Abstract
The physical environment plays a critical role in determining both where crops can be grown
and how productive they are. The environment in which plants grow can be modified to some
degree by people, for example, using drainage to reduce excessive soil moisture. Here the main
physical environmental factors that influence crop growth in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are
noted and their influence on crop distribution and productivity is reviewed. This research builds
on the pioneering work of Harold Brookfield (1964) on the ecology of human settlement in
New Guinea over half a century ago. The focus here is on those crops that were used in PNG
before the recent adoption of numerous introduced species. Most of these new crops appeared
after 1870 following sustained European contact, but sweet potato came into PNG via Southeast
Asia about 300 years ago (Ballard 2005: 9; Bayliss-Smith et al. 2005: 109). Tobacco, another
American plant, was present in west New Guinea about 400 years ago (Ballard 2005: 8).
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Ten Thousand Years of Cultivation at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (Terra Australis 46) |
Editors | J. Golson, T. Denham, P. Hughes, P. Swadling and J. Muke |
Place of Publication | Canberra |
Publisher | ANU Press |
Pages | 51-64 |
Edition | 1 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781760461157 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |