Historical analysis of irrigation and environment in two arid regions in South America

摘要

This paper discusses how irrigators in two arid areas in South America have responded to irregular river flow patterns to match water availability with actual water requirements. The Pampa de Chaparri (Peruvian north coast, 900-1500 AD) shows that irrigators may have adjusted irrigated surface and planting times. The Proyecto Rio Dulce (PRD) irrigation area in Argentina (1850-present) shows how irrigators continuously increased control over water flows through physical infrastructure. The paper elaborates upon how irrigation systems can be understood as human responses to environmental constraints.