Study on soils under shifting cultivation and other land use categories in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

Soil samples were collected and analyzed from 25 sites of three hilly regions （Rangamati, Banderban and Khagrachari） for an understanding of the impact of denudation and land use on soils in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. There were natural forests, bushy land, slashed sites, slashed and burnt sites, and the sites prepared for shifting cultivation, one year after shifting cultivation and two years after shifting cultivation. The soils were generally yellowish brown to reddish brown, sandy to sandy clay loam, strongly acid, and well to excessively drained on steep slopes with considerable variation among the sites and land use categories. Bulk density was the highest in sites of one year after shifting cultivation （1.52 g·cm^-3） and the lowest in forested sites （1.38 g·cm^-3）. Water holding capacities were, however, statistically similar in all sites. Organic carbon varied from 0.54% （slashed and burnt sites） to 1.55% （forested sites） and total N ranged from 0.05% （shifting cultivation for one year） to 0.13% （forested sites）. Available phosphorus （Bray ＆ Kurtz-2 P） was the maximum in forested sites （12.32 mg·kg^-l）, and it did not differ significantly in other sites. Contents of available Ca, Mg and K were also higher in the bushy lands and forested sites than cleared and shifting cultivated sites.

Food Security of Shifting Cultivation Systems: Case Studies from Luang Prabang and Oudomxay Provinces, Lao PDR

The Government of the Lao PDR’s policy is to eliminate the cultivation of upland rice by means of ‘slash-and-burn’ cultivation and to replace it with more ecologically stable systems based on sustainable land use at the village and household level. The objectives of this policy are to alleviate poverty and to introduce more sustainable management of agricultural resources. In order to achieve these objectives, the government has initiated a program of relocation to upland ‘focal areas’ from which marketing, distribution and other services can be supplied, these being essential preconditions for effective agricultural development in these regions. This diagnostic study has examined communal and household strategies for addressing food security issues, and has highlighted the main problems encountered in the pursuit of food security on the local level. The specific objective was to conduct a broadly focused participatory problem diagnosis of the study areas in two districts Phonsay and Namo, in order to understand farmers’ problems, livelihood goals and how their perspectives on food security have changed, and to investigate food security in shifting cultivation systems in Luang Prabang andOudomxay provinces. Within these two provinces Phonsay and Namo districts were selected as the research areas. The two districts are the poorest districts in the Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces and two of ten priority poorest districts in the whole country. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for the study. The results of this study were reviewed against the sustainable land use systems strategy formulated from the Lao PDR policy. The study highlights both the benefits and stresses on household welfare, food insecurity conditions in the study areas, and interrelated problems of insufficient rice for household consumption. Finally based on these results the authors propose recommendations and future research indications.

Effects of shifting cultivation on biological and biochemical characteristics of soil microorganisms in Khagrachari hill district, Bangladesh

We collected soil samples from two representative sites at Aatmile of Khagarachari hill district in Chittagong Hill Tracts. One of the sites was under shifting cultivation and the other an adjacent 13-year old teak plantation. Both sites were in the same physiographic condition and same aspect with parable soil type, which enabled us to measure the effects of shifting cultivation on soil micro-flora. We studied soil phys-ico-chemical properties and the biochemical and biological properties of soil microbes. Moisture and organic matter content as well as fungi and bacterial populations, both in surface and subsurface soils, were signifi-cantly （p≤0.001） lower in shifting cultivated soils compared to soils not under shifting cultivation, i.e. the teak plantation site. The most abundant bacteria in surface （0-10 cm） and sub-surface （10-20 cm） soils under shifting cultivation were Pseudomonas diminuta and Shigella, respec-tively, while in corresponding soil layers of teak plantation, predominant microbes were Bacillus firmus （0-10 cm） and Xanthomonas （10-20 cm）. The microbial population differences cannot be explained by soil texture differences because of the textural similarity in soils from the two sites but could be related to the significantly lower moisture and organic mat-ter contents in soils under shifting cultivation.

