The Incas used stepped agricultural terraces to cultivate their lands due to the high altitude of their territories. Thanks to these terraces, they were able to create different climatic zones based on altitude, which favored the growth of various plants requiring specific conditions.
The Andes mountain range has a steep relief, with strong slopes and narrow valleys not exactly ideal for easy cultivation. The natural flat areas, rare and scattered, were not sufficient at all to feed a large population. To still manage to produce a lot of food, the Incas decided to transform the mountain slopes into stepped agricultural terraces, forming immense staircases carved right into the mountain. Without this, it would have been impossible to fully utilize these steep lands for growing anything. These terraces allowed them to tame their environment, making difficult-to-access and steep lands cultivable.
The Incas had figured out a clever trick: with their stepped terraces, they captured and managed rainwater better, a rather rare resource in the Andes. The flat platforms combined with stone walls allowed water to infiltrate slowly rather than rushing quickly down the mountain. Thanks to this system, moisture stayed longer in the soils, ensuring a natural and constant irrigation of crops. They also dug small channels to distribute water efficiently between the terraces according to their needs. The result: less water waste, stable agricultural production, and robust yields even in the midst of steep mountains.
The agricultural terraces protect the soil from erosion caused by heavy rains and fast runoff in the mountains. By creating flat surfaces, they slow down the flow of water, preventing fertile soil from being washed down the slope. Each level retains the upper layer rich in organic matter, essential for good fertility. Furthermore, the stone walls built by the Incas to support these terraces also serve as protection by holding the soil in place and limiting its movement downhill. This ingenious management allowed the Incas to cultivate the same land for a long time without quickly depleting it.
In the Andes, the higher you climb, the colder it gets. The Incas understood this well and created tiered terraces at high altitudes to grow a variety of crops, each suited to a specific temperature. At the bottom, they grew heat-loving crops like corn and beans. Higher up, where it is cooler, they planted more cold-resistant vegetables like potatoes or certain sturdy tubers. In short, by manipulating the levels of the terraces, they took advantage of the small microclimates to cultivate a wide array of diverse foods in the same mountainous region.
By building their terraced fields, the Incas cleverly multiplied the cultivable space on heavily limited mountainous terrain at the base. Instead of an unusable sloping land, they created small stepped plateaus, cultivated separately. This technique allowed them to exploit every square centimeter available, which naturally led to much better agricultural yields. They primarily planted corn, potatoes, and quinoa, making the most of the available resources. With these terraces, the crops were significantly larger and more consistent. The result: more food produced and a better-nourished population, without fundamentally changing the natural environment.
Some agricultural terraces built by the Incas over 500 years ago are still in use today by farmers in the Andes, showcasing their exceptional engineering and durability.
The Incas used complex drainage and irrigation systems integrated into their agricultural terraces, allowing them to effectively manage rainwater and glacial meltwater.
Inca agricultural terraces not only allowed for food production but also created microclimates conducive to the cultivation of over 20 different types of corn.
The stone walls of the Inca terraces also served as an effective means to absorb and store heat during the day, slowly releasing it at night to protect the plants from the cold.
The agricultural techniques of the Incas, particularly the stepped terraces, have inspired sustainable soil and water management practices that are still used today in mountainous regions to prevent erosion and improve agricultural yields.
The Incas used an ingenious network of interconnected irrigation channels, allowing them to transport water from mountainous sources to agricultural plots located at different altitudes, ensuring optimal distribution and avoiding any waste.
Yes, some Andean communities continue to use and maintain the agricultural terraces built by the Incas. These structures demonstrate their great durability and ecological relevance even centuries later.
Absolutely, Inca agricultural terraces promote biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, and enable effective adaptation to microclimates, thus contributing to sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.
The Incas primarily cultivated potatoes, corn, quinoa, beans, and even some medicinal plants. These crops were adapted to the climatic variations and altitude of the Andes.
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