A Behavioral Change Perspective of Maroon Soil Fertility Management in Traditional Shifting Cultivation in Suriname

In Suriname, the Maroons have practiced shifting cultivation for generations, but now the increasing influence of modern society is causing a trend of decreasing fallow periods with potentially adverse effects for the vulnerable tropical soils. Adoption of appropriate soil fertility management (SFM) practices is currently slow. Combining methods from cultural ecology and environmental psychology, this study identifies two groups with divergent behavioral intentions which we term semi-permanent cultivators and shifting cultivators. Semi-permanent cultivators intend to practice more permanent agriculture and experiment individually with plot-level SFM. Shifting cultivators rely on traditional knowledge that is not adequate for their reduced fallow periods, but perceive constraints that prevent them practicing more permanent agriculture. Semi-permanent cultivators act as a strong reference group setting a subjective norm, yet feel no need to exchange knowledge with shifting cultivators who are in danger of feeling marginalized. Drawing on a political ecology perspective, we conclude that cultural ecological knowledge declined due to negative perceptions of external actors setting a strong subjective norm. Semi-permanent cultivators who wish to enter the market economy are most likely to adopt SFM. We conclude that any future SFM intervention must be based on an in-depth understanding of each group’s behavior, in order to avoid exacerbating processes of marginalization

Humus components and biogenic structures under tropical slash-and-burn agriculture

Slash-and-burn cultivation in the humid tropics can cause changes in the composition of topsoil, depending on the duration of the fallow. We studied differences between practices, using the small-volume micromorphological method, to quantify the distribution of solid components in the topsoil, concentrating on plant organs and biogenic structures created by soil animals. We compared samples of topsoil from five plots, two at Maripasoula, an Aluku village along the Maroni river (French Guiana), with short fallow (= 8 years), and the other three at Elahe, a Wayana village along the same river, with long fallow (= 25 years). At both sites structures created by arthropods other than ants gave way to ones formed by ants and annelids under the influence of fire and cultivation. This change was more abrupt under long fallow, because of the time needed to restore the arthropod community. Charcoal and charred plant material were incorporated by earthworms into the mineral soil, forming dark grey to black aggregates. Charcoal became mixed with the mineral soil faster at Elahe than at Maripasoula, where it accumulated in the topsoil. The reason seems to be an imbalance between charcoal inputs (from repeated fires) and the capacity of burrowing animals (earthworms, ants) to mix it with the mineral soil