Shifting cultivation in steeply sloped regions: a review of management options and research priorities for Mizoram state, Northeast India

Abstract

Shifting cultivation is a common agricultural practice that is the basis of subsistence for many rural populations throughout the Tropics. The recent strong trend towards shorter fallow periods has led to widespread concern about declines in soil fertility, crop yields, and food security. Unlike most research on this problem, we focus here on steeply sloped regions such as Mizoram state in northeast India where most land is at an incline of[33°, and the potential for relatively large soil erosional losses may necessitate distinctive solutions. Our goal is to review the relevant literature so as to optimize the direction and quality of future science research on shifting cultivation in Mizoram. Our analysis suggests that the most promising options for improving shifting cultivation are nutrient and water supplementation, optimising crop choice, extending the site use period, enhancing the fallow recovery rate, and controlling the burns and their environmental impacts. Promising alternatives for replacing shifting cultivation include inter-row cropping between contour hedgerows of nitrogenfixing shrubs, slope terracing, agroforestry with antierosional plants, and bamboo forest harvesting. In addition, we identify the principal research questions that should be addressed before each of these options can be evaluated and recommended as part of land use planning initiatives. Overall, we conclude that intelligent and careful use of commercial fertilizer in combination with organic matter additions is likely to be an important feature of many of the solutions to the problem of shortening fallow periods in shifting cultivation on steep slopes.

Potential of fallow chronosequence in shifting cultivation to conserve soil organic carbon in northeast India

“…Shifting cultivation has been one of the major indigenous agricultural practices in subtropical to tropical hilly areas of Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa for ages (Chaplot et al, 2010;FAO, 1957;Grogan et al, 2012). This form of agriculture is the basis of subsistence for almost half a billion people worldwide (Craswell et al, 1997).…”

“…Clearance of forest and subsequent agriculture (mostly without any fertilizer and organic inputs) associated with shifting cultivation might disturb such balance. Conversion of forest to crop land and resultant loss of SOC is well documented (Foote and Grogan, 2010;Grogan et al, 2012;Murty et al, 2002). Specifically, report of reduction in SOC stocks through replacement of forest by shifting cultivation on sloping land is not uncommon (Wairiu and Lal, 2003).…”

Influência do Sistema de Corte e Queima na Infiltração e Condutividade Hidráulica do Solo

“…Apesar do surgimento de sistemas agrícolas modernos (por exemplo, plantio direto), ainda persiste em muitas partes do mundo, particularmente nas regiões tropicais (THOMAZ, 2009;ZIEGLER et al, 2009;GROGAN et al, 2012. ; VAN VLIET et al, 2012).…”

Recovery Pattern of Vegetation during Succession Following Slash and Burn Agriculture in Mizoram, North-East India

“…In present scenario, shifting cultivation is considered unsustainable due to decrease in the jhum cycle with the rise in population resulting in very low input-output ratio [1,9,10]. When the jhum cycle drops below a critical time period, the natural regeneration of vegetation is negatively affected [11][12][13].…”