Shifting Agriculture
Shifting Agriculture occurs when plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned and allowed to revert to their natural vegetation while the cultivator moves to another plot. Shifting Cultivation began in around 8000 BC during the Neolithic Period. The major type of Shifting Agriculture in Slash-and-Burn.
What is Slash-and-Burn?Slash-and-Burn is the technique that involves the cutting and burning of plants in forests or woodlands to create fields. This process uses little technology. Farmers start with a plot of land and burn the trees and plants to clear it. This cleared land is called swidden. Then they allow the ash to go back into the soil to replenish it. But the nutrition is quickly depleted within 3 years. Then that land is abandoned and the farmer moves on to another piece of land. He will return the land he had used after many years when it has regrown into natural vegetation.
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Where is Slash-and Burn used?This method is widely used in Mexico, Central America, Central Africa, South East Asia, and Bangladesh. These are the tropical regions. In South East Asia Slash-and-Burn is considered Jhum. In Brazil alone, it is estimates that around 2.5 acres of land are being cleared per year.
Pros and Cons of Slash-and Burn?Some pros are that the nutrients are always returned to the ground. A controlled fire is better than an uncontrolled fire. It is cheaper to burn the debris. Bacteria, insects, mold, and algae are fully destroyed so that they may not effect the crop. Some cons are that starting a fire in the first place is hazardous and can become wild without warning. Habitats and animals will be destroyed.
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What plants do they grow?Plants usually grown vary from grain vegetables, and also cash crops. Some grain include rice and maize. Some vegetables include potato, pumpkins, cucumber, yams, chilies, beans, and onions. Important cash crops include cotton, ginger, linseed, and pineapple. Most cash crops are sold.
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