Articles
CROPPING SYSTEMS FOR INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES: AN ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Article number
752_116
Pages
615 – 620
Language
English
Abstract
Indigenous vegetables are important to increase the food base of the people, particularly those in marginal and semi-arid areas, as they are most vulnerable to food shortages and famines.
Many of the nutritional problems encountered by these people could easily be alleviated by the incorporation of more vegetables in their diet.
Unfortunately, many of the commercial vegetable species are unable to thrive in these areas due to harsh climatic conditions and poor soil fertility.
Many of these problems can be alleviated by plant species that are adapted to marginal environments and that been harvested from the wild for many years.
Some of these are “exotic” species originating from other geographic areas, while others are local species.
Many of these species have been cultivated on a subsistence scale for centuries without any major pest or disease problems.
However, as production is scaled up in commercial cropping systems, a number of unexpected constraints may be encountered.
These may be related to the new environment, or to cultural practices that are accepted as normal for other staple crops.
Incorporation of new vegetable species into an existing crop rotation system may also evoke unforeseen production constraints.
This paper addresses possible problems that can arise when these “new” vegetable crops are introduced into new or existing cropping systems.
It draws on practical information gained during a number of years of research into a number of indigenous vegetable species in South Africa.
It seeks to provide an ecological perspective of how these problems can be addressed, thereby emphasising the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the development of indigenous vegetables.
Many of the nutritional problems encountered by these people could easily be alleviated by the incorporation of more vegetables in their diet.
Unfortunately, many of the commercial vegetable species are unable to thrive in these areas due to harsh climatic conditions and poor soil fertility.
Many of these problems can be alleviated by plant species that are adapted to marginal environments and that been harvested from the wild for many years.
Some of these are “exotic” species originating from other geographic areas, while others are local species.
Many of these species have been cultivated on a subsistence scale for centuries without any major pest or disease problems.
However, as production is scaled up in commercial cropping systems, a number of unexpected constraints may be encountered.
These may be related to the new environment, or to cultural practices that are accepted as normal for other staple crops.
Incorporation of new vegetable species into an existing crop rotation system may also evoke unforeseen production constraints.
This paper addresses possible problems that can arise when these “new” vegetable crops are introduced into new or existing cropping systems.
It draws on practical information gained during a number of years of research into a number of indigenous vegetable species in South Africa.
It seeks to provide an ecological perspective of how these problems can be addressed, thereby emphasising the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the development of indigenous vegetables.
Authors
J. Allemann, W.J. Swart
Keywords
Advantages, risks, cultural practices, new crops, diseases
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