Evaluating second year cropping on jhum fallows in Mizoram, north-eastern India: Soil fertility

摘要

Changes in soil fertility were evaluated on young (6 year) and old (20 year) jhum fields in Mizoram, north-eastern India in response to various operations involved in jhum such as slashing and burning of vegetation, cropping period, and intervening fallow period between first and second year cropping. The results demonstrate that the soil is richer in nutrients in old than young field prior to the start of jhum cultivation. Slash burning depletes soil acidity, carbon and nitrogen but elevates phosphorus and cations. Soil fertility declined during first cropping phase, and further declined during second cropping phase.