Relationship between fallow period,forest vegetation and weeds in swidden agriculture in northern Laos |
| |
Authors: | Chika Kameda Eiji Nawata |
| |
Institution: | 1.Graduate School of Agriculture,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan |
| |
Abstract: | Weed suppression is an important reason for fallowing in swidden systems. Recently, in Laos, an increase in weeds and resulting increase in labor input has become a problem; however, causal factors influencing weed growth and weeding labor other than fallow period have yet to be fully examined. Therefore, an experimental research on swidden weeds, combining a forest survey and interviews with local farmers, was conducted in a mountain village in northern Laos where swidden agriculture is practiced as a major means of livelihood. Weed amount, weed composition and time required for weeding were found to be more influenced by fallow vegetation than fallow period. Bushy vegetation in a short fallow field was shown to lead to abundance of herbaceous weeds, resulting in higher labor input. There was a possibility that increases in some bamboo species were a cause of recent weed increases. Based on the results, we suggest that maintaining a minimum fallow period of forest fallowing, with fallow management to suppress bamboo and promote tree growth may be effective in reducing labor input in swidden agriculture. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|