How did slash-and-burn farming work in the Mesoamerican lowlands?

In the Mesoamerican lowlands, slash-and-burn agriculture—also known as swidden agriculture—was a vital system for managing tropical soil fertility. The process functioned through a cycle of clearing, cultivation, and regeneration:12

• Clearing: Farmers used stone axes to cut down forest vegetation, leaving behind stumps and large trees.32
• Burning: The felled vegetation was burned, which cleared the plot of weeds and provided a layer of ash that enriched the soil with nutrients.34
• Cultivation: Using simple wooden digging tools, farmers planted crops such as corn, beans, and squash. This method typically supported cultivation for up to three years.25
• Fallowing: Once soil fertility declined or weeds became too difficult to manage, the plot was abandoned. The land was left to revert to secondary forest, allowing it to regenerate and restore its nutrients over a longer period before being reused.324

This system was an effective adaptation to tropical environments, mimicking the ecological diversity of the region while avoiding the need for labor-intensive technology like plows.31