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The house gardens of Santa Rosa: Diversity and variability in an Amazonian agricultural system

Las huertas de Santa Rosa: Diversidad y variabilidad en un sistema agricola Amazonica

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Abstract

Most research on house gardens suggests that this agricultural production type reaches its greatest development in areas of high population density. Gardens in low density areas such as the Amazon Basin have, to date, attracted little attention. A sample of house gardens in a ribereno village of the Peruvian Amazon is described and their great species diversity and variability in size and composition are discussed. The processes by which gardens in the village evolve and change are outlined. The study indicates that many young people of the village have a continuing interest in maintaining complex house gardens. More research on Amazonian house gardens is urged.

Résumé

Estudios científicos recientes indican que las huertas estan mas desarollados en áreas con densidades poblacionales altas. Huertas en áreas con pocos habitantes, como en la cuenca Amazóznica, hasta ahora han recibido muy poca atención cientófica. En este trabajo se describe un muestreo de huertas en un pueblo ribereño en la Amazonía Peruana, y se discuta la diversidad de especies presentes, y la gran variabilidad en área y composición. En este trabajo tambien se describe la evolutión de las huertas en el pueblo. Nuestro estudio indica que muchos moradores jóvenes del pueblo mantienen su interes en las huertas complejas. Mayor investigación científica sobre las huertas Amazonicas es necesaria.

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Padoch, C., de Jong, W. The house gardens of Santa Rosa: Diversity and variability in an Amazonian agricultural system. Econ Bot 45, 166–175 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862045

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