Relationships between Shipibo and western soil classification: Changes in land use patterns with cash cropping

Since the Shipibo began cash cropping rice, their land use patterns have changed with less utilization of sandy soils, best for staple Mosa production, and greater use of harder soils, more suitable for rice and root crops. Statistical analysis of soil samples reveals the physical-chemical basis for Shipibo soil categories and indicates the effect of swidden agriculture on levels of important soil characteristics. While cultural prescriptions for planting have summarized these ecological relationships in the past, they are often violated with increasing rice production. This paper examines the greater labor costs associated with the adoption of cash cropping by Shipibo farmers. (author)