Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #52

What Do you understand by Bush Fallowing.

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The Bush fallowing is a conventional agriculture method where a section of land is used to produce some crops after which it is allowed to rest or to fallow. Fallow period, the land is regrown by natural vegetation, e.g. grasses and shrubs (the bush). This is important in restoring the fertility of the soil since the decaying vegetation replenishes soil with organic matters and other nutrients.

Soil erosion, weeds, and pests are also controlled with the help of Bush fallowing. When the soil is recovered after a few years, the farmer is in a position to clear the bush and proceed with the cultivation. It is usually common in the rural settlements where population pressure is low and farmlands are available.

What are the advantages of Bush Fallowing.

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A number of benefits are associated with bush fallowing, particularly in the traditional type of farming. It is beneficial in restoring the natural fertility of the soil because decaying plants and organic materials will add nutrients to the soil. This decreases the usage of chemical fertilizers.

The technique is also useful in the management of soil erosion, as the vegetation that grows will cover the soil and it will not be washed away by the rain. Moreover, bush fallowing helps to suppress the weeds, as well as reduces the pests and diseases since the natural vegetation interferes with their life cycle. It also enhances the soil structure and retention of moisture thus it becomes easy to grow crops in the future. In addition, it offers natural habitats to wildlife and offers environmental balances. In general, the bush fallowing is a low-cost, simple, and sustainable method of ensuring the productivity of the soil.

What are the Disadvantages of Bush Fallowing.

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Despite its advantage, bush fallowing has a number of disadvantages as well. The first significant disadvantage is that it needs a lot of space hence it cannot be used in a place with a high density of people or low farmland. It is also not until many years later when the soil becomes fully fertile and hence limiting the land available to be used in consistent farming. This system may cause agricultural productivity to be low as very little land is put into cultivation at a given time.

Moreover, burning of bush which is a common way of clearing fallow land has the potential of destroying the soil nutrients and damaging the environment. It can also promote the proliferation of pests and intrusive weeds when the terrain is not taken care of in the right manner. All in all, bush fallowing is not only time consuming but also inefficient with regard to contemporary, large-scale farming.

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