Population and agricultural intensity in the humid tropics

Vasey, Daniel E.

doi:10.1007/bf00889495

Cited by 24 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Nye and Greenland, 1960;Ruthenberg, 1980;Mertz, 2002) concluded that it is difficult to give an optimum period of fallow, because it mainly depends on the site conditions prevailing in the area. Vasey (1979) mentioned that 10 years of fallow would be sufficient. Volcanic soils in Central Africa, however, may only need 2-3 years of fallow (Ruthenberg, 1980).…”

Section: Abandonment and Restoration Of Degraded Agricultural Landmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation and abandonment of mechanized rain‐fed agricultural land in the Southern Gadarif region, Sudan: the local farmers' perception

Sulieman

Buchroithner²

2009

Land Degrad Dev

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In the Gadarif Region of Sudan, destruction of the natural vegetation for agricultural expansion is one of the major causes of the degradation of renewable resources and the environment. This study identifies and analyses the farmers' attitudes and perceptions towards agricultural land degradation and abandonment. The cross-sectional data collected from ten key informants and 41 large-scale farmers focussed on the degradation and abandonment of mechanized agricultural land. The results of the study show that the respondents are well aware that soil degradation is in various forms are taking place on their cultivated agricultural land. This is based on their perception and interpretation of indicators such as weed infestation, poor soil fertility and soil compaction. Continuous cropping, mono-cropping, rainfall shortage and the use of inferior seeds are the main reasons of land degradation as indicated by farmers. The main measures acknowledged to maintain and improve land productivity are repeated soil ploughing, abandonment/fallow periods and crop rotation.The study adduces evidence of widespread land degradation. The mitigation measures followed by the farmers may though not be sufficient to restore the soil fertility. The application of appropriate chemical fertilizers, sound crop rotation and long fallow periods can be recommended. Any management and research intervention regarding the problem of land degradation should; however, be concerted with the farmers' knowledge.

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Section: Abandonment and Restoration Of Degraded Agricultural Landmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation and abandonment of mechanized rain‐fed agricultural land in the Southern Gadarif region, Sudan: the local farmers' perception

Sulieman

Buchroithner²

2009

Land Degrad Dev

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“…Human population growth and a concomitant increase in forest clearing for agriculture has resulted in development of large zones of secondary forest surrounding permanent human settlements (Boserup, 1966;De Coene, 1956;Deneven, 1977;Golley, 1983;Miracle, 1967;Myers, 1980;Savage, 1982;Vasey, 1979). Given the importance of wild game in the diet of populations exploiting climax vegetation in the world's tropical moist forests, it is important to determine whether these expanding areas of secondary forest can also be hunted as frequently and successfully.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Impact of roadside agriculture on subsistence hunting in the Ituri forest of northeastern Zaire

Wilkie

1989

American J Phys Anthropol

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Records of 428 hunter captures were used to assess if large areas of secondary forest surrounding roadside horticulturalists' settlements were successfully exploited for wild game, a primary source of protein in the diet of the local human population. Data show that such forest within the Ituri region of Zaire is frequently and successfully exploited for wild game by subsistence hunters. Fauna exploited and capture weights are comparable from hunts conducted in secondary and climax forest. This study concludes that areas of regrowth forest surrounding horticulturalists' villages can and do provide substantial quantities of wild game for consumption by local inhabitants. Whether exploited faunal populations could withstand the more intensive exploitation associated with higher human population densities and widespread market hunting is, however, questionable.Subsistence hunting within the Ituri forest provides an important source of dietary protein for local human inhabitants' (Bailey, 1983(Bailey, , 1985. Human population growth and a concomitant increase in forest clearing for agriculture has resulted in development of large zones of secondary forest surrounding permanent human settlements (

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“…The average garden size per person (C) was determined using the total garden area from the GIS database, divided by A, and divided by the 2001 population of 323 people, excluding one satellite settlement outside of Tayakome with 46 people where no gardens were monitored. Based on literature sources (Clark & Uhl, 1987;Denevan, Treacy, Padoch, Denslow, & Paitan, 1984;Johnson, 1999;Vasey, 1979), two estimates of minimum fallow period (B) were assumed for non-flooded middle and higher river terraces: 20 years and 50 years. Fluvisols in the lowlands can be cultivated more frequently due to nutrient replenishment from occasional river flooding (Salick, 1989), so a 10-year fallow period was assumed.…”

Section: Carrying Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Swidden agriculture in a protected area: the Matsigenka native communities of Manu National Park, Peru

Wezel

Shepard

2007

Environ Dev Sustain

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In this study, we investigate whether traditional swidden agriculture on nutrient-poor tropical soils can sustainably support a growing indigenous population within Manu National Park, Peru. Based on interviews with 50 Matsigenka farmers, as well as GPS mapping and field visits, we established the location and size of all 124 swidden gardens cultivated in 2000 and 2001. Using a GIS-based soil map of Manu Park, we identify the total extent of potential arable land (1) throughout the park zones currently available for Matsigenka habitation, and (2) within the vicinity of the two study communities. Taking into account current per capita garden size, cultivation and fallow practices, we calculate the maximum human carrying capacity of swidden agriculture for (1) all available park zones and (2) the immediate vicinity of the two current communities. Even given the second, highly limited scenario, the sustainable human carrying capacity is estimated to be 2,138 individuals, which is far higher than the current population of about 420 people. Thus, arable land does not appear to be a limiting factor for the growth of the indigenous population in Manu Park at the current time. Other possible limiting factors for population growth are identified and discussed. We conclude that a conservation policy of population stabilization around the current settlements is viable in that it will not result in reduced resource availability over the next few decades, and that the challenge is to identify and mitigate the forces causing population fissioning and spread.Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.

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Population and agricultural intensity in the humid tropics

Cited by 24 publications

References 16 publications

Degradation and abandonment of mechanized rain‐fed agricultural land in the Southern Gadarif region, Sudan: the local farmers' perception

Degradation and abandonment of mechanized rain‐fed agricultural land in the Southern Gadarif region, Sudan: the local farmers' perception

Impact of roadside agriculture on subsistence hunting in the Ituri forest of northeastern Zaire

Swidden agriculture in a protected area: the Matsigenka native communities of Manu National Park, Peru

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