Irrigation has been practised near the Syr Darya river in Central Asia for over 1300 years. Low-level aerial surveys were used to determine the extent of the former canal network and archaeological excavations have identified phases of expansion and contraction of towns that depended on irrigated agriculture. From AD 1000 onwards, extensive series of engineered canals were constructed, producing a rich agricultural society in a region formerly considered to be dominated by nomadic pastoralists. Phases and expansion of agricultural development are related to regional changes in climate. Modern irrigation models have been used to reconstruct likely crop water requirements.
Vitcos was occupied by the Incas of Vilcabamba in the sixteenth century, which included about 20 ha of agricultural fields with crops such as maize, potato, quinoa, amaranth and beans.The current study assessed water management for agriculture on this site. Desk research included relating past climatic data to a parallel study on modern climate, evapotranspiration, crop schedules, crop water requirements and capillary rise estimates; additionally, field studies comprised soil sample collection and analysis, watercourse flow measurements and hydrological interpretation, GIS mapping of crop fields, and the reconstruction of crops with palynology techniques and radiocarbon dating.Results indicate that irrigation requirements for crops sown once a year occurred only in May, for potato (15.3 mm) and quinoa (3.5 mm), but rainfed irrigation was feasible if capillary rise is considered. Finally, the Inca population of Vitcos was estimated in relation to food production, considering dietary habits, crop field area, crop yields, nutrition value of crops and calorie requirements, reaching 365 people, taking into account that crops were sown once a year and meat supply represented RÉSUMÉLe site de Vitcos était la résidence des Incas de Vilcabamba au 16e siècle et comprenait environ 20 hectares de terres agricoles avec des cultures telles que le maïs, la pomme de terre, le quinoa, l'amarante et les haricots.La présente étude évalue la gestion de l'eau en agriculture pratiquée sur ce site. La recherche documentaire a mis en parallèle des données climatiques historiques avec une étude sur le climat moderne, l'évapotranspiration, les périodes des cultures, les besoins en eau des cultures et des estimations de la remontée capillaire; en outre, les études de terrain incluent l'échantillonnage et l'analyse de sols, des mesures du débit des cours d'eau et l'interprétation en matière d'hydrologie, la cartographie SIG des champs, et la reconstruction des types de cultures avec des techniques de palynologie et de datation au radiocarbone. Les résultats indiquent que les besoins en irrigations des cultures semées une fois par an ne se manifestent qu'au mois de mai, pour la pomme de terre (15.3 mm) et le quinoa (3.5 mm), toutefois si la remontée capillaire est envisagée, l'irrigation par l'eau de pluie était alors possible.Enfin, la population Inca de Vitcos a été estimée à 365 personnes, en tenant compte la production alimentaire, des habitudes alimentaires, de la zone où est situé le champ cultivé, les rendements, la valeur nutritionnelle des cultures, les besoins calorifiques, en tenant également compte du fait que les cultures étaient semées une fois par an et que l'approvisionnement en viande représentait 10% du régime alimentaire. Cette estimation est en accord avec le nombre d'habitants qui auraient pu être logés dans les demeures Incas de Vitcos.
ResumenEste trabajo tuvo como objetivo mejorar el manejo del agua para la agricultura en Vilcabamba y similares regiones en la ceja de selva, mediante eficientes calendarios de cultivo que permitan satisfacer las necesidades de agua utilizando agricultura de secano, a fin de maximizar el rendimiento de los cultivos. Para ello se llevó a cabo dos estudios de campo durante la temporada seca en septiembre de 2012 y la temporada de lluvias en febrero de 2013 para medir el caudal de ríos y canales; asimismo se analizaron 19 muestras del suelo, presentando texturas franco y franco arenoso. Se utilizó datos del clima, cultivos y suelo para calcular las necesidades de agua en los cultivos y las necesidades de riego con el programa Cropwat, indicando que la evapotranspiración de cultivos es baja debido a la humedad y temperatura fría. Los cultivos no requieren riego durante la temporada de lluvias, de diciembre a abril, sin embargo durante la temporada seca existen necesidades de riego, con una capacidad de flujo máximo de 1,72 l s -1 en mayo. La capacidad de flujo puede ser satisfecha por riachuelos y manantiales con caudales de 2 a 6 l s -1 en la misma temporada. Los resultados de la investigación indican que es posible practicar la agricultura de secano, regando la tierra antes de la siembra para que el rendimiento de los cultivos no sea afectado, caso contrario algunas cosechas como verduras y papas se reducirían en un 4,7% y 1,4% respectivamente. Para minimizar estos efectos, se sugiere sembrar ambos cultivos un mes más tarde de lo acostumbrado, adaptando su periodo de crecimiento a la temporada de lluvias.Palabras clave: calendarios de cultivo, necesidades de agua en los cultivos, agricultura de secano, manejo del agua, ceja de selva. AbstractThis work was aimed to improve the water management for agriculture by applying efficient crop schedules in Vilcabamba and similar areas of the high jungle, which can satisfy most of the water requirements with rainfed agriculture to maximize the crops yield. For this purpose, two field practices were carried out during the dry (September 2012) and wet season (February 2013) to measure rivers and canals flows with the velocity/area method; 19 soil samples were collected on-site and analyzed, presenting prevalent sandy loam and loam textures. Cropwat program was used to estimate crop water requirements and scheme irrigation requirements, resulting in a maximum flow capacity of 1.72 l s -1 in May, during the dry season. The flow capacity can be satisfied, since small ditches convey approximately 2 to 6 l s -1 on the same season. The research findings indicate that rainfed farming can be practised, yet an initial pre-irrigation needs to be applied, for crops should not be water stressed. However, if soil is not pre-irrigated the production can be affected, with vegetables and potato crop yields being reduced by 4.7% and 1.4% respectively. To minimize these effects, both crops are suggested to be sowed one month later, adapting their growth period to the rainy season.
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