Agricultural studies in seasonally flooded areas in the tropics have been limited. Orinoco alluvial soils are more fertile than adjacent non-flooded soils, and have been considered as potential areas for further agricultural development. Traditional agroforestry practices offer some possibilities to overcome the most limiting factors of floodplain cultivation. Indigenous knowledge of these traditional agroforestry practices was assessed and some indicators of the system's nitrogen and biomass dynamics were monitored. Nitrogen inputs by sediment and plant residues were 1668 and 47 kg ha1, respectively. Traditional selection of sediment by tree-and-grass barriers and litter management strategies increase nutrient-use efficiency in floodplain agroecosystems.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00704826Altmetric score:
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Publication year
1994
Authors
Barrios E; Herrera R; Valles J L
Language
English
Keywords
agroforestry, floodplains, indigenous knowledge, nitrogen, river basins
Geographic
Venezuela
