Abstract:
Cucurbits are grown in production agriculture in Oregon as well as in smallholder
agriculture in tropical South America. Experimental research was performed at the OSU
Research Farm in 2001 with direct-seeded cucurbits, and literature reviews were
conducted to develop a characterization of smallholder farming in tropical South
America. The two descriptions of different farming systems are used to draw
comparisons between production agriculture and subsistence agriculture. Sustainability
is used as a means of comparison and is defined as the successful management of
resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or
enhancing the natural resource base and avoiding environmental degradation. Direct
seeding was determined to be effective at controlling weeds and raising yields in cucurbit
monocultures and may also have a positive influence on sustainability. In smallholder
agriculture in tropical South America, modified versions of the direct seeding technique
may be used to improve or maintain levels of sustainability. Population control and
reevaluation of personal "needs" are leverage points with the potential to improve
sustainability.
