail in Chapter 12, home garden agroforestry, i.e. an agro-
forestry unit located adjacent to the home, is particularly well developed in areas
settled by migrant Krobo farmers and other Adangbe-speaking people, notably
Sekesua-Osonson.
Like the type of agroforestry found away from the home, home garden agro-
forestry is vegecultural in character. Both types centre on African species of root
and tuber crops, notably yam,
Dioscorea
. However, home garden agroforestry
contains a wider diversity of other crops. Although cocoa has generally dimin-
ished in importance in migrant Krobo areas, it still shows higher concentrations
in the home garden agroforestries. Other crops still showing greater concentra-
tions in home garden agroforestries include the following:
•
peppers, other condiments, and certain leafy vegetables in regular demand by
the kitchen
•
plantains and bananas
•
fruit trees such as mango, avocado, citrus, and
Chrysophyllum albidum
(called
adesaa
by Twi-speaking Akan people, and
alatsa
by Ga-Adangbe-speaking
people, including the Krobo).
Trees among which crops may be interplanted include the following:
•
those difficult to fell
•
those perceived as sacred
