ITS ALL IN THE MOUND - FERTILITY MANAGEMENT UNDER STATIONARY SHIFTINGCULTIVATION IN THE PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA HIGHLANDS

This paper explores the idea of hybrid knowledge by combining anthropo logical research with soil science to investigate orthodox assumptions about shifting cultivation among the Wola highlanders of Papua New Gu inea. It is commonly assumed that shifting cultivation exhausts soil f ertility rapidly, leading to the relocation of settlements and gardens . However in Wolaland, farmers can maintain soil fertility without nee ding to relocate. Evidence from this research suggests that chemical p roperties of soil fertility, such as nitrogen, potassium, and organic matter, decline after cultivation, and that phosphorous is always low. Whatever, local soil-management measures allow farmers to cultivate n on-perennial crops semi-permanently through incorporating compost from short grassy fallows into 'soil mounds,' with sweet potato as a stapl e crop. As a result, farmers are able to avoid longterm fallowing, and the Wola have developed sustainable cultivation regimes in land often considered marginal.