Dynamics of soil and vegetation during crop and fallow period in slash-and-burn fields of northern Laos

Röder, W.; Phengchanh, S.; Maniphone, S.

doi:10.1016/s0016-7061(96)00100-0

Cited by 56 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In the tropics, the traditional swiddening system involves the following stages: conversion (forest slashing/felling, sun/air drying and burning during the dry season), cropping (settling familial farming for several years), and fallow (vegetation regenerating and soil organic content rejuvenating) [63,68,69]. During the stages of conversion and cropping, human activities frequently trigger a series of eco-environmental concerns, such as forest degradation and deforestation [70,71], total mineral nutrient loss [72,73], soil biota communities decline [73,74], atmospheric pollutions [4] and heavy metal contamination [75]. The regeneration of secondary vegetation/forest in the various fallow periods was regarded as the future of the tropical forests [76][77][78].…”

Section: Viewpoint Of Demisementioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Swidden Agriculture in Southeast Asia

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Swidden agriculture is by far the dominant land use system in the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia (SEA). It provides various valuable subsistence products to local farmers, mostly the poor ethnic minority groups. Controversially, it is also closely connected with a number of environmental issues. With the strengthening regional economic cooperation in SEA, swidden agriculture has experienced drastic transformations into other diverse market-oriented land use types since the 1990s. However, there is very limited information on the basic geographical and demographic data of swidden agriculture and the socio-economic and biophysical effects of the transformations. International programs, such as the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD), underscore the importance of monitoring and evaluating swidden agriculture and its transition to reduce carbon emission due to deforestation and forest degradation. In this context, along with the accessibility of Landsat historical imagery, remote sensing based techniques will offer an effective way to detect and monitor the locations and extent of swidden agriculture. Many approaches for investigating fire occurrence and burned area can be introduced for swidden agriculture mapping due to the common feature of fire relatedness. In this review paper, four broad approaches involving spectral signatures, phenological characteristics, statistical theory and landscape ecology were summarized for swidden agriculture delineation. Five research priorities about swidden agriculture involving remote sensing techniques, spatial pattern, change, drivers and impacts were proposed accordingly. To our knowledge, a synthesis review on the remote sensing and outlook on swidden agriculture has not been reported yet. This review paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of swidden agriculture studies in the domains of debated definition, trends, remote sensing methods and OPEN ACCESSRemote Sens. 2014, 6 1655 outlook research in SEA undertaken in the past two decades.

show abstract

Section: Viewpoint Of Demisementioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Swidden Agriculture in Southeast Asia

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The issue of what length of fallow is adequate to restore the fertility of swidden soils has been widely researched, tested, and debated (Greenland 1975;Higgins et al 1982;Roder et al 1997). In contrast, studies of restoration of forest biodiversity and structure through fallowing have received less attention.…”

Section: The Fallow Phasementioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Swidden Transitions for Crop and Fallow Biodiversity in Southeast Asia

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Swidden agriculture, once the dominant form of land use throughout the uplands and much of the lowlands of Southeast Asia, is being replaced by other land uses. While change and adaptation are inherent to swiddening, the current rapid and widespread transitions are unprecedented. In this paper we review some recent findings on changes in biodiversity, especially plant diversity at various scales, as swidden farming is replaced by other land uses. We focus particularly on two areas of Southeast Asia:northern Thailand and West Kalimantan. We examine actual and potential changes in the diversity of crops that characterize regional swidden systems, as well as that of the spontaneously occurring plants that appear in swidden fields and fallows. Severe declines in plant diversity have been observed in most areas and at most spatial scales when swidden is replaced by permanent land use systems. However, shifts away from swidden agriculture do not invariably result in drastic declines or losses of biological diversity, but may maintain or even enhance it, particularly at finer spatial scales. We suggest that further research is necessary to understand the effects of swidden transitions on biodiversity.

