Soil erosion from shifting cultivation and other smallholder land use in Sarawak, Malaysia

摘要: Abstract The sustainability of shifting cultivation systems and their impact on soil quality continues to be debated, although a growing body literature shows limited on, e.g. carbon stocks, still has reputation as detrimental the environment. We wished compare erosion from three land use types in system, namely upland rice, pepper gardens native forest. used two sample sites within humid tropical lowland zone Sarawak, Malaysia. Both areas had steep slopes between 25° 50°, were characterised by mosaic forest, secondary re-growth, rice fields gardens. Soil samples collected 90 cm depth all types, analysed for various chemical parameters, including texture, total organic matter 137Cs content. is radioactive isotope derived nuclear fallout, was estimate retention topsoil profiles. parameters fields, such extractable cations, pH conductivity, indicated transportation downslope, depletion cations upslope are most likely caused leaching losses via ashes after clearing burning. position slope no significant effect or P content, indicating very physical movement downslope. A inventory uses only showed higher concentration top 5 cm forest plots. When corrected density, there inventory. Moreover, content 30 cm contributed