Shifting cultivation effects on soil fungi and bacterial population in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

A study was conducted at two pair sites of Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh to find out the effects of shifting cultivation on soil fungi and bacterial population. The first pair of sites with shifting culti-vation and village common forest-managed by indigenous community was at Madhya Para in Rangamati district and the second pair of sites with the shifting cultivated land and village common forest at Ampu Para in Bandarban district of Chittagong Hill Tracts. At both the locations with two different land uses, soil textures in surface （0？10 cm） and sub-surface （10？20 cm） soils varied from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Soil pH and moisture content were lower in shifting cultivated land com-pared to village common forest. The results also showed that both fungal and bacterial population in surface and subsurface soils was significantly （p ≤ 0.05） lower, in most cases, in shifting cultivated land compared to village common forest at both Madhya Para and Ampu Para. At Ranga-mati and Bandarban in shifting cultivated lands, Colletrotrichum and Fusarium fungi were absent and all the bacterial genus viz. Coccus, Bacillus and Streptococcus common in two different locations with dif-ferent land uses. Common identified fungi at both the land uses and locations were Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Trichoderma and Penicillium. Further study can be done on the other soil biota to understand the extent of environmental deterioration due to shifting cultivation.

Shifting cultivation effects on creek water quality around Barkal Upazila in Chittagong Hill Tracts,Bangladesh

Abstract： We report the effects of shifting cultivation on water quality in 16 creeks investigated once in 2007 and twice in 2008 in 16 apparently similar small neighboring watersheds, each of 3 to 5 ha, at four locations around Barkal sub-district under Rangamati District of Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Concentrations of 5042- and K＋, and pH in creek water were lower, and NO3-N and Na＋ concentrations were higher in shifting-cultivation land compared to land with either plantation or natu- ral forest or a combination of these cover types. Shifting cultivation effects on some water quality parameters were not significant due to change in land cover of the watershed between two sampling periods either through introduction of planted tree species or naturally regenerated vegetation. Conductivity and concentrations of HCO3- PO43-, Ca2-- and Mg2＋ in creek water showed no definite trend between shifting cultivation and the other land cover types. At one area near the Forest Range Office of Barkal, creek water pH was 5.8 under land cover with a com- bination of shifting cultivation and plantation. At this area Na~ concentra- tion in shitting-cultivation land ranged from 32.33 to 33.00 mg-L＂ and in vegetated area from 25.00 to 30.50 mg.L-1 in 2007. At another area, Chaliatali Chara, SO42 concentration in a shifting-cultivation watershed ranged from 4.46 to 10.51 mg-L-1, lower than in a vegetated watershed that ranged from 11.69 to 19.98 mg.L-1 in 2007. S042-concentration in this shifting-cultivation area ranged from 1.28 to 1.37 mg.L^-1 and in the vegetated area from 1.37 to 3.50 mg-L^-1 in 2008.

Effect of shifting cultivation on soil physical and chemical properties in Bandarban hill district, Bangladesh

This study reports the effects of shifting cultivation at slashing stage on soil physicochemical properties at Bandarban Sadar Upazila in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. At this initial stage of shifting cultivation no general trend was found for moisture content, maximum water holding capacity, field capacity, dry and moist bulk density, parti- cle density for some chemical properties between shifting cultivated land and forest having similar soil texture. Organic matter was significantly 0.05） lower in 1-year and 3-year shifting cultivated lands and higher in 2-year shifting cultivation than in adjacent natural forest. Significant differences were also found for total N, exchangeable Ca, Mg and K and in CEC as well as for available P. Slashed area showed higher soil pH. Deterioration in land quality starts from burning of slashing materials and continues through subsequent stages of shifting cultivation.

