LOCAL APPLICATION OF THE TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUES OF SOIL FERTILISATION 43

LOCAL APPLICATION OF THE TECHNIQUE

Technique: TECHNIQUES OF SOIL FERTILISATION Local name: Field Building Through Flood Diversion and Silt Catchment Site: Phoenix Basin , United States of America, North America Location Click the globe to see the techinique on Google Map Continent: North America Country: United States of America Site: Phoenix Basin Coordinates: Lat: 33.644171 Long: -112.200229 Description of the local variant of the technique This is a technique utilized by the ancient Hohokam, who inhabited the Southwest until around 1400 CE. Agricultural soil was improved by capturing silt from floodwater. In this technique, floodwater from flash-flood events is diverted onto fields where specialized bush alignments act as filters or nets, slowing the water and causing silt to be deposited over the field. Survival prospects Desert soil, which is in its natural state poor agricultural soil, is improved by the addition of nutrient-bearing silt. Composition of the soil is improved, combined with direct floodwater irrigation and injection of nutrients. Soil is much improved for agricultural use, allowing community to grow crops more effectively. SOURCES: 1) Schaafsma, Hoski, and John M. Briggs. "Hohokam Field Building." Kiva 72.3 (2007): 369-91. Web. Images Deepening TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUE DATA Technique TECHNIQUES OF SOIL FERTILISATION Icon Cathegory B - Agriculture Identification code B9 Other Local applications of the technique RELATED TECHNIQUES C1 DIVERSION SYSTEMS ON A LARGE SCALE AND USE OF FLOODS B10 TECHNIQUE OF SOIL IRRIGATION Author: Tynan Hartzell Other authors: Reference: JOURNALHoski Schaafsma & John M. Briggs. "Hohokam Field Building: Silt Fields in the Northern Phoenix Basin". KIVA: The Journal of Southwestern Anthropology and History Vol. 72 No. 3 (Spring 2007) p. 369-391. Digital.