\"Learning Soil with the Kayapo Indians\" . Using the Kayapo as an inspiration,

Question

"Learning Soil with the Kayapo Indians" . Using the Kayapo as an inspiration, research another example of an ancient or indigenous approach to soil classification. In a well developed post, compare and contrast your chosen approach. Do not get hung up on the names that the particular cultures give to their soils the important point to take from this is how they classify soils and why. Do some web searching about soil surveys, soil classification, and soil horizons and/or even the Kayapo for information to help you compare and contrast.

Explanation / Answer

We will briefly discuss the classification of soils in ancient India (Asia) based on Vedas (ancient Indian texts written in Sanskrit). Arthasastra (literally meaning the science of interests) had a dedicated chapter on plant sciences explaining the importance of procurement of viable seeds, choosing a proper soil (depending on crop), irrigation even it discuss the cleanliness to be maintained in gardens etc. However, Amarakosa classified soils into 12 types on the basis of fertility, irrigation etc. The main focus of these classifications was fertility. Here is list of all classes:

1. Urvara (fertile), 2. Usara (barren) 3. Maru (desert) 4. Aprahata (fallow) 5. Sadvala (grassy) 6. Pankila (muddy) 7. Jalaparliyamanupa (watery) 8. Kaccha (swamp/contigous to water) 9. Sarkara (stoney) 10. Sarkaravati (sandy) 11. Nadimatrka (land watered from river) and 12. Devamatrka (land watered by rain)

There are also classifications on the basis of suitability of a soil type for a particular crop e.g. yavya type for barley maudginum for green gram etc.

A striking similarity with Kyapo classification is the use of soil attributes (adjectives) used in both types of classification. For example, Kayapo has few types on the basis of stoniness, moisture, texture etc. which is similar to those described above. A distinction between the two is the combination of categories (e.g, stone+black (color of soil) present in the Kayapo system while absent in the Vedic one.

Reference: A Concise History of Science in India, Bose, Sen and Subbarayappa (Editors), pp 689, Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, 1971.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse #
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.