Land-Use Change Along Altitudinal Gradients in Mountain Ecosystem of Eastern Himalaya (Northeast India): Effect on Plant-Available Soil Micronutrients

Management of soil micronutrients for better crop produce needs sound understanding of their status and causes of variability. This is more relevant for acid soils developed in the mountain ecosystem of Eastern Himalaya (Northeast India). We assessed the status, and the effect of land use systems along wide altitudinal gradients (14 m to 4090 m masl) on soil properties and plant available micronutrient concentrations (DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) across the region. Soils of the region varied widely in micronutrient concentrations: Fe from 0.665 to 257.1 mg kg-1 while Mn, Cu and Zn from traces to 93.4, 17.1 and 34.2 mg kg-1, respectively. On conversion of evergreen forests (EF) to upland agriculture (Shifting-SC and Settled-SA) and plantation (PH), Mn, Cu and Zn concentrations decreased significantly (p <0.05) from 30.5, 1.74 and 2.13 mg kg-1 to 6.44-17.8, 0.68-0.81 and 1.06-1.42 mg kg-1, respectively. Grass land (GL) recorded the highest Zn concentration (3.0 mg kg-1) while Mn (24.9 mg kg-1) and Cu (1.16 mg kg-1) concentrations were comparable with lowland paddy agriculture (LP) but higher than upland agriculture. Degradation of EF to scrub land (SL) recorded the lowest Mn (5.91 mg kg-1), Cu (0.59 mg kg-1), and Zn (0.68 mg kg-1) concentrations. The Fe concentration was however, comparable among EF, GL, LP and SC (40.1-52.2 mg kg-1) but increased in degraded SL (+73%) over EF (48.7 mg kg-1). Micronutrient concentrations among the land uses were inconsistent and followed the order: (i) Fe: SL>PH>LP>EF>GL>SC>SA, (ii) Mn: EF> GL> LP> PH> SC> SA>SL; (iii) Cu: EF>GL>LP>SC>SA=PH>SL; and (iv) GL>EF>LP>SC>SA>PH>SL. Four micronutrients responded differently and followed a non-linear, 6th – order polynomial trend along the altitudinal gradients (<500 m to 4100 m masl). Peak concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Cu were recorded at 1001-2000 m elevation while Zn was recorded at > 4000 m masl. Altitude mediated positive influence on soil properties including micronutrient concentrations were observed only in non-cultivated land uses (EF and GL) with an exception to lowland agriculture. Three key soil properties namely pH, clay and organic carbon contents contributed significant variation (54-64%) in micronutrients in the soils of the region.

Influence of Government Policy on Highland Agriculture Development in Enrekang Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Upland agriculture faces threats in the ecological crisis that will affect the sustainability of highland communities. The process lasts quite long because of external and internal influences, leading to ecological exploitation. Agricultural development, is closely related to the influence of government policy. Research focuses on discussing aspects of policy influence on the development of upland agriculture. The research is a qualitative study, using an inductive approach, the case of ethnic thorn communities in Enrekang Regency. The results of the study indicate that the three main policies that influence the development of upland agriculture are: 1). Political policy and government system, 2). Rural development policies and infrastructure, 3). Decentralization or regional autonomy, 4). Economic policies, especially investment and markets. The conclusion is that the development of agriculture is economically progressing in the shadow of the ecological crisis, drought, flooding and impact on humanitarian crisis, because it needs arrangements in land management and the application of technology for agricultural development.

Enhancing economic subsistence: diversification activities and labor intensification as economic setback mitigation in upland agriculture communities

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Enhancing economic subsistence: diversification activities and labor intensification as economic setback mitigation in upland agriculture communities

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Determinant of Food Security on Upland Agriculture Households in Paletwa Township, Chin State of Myanmar

This study aims to determine food security on upland agriculture households in rural area. Food security is concerned with the first two main goals of Sustainable Development Goals, No Poverty and Zero Hunger. Myanmar is Food Insecure State that showing 14.2% that is 7.7 million of 51 million population. Chin state is least developing and Paletwa is poorest out of 324 townships. Research is applied by both qualitative and quantitative approaches. 3 Villages and 1 Quarter are chosen for qualitative method and 141upland agriculture households are selected for field survey using random sampling method. The data are analyzed by logistic regression in SPSS 17 to determine food security. Age, education, schooling years of household head, size, second occupation and no. of working people in households are socio-economic determinant and own food production and fruit access are food security determinant.