Abstract
In many smallholder farming systems in the humid tropics, the slash-and-burn practice is used for land preparation. Increasing land-use intensity by shortening fallow periods often contributes to the degradation of the natural resource base of the fallow system, i.e. the fallow vegetation and soil. In the eastern Amazon region of Brazil, we therefore searched for ways to maintain the sustainability of the traditional fallow system and to adapt it to changing agro-ecological and economic conditions.
We identified two major agro-ecological constraints of the traditional fallow system with slash-and-burn: (1) high losses of nutrients and organic matter during the burn, and (2), if land-use intensity increases, fallow regeneration capacity declines.
As alternatives to slash-and-burn, we studied modifications to those practices recognized to be harmful to the ecological sustainability of the fallow system, i.e. mulching for the management of soil organic matter and fire-free land clearing with bush choppers to transform fallow vegetation into mulch. Mulching allows extending the cropping period, planting crops off-season, and modifying crop rotations. Additionally, biomass and nutrient accumulation of degraded fallow vegetation can be improved by enrichment plantings using fast-growing leguminous tree species.
Our socio-economic analysis focused on the implications of technology change on income and land-cover change at farm and field levels. Based on farm-household data collected from 270 randomly selected households, a farm-household level bio-economic model was developed to analyze the consequences of improved access to mechanized plowing and mechanical mulching for typical smallholdings in the study area.
Model simulations suggest that the costs of mulching are still very high compared to other mechanized land preparation technologies that provide similar economic benefits from the farmers’ point of view. Among the recommendations to reduce mulching costs is the use of simpler mulching equipment on areas with young fallows.
Technology scenarios indicate that countervailing policy measures are necessary if mechanized chopping and mulching is to bring about the desired ecological benefits.
Taxes on ecologically undesirable forms of land preparation, e.g. slash and burn, are promising policy options to promote chopping-and-mulching or other fire-free land preparation techniques given that they can be provided at costs that range between 60 to 110 Euros ha−1. Tax revenues could be used for financing environmental conservation payments and/or a crop yield insurance that applies to crops that are produced using environmentally friendly production technologies.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
9 References
Alencar A, Nepstad D, McGrath D, Moutinho P, Pacheco P, Carmen M do, Diaz V, Soares Filho BS (2004) Desmatamento na Amazônia: indo além da “Emergência Crônica”. IPAM, Belém, Brazil
Anderson JR, Hazell PBR (eds, 1989) Variability in Grain Yields. Implications for Agricultural Research and Policy in Developing Countries. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London
Baar R (1997) Vegetationskundliche und-ökologische Untersuchungen der Buschbrache in der Feldumlagewirtschaft im östlichen Amazonasgebiet. Göttinger Beiträge zur Land-und Forstwirtschaft in den Tropen und Subtropen, Heft 121
Berg E (1998) Der Einfluß von Unsicherheit und Risikoeinstellung auf die Intensität und Produktionsprogramm im Ackerbau. Published in Polish. Zagadnienia ekonomiki rolnej 4–5, 37–57
Block A (2005) Göttinger Mähhäcksler Tritucap, und Forstmulcher — Nicht Brennende Flächenvorbereitung am Beispiel der Zona Bragantina, Nord-Ost-Amazonien, Brasilien. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Göttingen
Börner J (2006) A bio-economic model of small-scale farmers’ land use decisions and technology choice in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. Ph.D. thesis. University of Bonn (1/6/2006) at: http://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/diss_online/landw_fak/2006/boerner_jan-c hristoph URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:5N-07475
Brienza Jr. S (1999) Biomass dynamics of fallow vegetation enriched with leguminous trees in the Eastern Amazon of Brazil. Göttinger Beiträge zur Land-und Forstwirtschaft in den Tropen und Subtropen, Heft 134
Bünemann, E (1998) Einfluß von Mulch und mineralischem Dünger auf Zea mays und Vigna unguiculata in der Feldumlagewirtschaft Ostamazoniens. Diploma Thesis, University of Göttingen
Chambers RG (1988) Applied Production Analysis: A Dual Approach. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Denich M (1989) Untersuchungen zur Bedeutung junger Sekundärvegetation für die Nutzungssystemproduktivität im östlichen Amazonasgebiet, Brasilien. Göttinger Beiträge zur Land-und Forstwirtschaft in den Tropen und Subtropen. Heft 46
Denich M, Vielhauer K, Kato MS de A, Block A, Kato OR, Sá TD de Abreu, Lücke W, Vlek PLG (2004) Mechanized land preparation in forest-based fallow systems: The experience from Eastern Amazonia. Agroforestry Systems 61, 91–106
Denich M, Vlek PLG, Sá TD de Abreu, Vielhauer K, Lücke W (2005): A research concept for the development of fire-free fallow management techniques in the Eastern Amazon region, Brazil. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 110(1–2), 43–58
Diewert WE (1973): Functional Forms for Profit and Transformation Functions. Jounal of Economic Theory 6, 284–316
FAO (2003): State of the World’s Forest. Rome (1/1/2006) at: http://www.fao.org/
Fearnside PM (1986) Human Carrying Capacity of the Brazilian Rainforest. Columbia University Press, New York
Hardaker JB, Huirne RBM, Anderson JR, Lien G (eds, 2004) Coping with Risk in Agriculture (2nd edition). CABI Publishing, Oxfordshire Cambridge
Hazell PBR, Norton RD (1986) Mathematical Programming for Economic Analysis in Agriculture. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York
