Fallowing and Irrigation / Chinampas

Fallowing and Irrigation

The Aztecs had other farming techniques, but none so efficient as chinampas.

Fallowing is the most simple of the farming techniques. A field is cultivated for a few years, allowed to rest, then recultivated (Berdan 2005). In the highlands, fallowing was usually paired with terracing in an effort to get a greater yield. Crops such as maize, chia, and amaranth were probably rotated (Berdan 2005). The success of fallowing depended on the natural rainfall in that area.

Irrigation is the practice of diverting water to dry land. This was usually achieved by blocking a small stream and causing it to flood. Floodwater irrigation systems made it possible to irrigate larger plots of land (Berdan 2005). Irrigation was usually used in relatively flat areas. It was more reliable than fallowing and produced greater surpluses (Berdan 2005). Chinampas are the most intensive form of irrigation (Berdan 2005).

Chinampas