About Slash-and-burn?

Question

Well, some people from long ago of course used slash-and-burn methods to clear land. But what might be some dangers of the EXTENSIVE use of slash-and-burn methods?

Answer 1

It is probably more prevalent now than it has ever been just on the principal that our total population is higher. It disrupts the world cycles that control water and gas (CO2) conversion by clearing land that is not fit for farming. All the nutrients are in the actual growth, so once cleared the land looses what little nutrients it retains in just a couple cycles of plant/ harvest. Secondary growth, when it comes back, will not provide for the natural renewal of air and that of the water cycle. Also, the smoke and particulate pollution makes further problems with the air. Land cleared by these methods is further compromised by having no protection and erosion is frequently devastating, causing streams, rivers, and oceans to dramatically change in their environment.

Answer 2

People from long ago used slash and burn and people of today use slash and burn in places like Africa and South America. It works for them as long as there is plenty of land to allow regrowth of the burned off area before it is slash and burned again. It takes a minimum of around ten years for this to be effective. It worked because a farmer can clear only a few acres by hand, so it limits the amount of land that they can use each year. The danger of extensive slash and burn is you would soon use up the available land, so that the rest and regrowth time would be less and less. This would lead to the end of the usefulness of the land for agriculture. Slash and burn agriculture on a large scale would work for about two years and then you would be out of business. It would be a very short sighted approach to agriculture.

Answer 3

Slash and burn is a recognised agricultural process. However it needs to be done small scale, and on a crop rotational basis.

Slash and burn as carried out in many countries is leading to loss of forests and the land not being suitable for crop growing and turning into desert.

Answer 4

By burning lots of Organic Matter is lost from the soil. along with some beneficial organisms. in our country this method is known as Chena cultivation which is assumed to be a very low productive coltivation method. No costly inputs such as inorganc fertilizer or chemicals are used. the yield is very low.

Answer 5

it reduces soil fertility over time, releases co2 into the atmosphere and also causes carbon and other products to end up in waterways easier.

hope this helps