Source 1: Excerpt from an Agricultural Engineering Study on Andean Terraces
An agronomic evaluation of ancestral *andenes* (stepped stone agricultural terraces) in Peru's Colca Valley indicates that their dark volcanic retaining walls absorb solar radiation during the day and release thermal energy overnight. This heat retention keeps root-zone soil temperatures approximately to warmer than the valley floor during seasonal frost events, while reducing topsoil erosion by . However, standard high-yield hybrid potato crops are poorly suited to *andenes* because they require heavy mechanized equipment and broad furrow irrigation, neither of which can operate on narrow, stepped terraces.
Source 2: Transcript from a Regional Radio Interview with an Agronomist from a Local Farming Cooperative
*Interviewer:* Some agricultural planners argue that cultivating traditional crops on stone terraces is inefficient compared to industrialized valley farming. How do your cooperative members view this?
*Agronomist:* While commercial hybrid potatoes generate higher raw biomass per hectare under ideal conditions, they frequently lose over half their harvest when sudden frost strikes the valley basin. In contrast, our cooperative revived heirloom potato varieties—such as *Qompis* and *Huayro*—on restored *andenes*. Even though their gross yield is roughly lower, these native tubers require only manual management and suffer virtually no frost damage on the terraces. Because gourmet and export markets pay a significant premium for organic native varieties, our farmers achieve greater, far more consistent annual household income.
Based on the information provided in both sources, which of the following conclusions can be drawn regarding the agricultural revitalization of the Colca Valley terraces?
- AThe primary objective of restoring ancestral stone terraces is to prevent topsoil erosion rather than to generate viable agricultural revenue.
- Combining ancestral stone terraces with native potato cultivars yields greater economic stability and frost resilience than conventional hybrid farming on the valley floor.Cevap
- CCommercial hybrid potato cultivars should be prioritized on terrace plots because their superior biomass volume ensures higher net profits.
- DLocal agricultural cooperatives plan to phase out heirloom potato varieties due to their lower physical yield per hectare.