Soil Property Variations Under Different Land Use/ Cover Types In Traditional Agricultural Landscape In Northeast India

T Shimrarh; KS Rao; KG Saxena

doi:10.15415/jce.2015.21005

Authors

T Shimrarh Assistant Professor, University School of Environment Management, GGS IP University, New Delhi, Pin–110078
KS Rao Professor, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, Pin –110007
KG Saxena Professor School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Pin –110067

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15415/jce.2015.21005

Keywords:

Soil, Property Variations, Landscape, Agricultural

Abstract

Clearing of forests and their subsequent conv ersion into croplands greatly influence soils in terms of its water holding capacity, structure stability and compactness, nutrient supply and storage as well as its biological life. Consequently, many agricultural soils in the tropics are now below their potential levels. In this paper we are reporting that there is expansion of agricultural land use in Northeast India at the expense of forest area in order to meet increasing human population and market demands. New land use/ cover types are also being introduced for commercial and well as subsistence purpose. On the other hand fallow period of shifting agriculture has been reduced. We suggest that a minimum fallow period of seven years is necessary sufficiency of soil nutrients and vegetation in this humid subtropical mountain landscape of Northeast India.

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