Cultivation of minor tuber crops in Peru and Bolivia

Authors

• Leena Pietilä Department of Biology, University of Turku, SF-20500 Turku, Finland
• Paula Jokela Department of Biology, University of Turku, SF-20500 Turku, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72279

Abstract

A collection mission of three Andean tuber crops, oca (Oxalis tuberosa, Oxalidaceae), ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus, Basellaceae) and añu (Tropaeolum tuberosum, Tropaeolaceae), was carried out in southern Peru, Bolivia and northern Argentina. This article deals with the observations made during this mission. 55 ulluco fields were visited. In general, the fields are small, 240m2 on average, and they are mostly situated on mountain slopes. The fields are fertilized with animal dung; chemical fertilizers are quite rare. In the fields, people work with hoes ang ploughs as they did hundreds of years ago. Mechanization of agriculture would prevent full utilization of the mountainous area of the Andes. Ulluco is usually interplanted with other crops, usually, many forms of ulluco in one field. Because of crop rotation description of the fields is partly valid for the cultivation of other crops, too. Due to drastic climatic variation, cultivation of mixed varieties maybe the best way to guarantee some yield. When results of the investigations are wished to benefit developing countries, knowledge of social, agricultural and environmental factors is of great value.