Evaluating Rice Biodiversity and Yields of Upland Rice Landraces Grown in Shifting Cultivation in Bandarban,Bangladesh

Shifting cultivation,popularly known as jhum,is a dominant form of agriculture in the Chattogram Hill Tracts(CHT)of Bangladesh with upland rice being the major component of the system.The region is known for its rice biodiversity,which is under threat.This study was an attempt to explore the extent of rice biodiversity and variation in rice yields observing 81 randomly selected shifting cultivation plots from 26 dispersedly located mountainous villages in four sub-districts of Bandarban,one of three districts of the CHT.A total of 28 landraces of upland rice was grown in shifting cultivation.Highest number of landraces(16)was found in sub-district Thanchi.Three landraces most frequently observed were Gunda,Maemonsing and Sadabinni.Rice grain yield varied between 1.421 t ha-1 and 3.442 t ha-1 across landraces with the highest being recorded for Patobi.Landrace Dilon the lowest yield.Relative performance of landraces Kobrokbinni,Maemonsing,Monthon,Patobi and PD were superior to standard BRRI dhan83 and Gunda in relation to grain yield.Some of these landraces having wider adaptability may be released as varieties.

Community Characteristics of Early Recovery Vegetation on Abandoned Lands of Shifting Cultivation in Bawangling of Hainan Island, South China

: Shifting cultivation is a major form of agricultural practice in most parts of tropical regions worldwide. In places where the bush fallow period is excessively shortened or the period of cultivation is extended for too long, the rate of vegetation recovery and biodiversity on abandoned lands of shifting cultivation would decline. The recovery of the secondary plant communities could even be inhibited for a prolonged period because of grass occupancy. Because of the vital significance of the early recovery communities to secondary succession, we studied the community characteristics of early recovery vegetation on abandoned lands of shifting cultivation in Bawangling of Hainan Island. Measurements were made of the community composition and structure of early recovery vegetation. The sprouting abilities of different functional groups and different species in the same functional group, and the effect of the grass functional group on the composition and quantitative characteristics of tree and shrub functional groups were analyzed. Results indicated that only a few families, genera, or species apparently dominated in the early recovery vegetation on the abandoned lands of shifting cultivation and that deciduous species occurred with a rather high percentage in this early recovery community compared with the natural secondary or old growth forests. Small-sized individuals dominated the woody community. The abundance and basal area of sprouting stems for species in the tree functional group were greater than those of seeder stems, whereas the abundance and basal area of resprouters and seeders for species in the shrub functional group did not differ. The total abundance of stems for the community, stem abundances for species in tree or shrub functional groups, and for seeder or resprouter stems were all negatively correlated with coverage of the grass functional group. The mean sprouting ability in the tree functional group was greater than in the shrub functional group. The sprouting ability for different species in the same functional group was also significantly different.

Effect of Hillslope Gradient on Vegetation Recovery on Abandoned Land of Shifting Cultivation in Hainan Island,South China

In the present study, we investigated the effect of hillslope gradient on vegetation recovery on abandoned land of shifting cultivation In Hainan Island, south China, by measuring community composition and structure of 25-year-old secondary forest fallows along a hillslope gradient （up-, middle-, and down-slope position）. A total of 49 733 free-standing woody plant stems higher than 10 cm and belonging to 170 species, 112 genera, and 57 families was found in the three l-hm2 investigation plots. Stem density was highest in the down-slope stand and lowest in the up-slope stand. Species richness and the Shannon-Wiener Index were both highest in the middle-slope stand, and lower In the down-slope and up-slope stands. The recovery forest fallows on different hiUslope positions were all dominated by a few species. The five most abundant species accounted for 70.1%, 58.8%, and 72.9% of total stem densities in stands in the up-, middle-, and down-slope positions, respectively. The five species with the greatest basal areas accounted for 74.5%, 84.3%, and 74.7% of total stem basal area for the up-, middle-, and down-slope positions, respectively. The number of low-density species （stem abundance less than five） Increased from the up-slope position downward. Of the nine local common species among three different functional groups, the short-lived pioneer species dominated the up-slope position, but long-lived pioneer species dominated the middle- and down-slope positions. The climax species of primary tropical lowland rain forest was found in the downslope position. Both the mean diameter at breast height （DBH） and mean height of the trees Increased with decreasing hillslope gradient. The stem density and basal area in different size classes were significantly different in stands In different slope positions. Our results indicated that the rate of secondary succession varies, even over small spatial scales caused by the hlllslope gradient, in early vegetation recovery.

Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district,Nagaland,India

Background:Shifting cultivation is a major agriculture practice in the Nagaland state of India.This study examines the effect of shifting cultivation and the length of the fallow period on soil quality index(SQI).Four sites were selected for the study,viz.,a shifting cultivation site(SCS),a 3-year-old fallow land(FL-3),a 7-year-old fallow land(FL-7),and a 12-year-old fallow land(FL-12).Soil parameters were recorded seasonally and SQI was calculated from the minimum data set.Results:With the increase in the fallow period,the values of conductivity,soil organic carbon,available nitrogen,available phosphorus,exchangeable potassium,moisture,clay,and cation exchange capacity of soil increased.Meanwhile,soil pH and bulk density decreased with fallow duration.The additive SQI_(a)values were in the order SCS<FL-3<FL-12<FL-7;meanwhile,the weighted SQI_(w)values were in the order SCS<FL-3<FL-7<FL-12.It is also observed that the SQI value decreases with the increase in soil depth under both the weighted and additive indexes.SCS with the lowest SQI value reflects the reduced soil organic carbon(SOC)and macronutrients.Increased SOC levels in site FL-12(2.88–3.94%)may be one reason for its higher SQI value.Conclusions:Our study highlights that unsustainable practices of shifting cultivation and reduction in the fallow period negatively affect soil quality.Furthermore,the study also recommends the use of the weighted method of SQI as it agrees with the reports of land use causing alteration in the soil quality.Our findings may be utilized to quickly access and disseminate information to the stakeholders and aid in constructing local soil quality index maps of the region.There is an urgent need for a rapid,cost and resource-efficient soil quality assessment and SQI may be one tool that achieves this goal.

Traditional farming in the mountainous region of Bangladesh and its modifications

Shifting cultivation is a traditional farming system practiced in the tropical mountainous areas. Although it has been widely perceived as an economically inefficient and environmentally harmful agricultural production system, recent science reviews, however, indicate that the deleterious impacts of shifting cultivation on environment may have been overestimated. Despite the pressures of agricultural intensification in areas where shifting cultivation occurs, farmers across the tropics still maintain this traditional farming system. The objective of this study was to explore existing traditional shifting cultivation practices and their various modifications including the innovative farming techniques developed by farmers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts(CHTs), the mountainous region of Bangladesh, and examine their importance with respect to recent socio-economic and environmental changes. The study revealed that shifting cultivation still exists as the most dominant farming method which supports livelihoods and culture of the hill ethnic people. However, demand for more food and household income to meet livelihood needs of an increasing population combined with a rapid deterioration of soil and water quality over decades contributed to development of innovative farming practices through fallow land farming, crop substitution, agroforestry and homestead gardening in the CHTs. Through these farming techniques farmers maintain a strong relationship with traditional knowledge system embedded in the ageold shifting cultivation practices. Today state policies and market forces act in favor of replacement of traditional farming with intensive cash crop agriculture. It seems that disappearance of traditional farming practices from the hills may threaten local biodiversity and food security. It may be recommended that shifting cultivation should be encouraged in areas where they have potential for contributing to preservation of native biodiversity and ecosystem services, and protection of local peoples' food security and cultural identity.

