TY - CHAP

T1 - The Intensification of Shifting Cultivation in Tanzania: Effects on Soil and Vegetation

AU - Kilawe, Charles Joseph

AU - Mohamed Maliondo, Salim

AU - Bruun, Thilde Bech

AU - Birch-Thomsen, Torben

AU - Silayo, Dos Santos Aristaricky

AU - Mertz, Ole

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - This study investigated the effect of intensification of shifting cultivation on the recovery of soil properties and vegetation in East Central, Tanzania. The study is based on soil sampling conducted in 40 (5 m × 5 m) plots from adjacent sites under fallows of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 years, a secondary forest that has never been cultivated, and a field under a ridge and flat continuous cultivation - an innovative farming practices adopted in continuous annual cropping. Vegetation sampling was conducted in sites under fallows and the secondary forest. Intensification of shifting cultivation through shortening of fallow length deteriorates soil quality due to a decline in total N, plant-available P, and exchangeable K. Furthermore, shortening of fallow length negatively affects the recovery of plant species composition and diversity. The dominant plant species in young fallows (1 -4-years) was different from older fallows (5-and 7-years) and the secondary forest. Young fallows harbored more diverse vegetation but mostly shrubs (multiple stems, ≤5 m tall) while older fallows and secondary forest were less diverse but dominated by trees (single stem, > 10 m tall). Soils under the ridge and flat continuous cultivation had significantly higher plant-available P than in soils under fallow or secondary forest. Moreover, the soil under the ridge and flat cultivation contained levels of soil pH, plant-available P, exchangeable K, and Ca that have been described as sufficient for crop production.

AB - This study investigated the effect of intensification of shifting cultivation on the recovery of soil properties and vegetation in East Central, Tanzania. The study is based on soil sampling conducted in 40 (5 m × 5 m) plots from adjacent sites under fallows of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 years, a secondary forest that has never been cultivated, and a field under a ridge and flat continuous cultivation - an innovative farming practices adopted in continuous annual cropping. Vegetation sampling was conducted in sites under fallows and the secondary forest. Intensification of shifting cultivation through shortening of fallow length deteriorates soil quality due to a decline in total N, plant-available P, and exchangeable K. Furthermore, shortening of fallow length negatively affects the recovery of plant species composition and diversity. The dominant plant species in young fallows (1 -4-years) was different from older fallows (5-and 7-years) and the secondary forest. Young fallows harbored more diverse vegetation but mostly shrubs (multiple stems, ≤5 m tall) while older fallows and secondary forest were less diverse but dominated by trees (single stem, > 10 m tall). Soils under the ridge and flat continuous cultivation had significantly higher plant-available P than in soils under fallow or secondary forest. Moreover, the soil under the ridge and flat cultivation contained levels of soil pH, plant-available P, exchangeable K, and Ca that have been described as sufficient for crop production.

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-10406-0_3

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-10406-0_3

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 978-3-031-10405-3

SN - 978-3-031-10408-4

SP - 21

EP - 42

BT - Agriculture, Environment and Sustainable Development

A2 - Rukhsana, null

A2 - Alam, Asraful

PB - Springer

CY - Cham

ER -