Read the passage found in World Geography online textbook (Topic 3: Middle America, Lesson 1: the Olmec and Maya Civilizations). Then, answer the question: What is slash-and-burn?
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a a heavy taxes to raise public funds for each community
b a system of roadways to connect different communities
c adaption to the environment
d farming method in which vegetation is burned in order to enrich poor soil
The correct answer is d) farming method in which vegetation is burned in order to enrich poor soil.
Slash-and-burn agriculture, also known as swidden or shifting cultivation, is a farming technique commonly practiced in tropical areas with nutrient-poor soil. In this method, farmers clear a plot of land by cutting down trees and vegetation, and then burn the debris on the ground. The ashes from the burned vegetation help to fertilize the soil and provide nutrients for the crops. After the land has been cleared and burned, the farmer plants crops such as maize, beans, and squash. This method is often used for a few years until the soil becomes depleted of nutrients, at which point the farmer moves to a new plot of land and repeats the process.