Hazell PBR, Pomareda C, Valdéz A (1986) Crop Insurance for Agricultural Development: Issues and Experience. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London
Hedden-Dunkhorst B, Denich M, Vielhauer K, Sousa Filho FR de, Sá TD de Abreu, Hurtienne T, Costa F de Assis, Mendoza Escalante A, Börner J (2003): Forest-Based Fallow Systems as a Safety Net for Smallholders in the Eastern Amazon. Paper presented at International Conference on Rural Livelihoods, Forests and Biodiversity 19–23 May, Bonn, Germany at:http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/corporate/cd-roms/bonn-proc/pdfs/papers/T1_FINAL_Hedden-Dunkhorst.pdf (verified April 4, 2006)
Hölscher D (1994) Wasser-und Stoffhaushalt eines Agrarökosystems mit Waldbrache im östlichen Amazonasgebiet. Göttinger Beiträge zur Land-und Forstwirtschaft in den Tropen und Subtropen, Heft 106
Hurtienne T (2001) Agricultura Familiar e Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável na Amazônia. In: Coelho CMN, Castro E, Mathis A, Hurtienne T (eds): Estado e Políticas Públicas na Amazônia. Editora Cejup Ltda, Belém-PA
IBGE (1998): Censo Agropecuário 1995/6 (1/1/2004) at: http://www.ibge.gov.br/
IBGE (2000): Censo Demográfico 2000 (1/1/2004) at: http://www.ibge.gov.br/
Intriligator M (1971) Mathematical Optimization and Economic Theory. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Kato MS de Andrade (1998a) Fire-free land preparation as an alternative to slash-and-burn agriculture in the Bragantina region, Eastern Amazon: Crop performance and phosphorus dynamics. Ph.D. Thesis. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen
Kato OR (1998b) Fire-free land preparation as an alternative to slash-and-burn agriculture in the Bragantina region, Eastern Amazon: Crop performance and nitrogen dynamics. Ph.D. Thesis. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen
Kato MS de Andrade, Kato OR, Denich M, Vlek PLG (1999) Fire-free alternatives to slash-and burn for shifting cultivation in the Eastern Amazon region: The role of fertilizers. Field Crops Research 62, 225–237
Mackensen J, Hölscher D, Klinge R, Folster H (1996) Nutrient transfer to the atmosphere by burning of debris in eastern Amazonia. Forest Ecology and Management 86(1), 121–128
Mendoza-Escalante A (2005) Analysis of Smallholder Agricultural Production in the Eastern Amazon: Empirical Evidence and Policy Prospects for the Bragantina Region. Ph.D. Thesis. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen
Nepstad DA, Moreira A, Alencar A (1999) Flames in the Rainforest: Origins, Impacts and Alternatives to Amazon Fire. Pilot Program for the Conservation of the Rainforests of Brazil, World Bank, Washington
Nunez JBH (1995) Fitomassa e estoque de bioelementos das diversas fases da vegetação secundária, provenientes de diferentes sistemas de uso da terra no nordeste paraense, Brasil. Master Thesis, Federal University of Pará, Belém
Penteado AR (1967) Problemas de colonização e uso da terra na região Bragantina do Estado do Pará, I+II. Ph.D. Thesis. Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém
Sahn DE, Stifel D (2000) Poverty Comparisons Over Time and Across Countries in Africa. World Development 28, 2123–2155
Schmitt D (1997) Untersuchungen über nicht-destruktive Methoden zur Bestimmung von Biomasse junger Sekundärvegetation im östlichen Amazonien. Diploma Thesis. Institute of Agronomy in the Tropics, University of Göttingen
Sommer R (2000) Water and nutrient balance in deep soils under shifting cultivation with and without burning in the Eastern Amazon. Ph.D. Thesis. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen
Sommer R, Denich M, Vlek PG (2000) Carbon storage and root penetration in deep soils under small-farmer land-use systems in the eastern Amazon region, Brazil. Plant and Soil 219, 231–241
Tippmann R (2000) Assessment of Carbon Sequestration in Landscape under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. Diploma Thesis, University of Bonn
United Nations (2000) United Nations Millennium Declaration. (1/1/2006) at: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Vieira IC (1996) Forest Succession after Shifting Cultivation in Eastern Amazonia. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Stirling
Vosti SA, Reardon T (eds, 1997) Sustainability, Growth, and Poverty Alleviation. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
Vosti SA, Carpentier CL, Witcover J (2002) Agricultural intensification by smallholders in the western Brazilian Amazon: From deforestation to sustainable land use. RR 130. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington
Walker R (2000) Deforestation and Cattle Ranching in the Brazilian Amazon: External Capital and Household Processes. World Development 28(4), 683–699
Wickel B (2004) Water and nutrient dynamics of a humid tropical agricultural watershed in Eastern Amazonia. Ecology and Development Series 21. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen
Wiesenmüller, J. (1999) Einfluß landwirtschaftlicher Flächenvorbereitung auf die Dynamik des Wurzelsystems und die oberirdische Regeneration der Sekundärvegetation Ostamazoniens, Pará, Brasilien. PhD Thesis. University of Göttingen
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Börner, J., Denich, M., Mendoza-Escalante, A., Hedden-Dunkhorst, B., de Abreu Sá, T.D. (2007). Alternatives to slash-and-burn in forest-based fallow systems of the eastern Brazilian Amazon region: Technology and policy options to halt ecological degradation and improve rural welfare. In: Tscharntke, T., Leuschner, C., Zeller, M., Guhardja, E., Bidin, A. (eds) Stability of Tropical Rainforest Margins. Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30290-2_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30290-2_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-30289-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-30290-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)