ABSTRACT

In Kāne’ohe Bay, Hawai‘i, efforts were made to mitigate invasive marine algae and repurpose it as an agricultural resource. We used interviews and participant observation with farmers to analyze possible benefits and tradeoffs of adopting algal soil inputs, with attention to labor patterns, nutrient sources and efficiency, soil health, and productivity. Conventional and organic growers were interested in composted algae to improve soil organic matter, and the fertilizer value of liquid anaerobic digestate, but algal levels declined unexpectedly. Should levels resurge, organizations that conduct boundary work between farmers and conservation agencies will enable its wider use as a soil amendment.

摘要

在夏威夷的卡内奥赫湾，人们努力减轻侵入性海藻并将其重新用作农业资源。我们通过对农民的访谈和参与者观察来分析采用藻类土壤投入物可能产生的利益和取舍，同时关注劳动力模式，营养来源和效率，土壤健康以及生产力。传统和有机种植者都对堆肥藻类改善土壤有机质和液态厌氧消化液的肥料价值感兴趣，但藻类含量却意外下降。如果水平恢复，在农民和保护机构之间开展边界工作的组织将使其更广泛地用作土壤改良剂。