Local records of long-term dynamics of bamboo gregarious flowering in northern Laos and regional synchronicity of Dendrocalamus membranaceus in two flowering sites

Bamboos are widely distributed in mainland Southeast Asia and have abundant biomass. They are characterized by prolonged vegetative growth and semelparity. Where bamboos are dominant, their synchronous flowering and death has a major impact on forest vegetation. Although the small-scale dynamics of this process have become clearer in recent years, the history, geographical scale and synchronicity of bamboo flowering over broad areas remains unknown. This study focused on the flowering history of six bamboo species, Bambusa tulda, Cephalostachyum virgatum, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus membranaceus, Indosasa sinica and Oxytenanthera parvifolia, over 40 years across a broad area of northern Laos. We also examined the synchronicity of flowering in D. membranaceus. We visited 49 villages in northern Laos and surveyed knowledgeable inhabitants about bamboo flowering history. The timing, scale and synchronicity of gregarious flowering varied among species. D. hamiltonii and D. membranaceus showed higher flowering synchronicity than other species. All the species except I. sinica had both sporadic and gregarious flowering traits, and showed conspicuous variability in their flowering scale. The flowering bamboo population at two gregarious flowering sites for D. membranaceus was surveyed. While thisspecies had the highest synchronicity in this study, its synchronicity was lower than other species in previous studies worldwide. We found that the gregarious flowering of bamboos in northern Laos over the last 40 years showed lower synchronicity than bamboo flowering reported in other areas of the world. The historical dynamics and scale of bamboo flowering must be further clarified to understand the vegetation composition of this area.

Effect of land cover on water quality of creek and seepage in mountainous watershed in Bangladesh

The flowing water was collected from very small creeks and seepage water from small dug holes at three different areas,viz.Manikchari,Ghagra and Muralipara in Rangamati district of Chittagong Hill Tracts,Bangladesh to investigate the impact of the existing varied land covers on water quality.Chemical analyses shows that flowing creek water from either mature mixed plantation or young gamar（Gmelina arborea） plantation had significantly（p〈0.05） higher pH value,SO4^2-and Ca^2＋ concentrations,and significantly lower Na＋ concentration at Manikchari,compared to natural vegetation and plantation in combination.In flowing creek water of Ghagra,the concentrations of SO4^2-and K＋,conductivity and total dissolved solids from watershed of 8-year-old teak（Tectona grandis） plantation were significantly higher and the concentrations of HCO3^-,NO3^-and PO4^3-were significantly lower,compared to those of watershed of degraded natural vegetation.At Muralipara,flowing creek water from natural vegetation and shifting cultivated land in combination showed significantly higher concentrations of HCO3^-,NO3^-,Na＋,K＋,Ca^2＋ and Mg^2＋,and conductivity and total dissolved solids than seepage water as well as tube well water installed in shifting cultivated area alone.

Extent of Reduction of the Fallow Period and Its Impact on Upland Rice Production in the Nongowa Chiefdom of Kenema District in Eastern Sierra Leone

Slash-and-burn agriculture is the common practice for upland rice intercropping system in Sierra Leone and it has been blamed for the loss of forest vegetation across the country. Shortening of the fallow period in the Eastern region of Sierra Leone has implications on agricultural food production and the persistence of the remaining tropical rainforest. This study was therefore undertaken to assess: 1) the extent of reduction of the fallow period in the Nongowa Chiefdom of Kenema District;2) the causes of reduction in the fallow period;3) farmers’ perception of the relevance of fallow period and the implications of reduction of fallow period on crop production. The study revealed a drastic reduction of the fallow period in the chiefdom with a mean of 3.8 years which falls far below the country mean fallow period of 8.8 years as estimated by FAO. Farmers pointed out that the reduction of the fallow period was as a result of land scarcity due to competing land uses such as large scale commercial agriculture, logging, mining, charcoal burning and expansion of settlements. Farmers agreed that a fallow period of at least 10 years is necessary for upland rice production. Farmers were aware of the impact of reduction of the fallow period on upland rice production and were able to estimate rice yields based on the age of the fallow. Also, farmers have attempted to adapt to the constraints posed by shorter fallow periods by selection of rice varieties to suit the length of the fallow periods.