The present book attempts to document and systematize findings on shifting cultivation on a pan-tropical basis, drawing on major findings in the literature in the last five decades. The current book examines the processes of secondary succession and soil fertility restoration under bush fallow within an integrative framework, and uses the core-periphery analogy to analyse the process and stages of secondary vegetation development and soil fertility restoration under bush fallow. The book is divided into 10 chapters. The first chapter defines the tropics, and chapter 2 defines shifting cultivation and presents the basic features and types of shifting cultivation. The soil dynamics during cultivation and fallow period are discussed in chapters 3 and 4, respectively. The dynamics of fallow vegetation are presented in chapter 5, and the interrelationships between fallow soil and vegetation are covered in chapter 6. Chapter 7 is focused on the ecological succession theory and models, while chapter 8 is focused on the theory and models of soil fertility restoration under bush fallow. The intensification of shifting cultivation is discussed in chapter 9. The final chapter deals with alternative farming systems and the future of shifting cultivation.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Tropics -- Shifting cultivation : definition, basic features and types -- Soil dynamics during cultivation -- Soil dynamics during the fallow period -- Fallow vegetation dynamics -- Relationships between fallow soil and vegetation -- Ecological succession theory and models -- Theory and models of soil fertility restoration under bush fallow -- Intensification of shifting cultivation -- Alternative farming systems and the future of shifting cultivation.

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Title from PDF title page (viewed July 31, 2013).