{"id":14030,"date":"2019-02-12T13:20:26","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T13:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeinsyntropy.org\/?p=14030"},"modified":"2019-08-05T15:25:09","modified_gmt":"2019-08-05T15:25:09","slug":"pruning-instead-of-fertilizers-and-irrigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/pruning-instead-of-fertilizers-and-irrigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Pruning instead of fertilizers and irrigation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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According to Ernst G\u00f6tsch, pruning is the fuel of transformations and the key to the acceleration of natural succession. In Syntropic Agriculture’s view, the role of the human being on the planet would be, like any other species, to manage ecosystems to favor life dynamics towards complexification through symbiotic relationships with other organisms. From this perspective, the syntropic farmer would be able to support the primary production of biomass by pruning the species according to criteria such as stratification, life cycle, and place in succession. It seeks to create an environment of constant cycling and increase of organic and inorganic nutrients, maximizing photosynthesis and accelerating the system’s ability to metabolize and convert energy into more complex forms of life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ernst and Cimara pruning the trees above the cacao <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ernst G\u00f6tsch tells us an instructive example that facilitates understanding of the role of pruning in natural ecosystems and refers to traditional indigenous knowledge of the Amazonian region of Upper Beni, Bolivia, where cacao (Theobroma cacao) is native. Still living on hunting and gathering, the natives developed other perceptions about the behavior of species that are useful to them, thus constructing criteria for identifying highly productive individuals and some relevant relationships with their environment. In these places, cocoa occurs preferentially on the banks of rivers and wind channels, areas that are periodically subjected to disturbances, either by the fluvial flood pulses or by the strong winds that usually strike the Andes valleys. The natives of that region reported to Ernst that every four years the wind is exceptionally powerful and that results in great disturbances. According to their reports, those are also the years of greater production of cacao.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cacao produces more after a disturbance (Olhos D'agua Farm)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ernst translated that observation into the management of an agricultural system. When working with species such as cocoa, which co-evolved with disturbances, the correct pruning becomes essential. It results in both good fructification and a great benefit to the entire system, thanks to the increase of biomass production. Unlike other agroforestry crops of cacao (shade-grown cacao), Ernst’s area is managed on all forest levels. The secret of its high productivity and quality in comparison to other producers of the region is not in the fertilization or irrigation (since it dispenses both). In addition to the usual care of the cacao trees, his production depends on the management and pruning of Erythrinas, jackfruit, banana and many other species that are present in the area.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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