Transformation of Jhum (Shifting Cultivation) to Forest Plantation: Effect on Soil Properties in the Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Abstract

Natural and anthropogenic changes in the composition of tropical forests are expected to alter soil properties. Thus, an understanding of the effects on changes in crop/plant composition on soil properties is needed to choose better land-use options. So, the primary goal of this study was to examine the impacts of land-use change (from shifting cultivation to teak and rubber plantation) on some physico-chemical features (available P, K, N, pH, moisture content (MC), bulk density, organic matter (OM)) of soil. Soil physico-chemical properties were compared to a shifting cultivation land with a 14-yearold teak plantation and a 16-year-old rubber plantation that had previously been used for shifting cultivation. Results showed that soil properties change with the changes of crop/plant composition, such as phosphorus (P), K, and OM was significantly high in teak and rubber plantation than the shifting cultivation area both in surface (0-10 cm) and sub-surface (10-20 cm) soil layers. Teak (3.5689 mg/kg) and rubber (3.5478 mg/kg) plantations exhibited significantly higher mean P content (p