show abstract

“…Para Sanchez & Leakey (1997), por exemplo, a redução da fertilidade do solo causada em grande parte pelas atividades agrícolas de corte e queima é uma das principais causas de insegurança alimentar na África. Embora estas práticas aumentem enormemente a quantidade de potássio, cálcio e magnésio presentes nos solos, através da queima da biomassa vegetal, a disponibilidade da maior parte do nitrogênio e do fósforo vai depender da mineralização da matéria orgânica queimada (Frizano et al, 2003;Roder et al, 1997). Entretanto, grandes quantidades de matéria orgânica podem ser lixiviadas após a queima (Chidumayo & Kwibisa, 2003), chegando a 10 t ha¯1 em estudos conduzidos na região norte de Laos (Roder et al, 1994) e a 13 t ha¯1 no norte da Tailândia .…”

Section: Solos E Processos Erosivosunclassified

“…Em muitos lugares, o crescimento acelerado de ervas daninhas é um fator limitante mais sério para este tipo de agricultura que o próprio empobrecimento do solo (Nye & Greenland, 1960;Warner, 1991;Fujisaka et al, 2000). Em Laos, por exemplo, políticas públicas foram criadas para incentivar a redução de áreas cultivadas com práticas de corte e queima (Roder et al, 1994). Estas intervenções, associadas ao crescimento populacional, resultaram na intensificação agrícola e conseqüente redução dos períodos de pousio, que levaram ao aumento dos problemas com o controle de ervas daninhas e com a degradação do solo (Fujisaka, 1991;Roder et al, 1994).…”

Section: Solos E Processos Erosivosunclassified

A agricultura de corte e queima: um sistema em transformação

Júnior

Murrieta

Adams

2008

Bol. Mus. Para. Emílio Goeldi. Ciênc. hum.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IIIResumo: A agricultura de corte e queima é praticada há milhares de anos nas áreas florestadas do planeta, principalmente nas regiões tropicais. Sua prática envolve uma gama de técnicas que denotam seu caráter diversificado e itinerante, aproveitando o capital energético da floresta em recomposição. Muitos estudos atestam a sustentabilidade desses sistemas quando praticados tradicionalmente e sob baixas densidades populacionais, mantendo, ou mesmo, promovendo a biodiversidade local e garantindo a subsistência de muitas populações pobres rurais. No entanto, é crescente na literatura acadêmica e no debate político o papel que a agricultura de corte e queima vem desempenhando no desmatamento e demais impactos ambientais e socioeconômicos. Esse processo é conseqüência das mudanças no uso do solo, da intensificação agrícola e do aumento demográfico que, estão alterando as práticas e comprometendo a sustentabilidade desses sistemas agrícolas tradicionais. No rastro dessas preocupações, este estudo traz uma revisão do tema na literatura com os objetivos de traçar um panorama geral do que foi produzido até o momento, identificar as principais correntes teóricas envolvidas e apontar as alternativas propostas para sua manutenção.Palavras-chave: Agricultura de corte e queima. Cultivo itinerante. Mudanças no uso do solo. Florestas tropicais. Sustentabilidade.Abstract: Slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced for thousands of years in the forests around the world, especially in the tropics, where it provides for the livelihood of countless poor rural populations. Characterized by an array of techniques based on crop diversification and shifting land use, this cultivation system has on the utilization of forest decomposing vegetation´s energetic capital its main asset. Many studies claim that slash-and-burn agriculture is sustainable only when performed under conditions of low human demographic density and maintenance or even increase of local biodiversity. However, it is growing in the academic literature, as well as in development debates, the concern regarding the role that this system has been playing in the deforestation of the planet´s tropical forests. This process appears to be closely linked to changes in land use patterns (agricultural intensification) and urban and rural demographic growth. On the thread of these concerns, this article presents a critical review of the international and national academic literature on slash-and-burn agriculture. Thus, this review intend to draw a broad scenario of the current academic debate on this issue, as well as to identify the main alternatives strategies proposed to maintain or replace this cultivation system.

show abstract

Dynamics of soil and vegetation during crop and fallow period in slash-and-burn fields of northern Laos

Cited by 56 publications

References 13 publications

A Review of Swidden Agriculture in Southeast Asia

A Review of Swidden Agriculture in Southeast Asia

Consequences of Swidden Transitions for Crop and Fallow Biodiversity in Southeast Asia

A agricultura de corte e queima: um sistema em transformação

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About