聯合梯(ti)(ti)田(tian)(tian)(tian)通過山(shan)頂竹(zhu)林截留(liu)、儲存天然降水(shui)(shui),再以溪流流入村(cun)莊和(he)梯(ti)(ti)田(tian)(tian)(tian),形成特有的(de)(de)(de)“竹(zhu)林-村(cun)莊-梯(ti)(ti)田(tian)(tian)(tian)-水(shui)(shui)流”山(shan)地農(nong)業體系。春天,農(nong)民(min)給田(tian)(tian)(tian)里(li)灌水(shui)(shui)浸爛田(tian)(tian)(tian)泥;春耕(geng)時,小孩(hai)們下田(tian)(tian)(tian)摸田(tian)(tian)(tian)螺、捉(zhuo)泥鰍;到(dao)插秧時,農(nong)民(min)種上田(tian)(tian)(tian)埂豆(dou)、放(fang)些(xie)魚(yu)(yu)苗(miao),鯉魚(yu)(yu)能減少田(tian)(tian)(tian)中雜(za)草生長(chang)和(he)蟲害的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)生,田(tian)(tian)(tian)埂豆(dou)發(fa)達的(de)(de)(de)根(gen)系能保護(hu)田(tian)(tian)(tian)埂;收(shou)獲(huo)時,再放(fang)干田(tian)(tian)(tian)里(li)的(de)(de)(de)水(shui)(shui),收(shou)魚(yu)(yu)、收(shou)水(shui)(shui)稻(dao)、收(shou)黃豆(dou)。收(shou)獲(huo)后,鴨子、山(shan)羊等被(bei)趕入田(tian)(tian)(tian)中,覓食遺撒的(de)(de)(de)谷粒和(he)新長(chang)出的(de)(de)(de)雜(za)草。動(dong)物(wu)糞(fen)便(bian)、作物(wu)桔梗(geng)和(he)豆(dou)類的(de)(de)(de)固氮功能,則使土壤肥力(li)不斷(duan)提升。梯(ti)(ti)田(tian)(tian)(tian)垂直(zhi)落(luo)(luo)差600多(duo)米(mi),連延數十里(li),田(tian)(tian)(tian)在(zai)山(shan)中,群山(shan)環抱,土墻灰(hui)瓦的(de)(de)(de)村(cun)落(luo)(luo)散(san)落(luo)(luo)其間,一派與(yu)世(shi)無爭的(de)(de)(de)安然祥和(he)。
隨(sui)著生產(chan)的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)展(zhan)(zhan),梯田正(zheng)面(mian)臨被破壞(huai)、被拋(pao)棄的(de)(de)(de)危險,傳統的(de)(de)(de)農(nong)(nong)耕方(fang)式面(mian)臨嚴峻挑(tiao)戰。如(ru)今尤溪縣政府按照農(nong)(nong)業部(bu)中國重要(yao)(yao)農(nong)(nong)業文(wen)化遺產(chan)保護工作要(yao)(yao)求,制定了梯田保護與發(fa)展(zhan)(zhan)專項規(gui)劃(hua)和管(guan)理(li)辦(ban)法(fa),通過生物多樣(yang)性的(de)(de)(de)恢復、傳統農(nong)(nong)耕文(wen)化的(de)(de)(de)傳承,以及與休(xiu)閑農(nong)(nong)業的(de)(de)(de)結合,從(cong)根本上解決農(nong)(nong)民增收(shou)、農(nong)(nong)業可持續發(fa)展(zhan)(zhan)和文(wen)化遺產(chan)保護問題。
2018年4月19日(ri),福(fu)建尤溪聯合梯田(tian)在第(di)五次全球(qiu)重要(yao)(yao)農業文化遺(yi)產國際論壇上(shang)獲“全球(qiu)重要(yao)(yao)農業文化遺(yi)產”授牌。