The Maori of New Zealand developed and implemented agricultural techniques that allowed for the use of multiple locations for growing kumara, sweet potatoes. The Maori techniques allows for sweet potatoes to be planted and almost any environment.
Maori techniqueThe Maori would dig a long sod of earth, which they would then form into mounds, called Tapuke, in which the sweet potato tuber is planted (Macnab 88). Similar to today's method of tilling a field, but then the rows would be built into little mounds. The mounds gave the roots of the plants adequate root aeration and good drainage (Macnab 88).
This technique is used today in New Guinea. |
Experimental archaeology of Maori Techniques
Two experimental gardens were created using Ancient Maori techniques, one in 1999 at Robin Hood Bay and the second one 2000 at Whatarangi , both gardens were 5 meters by 5 meters (Burtenshaw 239).
The data from the gardens, such as, labor hours for two gardeners, productivity & yields, annual yields, and soil test results were recorded for each garden for 5 years (1999 or 2000 to 2005/2006).
The data from the gardens, such as, labor hours for two gardeners, productivity & yields, annual yields, and soil test results were recorded for each garden for 5 years (1999 or 2000 to 2005/2006).
Labor Hours
Soil Content
Soil test taken at the time of planting and harvesting at each garden show that both gardens were low in phosphorus and potassium and that the Whatarangi garden was low in Calcium at the beginning of the experiment. Results from and 2005 shows neither garden had any significant decline in soil nutrients measured despite continuous sweet potato production and no fertilizer or additional organic matter being used (Burtenshaw 242).
crop yields
The 2005 world average yield for sweet potato is 14.9 tons per hectare and 13.3 tons per hectare for New Zealand (Burtenshaw 244). The overall mean of the 12 tons/ha from both experimental gardens is not far below modern yields (Burtenshaw 244). This data shows that the Maori agricultural techniques produce around the same yields as present day agricultural techniques.
Uniqueness of the Sweet potato
The Maori did not water their sweet potatoes!
The drought tolerance of the sweet potato was demonstrated in the 2000-2001 growing season that was described as a 1-in-100 year’s drought (Burtenshaw 244). Rainfall records from 1923 to 2001 for the Ocean Bay Climate Station near Robin Hood Bay averaged 748mm in the summer growing season compared to only 259mm in 2000-2001 season (Burtenshaw 244). Drought conditions were particularly severe at the Whatarangi site (Burtenshaw 244). A productive yield was still obtained from both sites, despite receiving no irrigation water (Burtenshaw 244).
There are similar reports of sweet potato drought resistance from East Africa and the adaptability of the sweet potato to a wide range of climate conditions is illustrated by the rapid adoption of the crop in New Guinea (Burtenshaw 244).
The drought tolerance of the sweet potato was demonstrated in the 2000-2001 growing season that was described as a 1-in-100 year’s drought (Burtenshaw 244). Rainfall records from 1923 to 2001 for the Ocean Bay Climate Station near Robin Hood Bay averaged 748mm in the summer growing season compared to only 259mm in 2000-2001 season (Burtenshaw 244). Drought conditions were particularly severe at the Whatarangi site (Burtenshaw 244). A productive yield was still obtained from both sites, despite receiving no irrigation water (Burtenshaw 244).
There are similar reports of sweet potato drought resistance from East Africa and the adaptability of the sweet potato to a wide range of climate conditions is illustrated by the rapid adoption of the crop in New Guinea (Burtenshaw 244).