[Terrapreta] You Are What You Grow

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Lewis,

Just because the "...abuse of agricultural land is an ancient evil" doesn't exonerate us from doing something to stop "the evil practices" now .  In fact, because it is so ancient, we may have great difficulty breaking cultural habits and remediating the damage caused by so many generations of abuse.

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MMBTUPR at aol.com<mailto:MMBTUPR at aol.com> 
  To: lou.gold at gmail.com<mailto:lou.gold at gmail.com> ; MMBTUPR at aol.com<mailto:MMBTUPR at aol.com> 
  Cc: Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:27 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] You Are What You Grow


                 to Terrapreta               from  Lewis L Smith

  Yes, you may indeed be right in stating that the focus was on modern industrial agriculture. An example would be the compacting of the soil from the use of heavy Klaas cane harvesters, without subsoiling when the cane is replanted after the last ratoon.

  However, one really needs long time series to pick up all the effects of good and bad management systems, especially in countries where one must contend with the complication of long cycles of rainfall and drought. Hence my suggestion of a look at the sugar industry.  

  [ Brazil is another country where sugar has been planted for several centuries in some places. ]

  While we are on the subject, it is well to keep in mind that abuse of agricultural land is an ancient evil, not a modern one. For example, the collapse of Mayan and Middle Eastern kingdoms and empires, due at least in part to the accumulation of salts in the irrigation system. The destruction of Greek farm land since ancient times by cutting down trees and grazing goats. And so on.

  Cordially.  ### 





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