For me, the most difficult aspect of this assignment was data management, which required meticulous attention. The project required extensive planning to maintain its integrity. Integrating the data posed its own challenges, particularly when merging qualitative evaluations (like soil texture or community knowledge) with quantitative measures (such as elevation or species count). Balancing these forms of data was difficult. The results were consistent with expectations, demonstrating a clear relationship between elevation and specific parameters such as coffee plant occurrence and soil moisture content. The breakdown of the tensiometer was unexpected, but we discovered alternatives. Local farmers’ insights added to the data, demonstrating the benefits of combining scientific study with traditional knowledge. Future research could look into traditional farming techniques and their evolution over time, offering insight into sustainable practices and adaptive strategies.
P.S. The gentlemen whose goats destroyed our tensiometer treated us to coffee, which was excellent.
I saw your figure / table assignment already so see that for comments on this piece.