Soil and Cultivation in the Papua New Guinea Highlands: 2. A Comparision of Indigineous and Scientific Perspectives.

Abstract

This is the second in a two part series of papers investigating the assertions of some Southern Highlanders that they do not inspect soil before clearing sites for cultivation. This paper assesses the status of their disclaimers through the analysis of the results of a survey of soil sites. A classification of soil resources is built up using multivariate techniques, by first assessing horizon variations, then constructing profile sequences, and finally combining these with clusters of site characteristics. A comparison of the resulting soil resource classification with indigenous assessments of, and agricultural use of soils reveals no apparent relationship, although there are some interesting soil-cultivation trends. The analysis fails to go beyond what local people assert about inspection of soils before cultivation, for there are apparently no observable patterns of properties by which they might assess agricultural potential.