Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India
Abstract Background Shifting cultivation is a major agriculture practice in the Nagaland state of India. This study examines the effect of shifting cultivation and the length of the fallow period on soil quality index (SQI). Four sites were selected for the study, viz., a shifting cultivation site (...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | Ecological Processes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00386-w |
| _version_ | 1818239354533838848 |
|---|---|
| author | Wati Temjen Maibam Romeo Singh Tali Ajungla |
| author_facet | Wati Temjen Maibam Romeo Singh Tali Ajungla |
| author_sort | Wati Temjen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Shifting cultivation is a major agriculture practice in the Nagaland state of India. This study examines the effect of shifting cultivation and the length of the fallow period on soil quality index (SQI). Four sites were selected for the study, viz., a shifting cultivation site (SCS), a 3-year-old fallow land (FL-3), a 7-year-old fallow land (FL-7), and a 12-year-old fallow land (FL-12). Soil parameters were recorded seasonally and SQI was calculated from the minimum data set. Results With the increase in the fallow period, the values of conductivity, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, moisture, clay, and cation exchange capacity of soil increased. Meanwhile, soil pH and bulk density decreased with fallow duration. The additive SQIa values were in the order SCS < FL-3 < FL-12 < FL-7; meanwhile, the weighted SQIw values were in the order SCS < FL-3 < FL-7 < FL-12. It is also observed that the SQI value decreases with the increase in soil depth under both the weighted and additive indexes. SCS with the lowest SQI value reflects the reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) and macronutrients. Increased SOC levels in site FL-12 (2.88–3.94%) may be one reason for its higher SQI value. Conclusions Our study highlights that unsustainable practices of shifting cultivation and reduction in the fallow period negatively affect soil quality. Furthermore, the study also recommends the use of the weighted method of SQI as it agrees with the reports of land use causing alteration in the soil quality. Our findings may be utilized to quickly access and disseminate information to the stakeholders and aid in constructing local soil quality index maps of the region. There is an urgent need for a rapid, cost and resource-efficient soil quality assessment and SQI may be one tool that achieves this goal. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:56:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1de03f97344e4f4ebd8f3acfb958c454 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2192-1709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:56:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Processes |
| spelling | doaj.art-1de03f97344e4f4ebd8f3acfb958c4542022-12-22T00:23:52ZengSpringerOpenEcological Processes2192-17092022-06-0111111610.1186/s13717-022-00386-wEffect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, IndiaWati Temjen0Maibam Romeo Singh1Tali Ajungla2Department of Botany, Nagaland UniversityCentre for Biodiversity, Department of Botany, Nagaland UniversityDepartment of Botany, Nagaland UniversityAbstract Background Shifting cultivation is a major agriculture practice in the Nagaland state of India. This study examines the effect of shifting cultivation and the length of the fallow period on soil quality index (SQI). Four sites were selected for the study, viz., a shifting cultivation site (SCS), a 3-year-old fallow land (FL-3), a 7-year-old fallow land (FL-7), and a 12-year-old fallow land (FL-12). Soil parameters were recorded seasonally and SQI was calculated from the minimum data set. Results With the increase in the fallow period, the values of conductivity, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, moisture, clay, and cation exchange capacity of soil increased. Meanwhile, soil pH and bulk density decreased with fallow duration. The additive SQIa values were in the order SCS < FL-3 < FL-12 < FL-7; meanwhile, the weighted SQIw values were in the order SCS < FL-3 < FL-7 < FL-12. It is also observed that the SQI value decreases with the increase in soil depth under both the weighted and additive indexes. SCS with the lowest SQI value reflects the reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) and macronutrients. Increased SOC levels in site FL-12 (2.88–3.94%) may be one reason for its higher SQI value. Conclusions Our study highlights that unsustainable practices of shifting cultivation and reduction in the fallow period negatively affect soil quality. Furthermore, the study also recommends the use of the weighted method of SQI as it agrees with the reports of land use causing alteration in the soil quality. Our findings may be utilized to quickly access and disseminate information to the stakeholders and aid in constructing local soil quality index maps of the region. There is an urgent need for a rapid, cost and resource-efficient soil quality assessment and SQI may be one tool that achieves this goal.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00386-wShifting cultivationJhumSoil quality indexSoil healthSeasonal variationNagaland |
| spellingShingle | Wati Temjen Maibam Romeo Singh Tali Ajungla Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India Ecological Processes Shifting cultivation Jhum Soil quality index Soil health Seasonal variation Nagaland |
| title | Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India |
| title_full | Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India |
| title_fullStr | Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India |
| title_short | Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India |
| title_sort | effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in mokokchung district nagaland india |
| topic | Shifting cultivation Jhum Soil quality index Soil health Seasonal variation Nagaland |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00386-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT watitemjen effectofshiftingcultivationandfallowonsoilqualityindexinmokokchungdistrictnagalandindia AT maibamromeosingh effectofshiftingcultivationandfallowonsoilqualityindexinmokokchungdistrictnagalandindia AT taliajungla effectofshiftingcultivationandfallowonsoilqualityindexinmokokchungdistrictnagalandindia |