Associate Professor
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies | California State University, Northridge
The objectives of this project are to demonstrate gravity-flow drip irrigation of tropical food crops in a backyard gardening context, and to evaluate which gardening techniques are most effective in this context.
Scientific Name | Common names | Information |
---|---|---|
Colocasia esculenta | Taro; Island Taro | Ancient food. Brought to Pacific Islands on original inhabitants' voyages tens of thousands of years ago. Preferred variety: Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott |
Xanthosoma sagittifolum | Tannia; Taro Fiji; Yautía; Malanga | From the Americas; introduced to Oceania during 19th century. Drought resistant. |
Ipomoea batatas | Kumala; Sweet potato; | Originated in South America. Distributed across Pacific by Pacific Islanders who reached South America ca. 1000 a.d. Incorrectly called yams in the U.S. |
Dioscorea spp. | Yam | Culturally important and cultivated for thousands of years. Common species in Melanesia include Dioscorea alata; Dioscorea bulbifera; Dioscorea esculenta; Dioscorea nummularia; Dioscorea pentaphylla; Dioscorea rotundata; Dioscorea trifida |
Manihot esculenta | Manioc; Cassava | Increasingly used as a drought-resistant food crop. Introduced by Europeans during colonialism in 19th century. Originated in South America. |
Abelmoschus manihot | Island Cabbage; Aibika; Bele | Ancient leafy green crop. Most important leafy green vegetable traditionally speaking. High in vitamins, minerals; moderate amount of protein. Eight times as much calcium per serving as round English cabbage! |