Agroforesteria en planicies aluviales tropicales

The purpose of this study was to identify the management practices of farmers in Mapire, Venezuela, who make the efficient use of the resources on the alluvial plood plains. Mapire is a transition zone between the Savannah and the tropical rain forest,located south of the Orinoco river. The annual mean precipitation is 1400mm and the temperature is 27 c.the soil are salty-clay Entisol,with a PHOF 5.0. the farmers practice the traditional slash and burn a system and burn system during the dry season (november-april). The land is for an average of 3-5 months. The planting is done when the water level descends leaving a sediments layer inundated. When soil fertility decreases, farmers frequently move to other land.Work was conducted with a farmer in an experimental area for three seasons, using the traditional practices of the region.The local people were consulted abut the management practices that produced higher yields and mountain soil fertility. The most commonly used species are jariso (Rupresehitia spp.),guayapo (Psidium ovatifolium)and the grass 'gamelote' (paspalam fasciculatum).The knowledge and effective use of natural resources by these communities, should be used in the design of tropical sustainable agricultural systems,such as tree and grass barriers around the plots that remain nutrients.

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