Soil Dynamics of Pre- and Post- Slash-and-Burn Jhum Fields of Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

Jhum agriculture is widely practiced on Arunachal Pradesh’s hill slopes, and it is more than just a means of subsistence; it is a way of life that has symbolic connotations for the socio-cultural life and natural landscapes, and it is an essential component of survival and economic existence. An attempt was made to study the soil characterization associated with pre-and post- burned jhum cultivation practiced by the ethnic Nocte and Tutsa tribes of Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh. The soil samples were collected from the same location at the pre-and post-burnt fields from the various depth of soil profile A (0-20) cm, B (20-40) cm, and C (40-60) cm. The present study reveals an overall increase in porosity, temp, pH, Moisture, and bulk density because of the burning of the jhum field. In post-burned jhum fields of all the locations, there was an overall increase in the percentage of Sodium and Calcium in soil collected and a decrease in the percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. The pH was mostly found to be acidic and increasing with the depth of the soil profile. There was a significant difference in total nitrogen content of the soils, whereas phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and sodium showed little differences for pre-and post-burned jhum fields. The effects of the slashing and burning process promote changes in soil physical as well as chemical properties, thereby influencing the nutrient status. Deterioration of soil nutrients starts after the burning of vegetation and continues subsequently throughout the various stages of jhum cultivation.